Manager, HV System Integration & Controls

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days’ holiday

Enhanced company pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after two years

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior HV Systems Lead to drive the specification, development, integration and delivery of high‑voltage systems, power electronics and HV control systems from concept through series production.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, define technical direction, and govern software planning, calibration, releases and validation while ensuring functional safety and robust engineering processes across vehicle programmes.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in automotive HV systems or embedded controls.
• Ability to lead engineers across requirements, architecture, integration and delivery.
• Understanding of software development lifecycle and vehicle systems engineering.

Responsibilities

• Lead HV system architecture, integration and control systems engineering.
• Set technical direction, priorities and delivery plans across hardware, software and functional requirements.
• Govern HV controls strategy, software planning, calibration, releases and validation.
• Ensure robust engineering release, change-control and issue-resolution processes.
• Build team capability through coaching and performance management.
• Deliver HV software across vehicle programmes to specification, cost, timing and quality.

Skills

HV systems leadership

Requirements management

Architecture design

Software development lifecycle

Team coaching

Stakeholder management

Technical governance

Functional safety (ISO 26262)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Automotive Engineering or related

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

What to Expect

Lead the specification, development, integration and delivery of high-voltage systems, power electronics and HV control systems from concept through series production. The role is accountable for people leadership, technical governance and programme delivery across hardware, software and controls, ensuring cost, timing, quality, performance, functionality and functional-safety objectives are achieved.

What You'll Do

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team responsible for HV system architecture, integration, and control systems engineering.
• Set clear technical direction, priorities and delivery plans across component, system, software and functional requirements.
• Provide governance for HV controls strategy, software planning, calibration, releases and validation.
• Ensure effective integration across the HV Supervisory Unit DC/DC converters, on-board chargers, inverters or MCUs, battery management systems and any other electronic system interaction with the HV components.
• Represent HV Systems to resolve cross-functional dependencies and technical risks with Software, Functional Safety and Vehicle teams.
• Own supplier technical governance, including scope, deliverables, timing, quality, validation and issue resolution for software and control systems.
• Ensure robust engineering release, change-control, deviation and concern-management processes are applied.
• Build team capability through coaching, objective setting, workload management and technical review.
• Deliver HV software across vehicle programmes to agreed specification, cost, timing and quality targets throughout all development phases.
• Approve system architecture, controls concepts, implementation specifications and interfaces aligned with vehicle feature requirements and technical-risk mitigation.
• Ensure development and validation strategies cover Model-in-the-Loop, Hardware-in-the-Loop, component bench, rig and vehicle testing as appropriate.
• Ensure ISO 26262 functional-safety requirements are planned and delivered in collaboration with Functional Safety teams.
• Oversee software supplier planning, integration, validation, issue resolution and release readiness.
• Ensure teams apply effective diagnostics, calibration, data logging, analysis and root-cause methods to resolve HV controls issues.
• Own technical risk, quality status, resource demand and escalation for the function, providing clear updates at internal and external programme reviews.
• Ensure specifications, DVPs, FMEAs and validation evidence are complete, controlled and aligned with MDP and ETRS requirements.
• Work with Supply Chain Management and programme teams to secure software for prototype, pilot, pre-production and production builds.
• Promote consistent systems-engineering practice and continuous improvement across the team.

What You'll Bring

Essential Functional / Technical Skills:

• Strong leadership experience in automotive HV systems, electrical or electronic systems, or embedded controls.
• Demonstrated capability to lead engineers across requirements, architecture, integration, validation, release and production delivery.
• Sound understanding of automotive systems engineering and the software development lifecycle.
• Working knowledge of HV supervisory controls and associated components, including DC/DC converters, chargers, inverters or MCUs and BMS.
• Understanding of MATLAB/Simulink modelling and MiL or HiL verification approaches.
• Practical knowledge of software development, calibration, diagnostics, data logging, rig and vehicle testing, and structured root-cause analysis.
• Experience managing suppliers, technical risk, validation plans, quality concerns and engineering change.
• Knowledge of ISO 26262 functional safety, high-voltage safety, EMC and relevant automotive standards.
• Clear communication, stakeholder management and technical decision-making skills, with the ability to present at programme and senior-management reviews.

Qualifications and Training:

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical, Electrical, Electronic, Automotive Engineering or a related discipline.
• High-voltage competency and relevant people-management or leadership training are desirable.

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

Who Are We?

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.