Interior Design Expert

McLaren Racing; Bicester; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured career development

25 days’ holiday + bank holidays

Enhanced company pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance and health保

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking an Interior Design Expert to lead the development of future vehicle interiors, blending cutting-edge aesthetics with functional engineering. You will conceptualise and produce production-ready interiors for concept and production cars, collaborating with engineering, marketing and production teams to ensure feasibility and brand alignment.

You will drive design quality through all phases, translate brand language into ergonomic spaces, and present bold design

Qualifications

• Experience in automotive interior design or luxury vehicle interiors.
• Ability to translate brand identity into compelling interior concepts.
• Proficiency in creating production-ready interior design concepts using sketches and 3D models.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative development of future vehicle interiors with ergonomic, aesthetic concepts.
• Drive design quality from ideation to final surface release across projects.
• Collaborate with engineering, CAS, and production to ensure feasibility and manufacturability.
• Present design concepts to leadership, management, and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Interior design

Concept development

3D modeling

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Brand identity

Tools

Alias

Blender

Photoshop

Job description

The purpose of the role of an Interior Design Expert is to lead and innovate the design of future vehicle interiors, blending cutting‑edge aesthetic concepts with functional engineering. This individual will be responsible for conceptualising and creating visually compelling, ergonomically efficient, and market‑relevant interior designs of both concept and production vehicles. They will collaborate closely with Exterior and CMF Design teams, and Engineering, Marketing and Production teams to ensure that design ideas are not only artistic, but are also feasible, sustainable, and aligned with brand identity. By staying ahead of design trends and utilising advanced technologies, the Interior Design Expert will play a key role in shaping the future of Mclaren interiors, ensuring that each design delivers a striking visual appeal and exceptional technical performance, while maintaining the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship, and feasibility.

What You'll Do

Creative Development

• Generate advanced and production‑ready interior design concepts through sketches, digital renderings, and 3D models.
• Support the refinement and development of selected design directions, retaining design and engineering excellence.
• Interpret and evolve the brand’s interior design language into exciting, functional, and usable interior spaces.

Design Execution

• Drive design quality through all project phases - from early ideation to final surface release.
• Collaborate closely with clay modelers, CAS teams, and engineering departments to refine proportions and surface details.

Technical Integration

• Ensure aesthetic intent is maintained through feasibility reviews, tooling constraints, and engineering integration.
• Reviews and guides surfaces with modelling teams for production alignment. Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a key design interface with engineering, manufacturing, colour & trim, and marketing teams.
• Participate in design reviews, supplier meetings, and digital/physical model evaluations.

Design Advocacy

• Act as a subject matter expert on interior design, brand identity, surfacing techniques, and industry benchmarks.
• Present design concepts and strategies internally to design leadership and product management.
• Advanced Sketching & Visualization: Communicative freehand sketching and digital rendering to explore and communicate designs clearly, and 3D visualization skills alongside Photoshop to produce high‑level presentation content visuals.
• Creative Concept Development: Ability to generate original, forward‑thinking design concepts that align with brand identity and future mobility trends.
• 3D Modelling Proficiency: Expertise in software such as Alias or Blender, for creating and exploring concept themes, as well as aiding communication with the CAS modelling team.
• Creative team communication: Clear, considered design direction given to Design team colleagues, CAS and clay modelling teams, to support efficient design development.
• Design Strategy: Skill in developing a compelling design narrative and translating it into impactful design concepts.
• Story Telling: Skilled in creation of PPT presentation content and narrative, to best sell ideas and design themes to a wide audience.
• Knowledge of Automotive Trends: Deep understanding of industry trends, competitor landscape, and consumer expectations.
• Technical & Engineering Awareness: Ability to design within manufacturing, safety, ergonomic, and regulatory constraints.
• Collaboration & Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with engineering, marketing, and leadership teams.
• Attention to Detail: High level of precision, care and refinement in all stages of the design process.
• Time & Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

Personal Attributes / Competencies

• Visionary Thinking: Ability to anticipate future trends and translate them into bold, forward‑looking design strategies.
• Leadership Presence: Confident, inspiring, and respected figure.
• High Emotional Intelligence: Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and the ability to nurture creative talent.
• Strong Aesthetic Sensibility: Keen eye for form, proportion, and detail with an innate sense of visual harmony, quality, craftsmanship and brand expression.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Ability to thrive under pressure, adapt to shifting priorities, and lead through uncertainty.
• Strategic Mindset: Balances creativity with business acumen to drive designs that are both innovative and commercially viable.
• Excellent Communication: Clear, persuasive communicator who can present complex ideas with clarity to various audiences.
• Collaborative Spirit: Open‑minded and inclusive, fostering a culture of teamwork, feedback, and cross‑functional cooperation.
• Decisiveness: Makes confident, informed decisions quickly while maintaining the integrity of the design vision.
• Passion for Design: Deep enthusiasm for automotive design, innovation, and shaping the future of mobility.

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath‑taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks. McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide ‑ ranging benefits package, which includes:

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days' holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years' service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice