Exterior Design Principal — Brand & Detail Strategy

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Bicester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Pension scheme

Discretionary bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after 2 years

Wellbeing program

Job summary

McLaren Automotive Ltd. is seeking a senior exterior design leader to define and evolve the exterior strategy across vehicle programmes. You will set design principles for lighting, wheels, aerodynamics, graphics and sensors, ensuring a coherent brand signature and premium perception.

Lead multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders, and manage supplier relationships while maintaining rigorous quality and craftsmanship aligned with McLaren's luxury-performance positioning.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in exterior automotive design or premium design environment.
• Ability to establish design strategies and standards across multiple vehicle programmes.
• Deep understanding of how exterior details contribute to brand identity and perceived quality.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the strategic role of exterior components within the McLaren design language and brand identity.
• Establish design principles and standards for exterior details across vehicle programmes and product segments.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and manage supplier relationships to deliver overlapping exterior elements.]
• Represent design intent to senior leadership and cross-functional teams, balancing creative ambition with technical feasibility and cost constraints.

Skills

Senior leadership

Exterior design expertise

Brand strategy translation

Presentation and communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier management

Stakeholder influence

Education

Degree in Automotive Design or Industrial Design

Tools

CAD software

Lighting/Wheel knowledge

Job description

McLaren Automotive Ltd. is seeking a senior exterior design leader to define and evolve the exterior strategy across vehicle programmes. You will set design principles for lighting, wheels, aerodynamics, graphics and sensors, ensuring a coherent brand signature and premium perception.

Lead multidisciplinary teams, influence senior stakeholders, and manage supplier relationships while maintaining rigorous quality and craftsmanship aligned with McLaren's luxury-performance positioning.