Quality Manager - Validation & Inspection

McLaren Racing; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical opportunities

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Quality Manager - Validation & Inspection to lead end-to-end quality inspection across Body Assembly, Surface Finish, and General Assembly.

You will coach the inspection team, drive continuous improvement, and ensure McLaren's quality standards are embedded in manufacturing, with a focus on Level Zero management and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field.
• Significant experience leading quality management in manufacturing, ideally automotive.
• Proven leadership with ability to inspire teams.
• Strong knowledge of quality systems (Six Sigma, Lean, etc.).
• Excellent verbal and written communication; data-driven mindset.

Responsibilities

• Oversee quality inspection across Body Assembly, Surface Finish, and General Assembly validation.
• Provide daily leadership, coaching, and direction to the inspection team.
• Lead development and continuous improvement of quality processes and standards.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and issue resolution.
• Monitor key quality metrics and drive corrective/preventive actions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to align quality with business goals.
• Manage Level Zero landscape metrics, resource use, and production impact.

Skills

Quality management

Six Sigma

Lean

Data analysis

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's preferred

Job description

As Quality Manager - Validation & Inspection, you will lead the end-to-end quality inspection processes across Body Assembly, Surface Finish, General Assembly validation, and product functionality. You will provide daily leadership to the inspection team, ensuring McLaren's quality standards are upheld, continuously improved, and embedded throughout manufacturing. You will play a pivotal role in managing the Level Zero landscape, optimising resources, resolving issues efficiently, and driving a culture of continuous improvement. Your proactive approach will directly influence product quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction, while shaping the future of McLaren's manufacturing excellence.

What You'll Do Quality Inspection Management:

• Oversee all quality inspection activities across Body Assembly, Surface Finish, and General Assembly build validation.
• Lead the inspection team to ensure all products meet McLaren's quality standards and specifications.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide daily leadership, coaching, and direction to the inspection team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Support training and professional development to enhance team capability.

Process & Standards Improvement

• Lead the development, management, and continuous improvement of McLaren's quality processes and standards.
• Identify opportunities to optimise processes and improve efficiency, productivity, and product quality.

Continuous Improvement Culture

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing.
• Encourage innovation and empower team members to contribute ideas.
• Drive improvements in quality metrics and address areas requiring enhancement.

Quality Metrics & Performance

• Lead improvements in key quality indicators, monitoring performance and driving corrective and preventive actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure sustained quality performance.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to align quality objectives with business goals and customer expectations.
• Address quality issues collaboratively and drive improvements across departments.

Level Zero Landscape Management

• Establish and monitor KPIs to measure the effectiveness of Level Zero management.
• Track resolution times, resource utilisation, and impact on production quality to identify improvement opportunities.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Quality Management, or related field (Master's preferred).
• Significant experience in quality management within manufacturing, ideally automotive.
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to inspire and motivate teams.
• Strong understanding of quality systems and methodologies (Six Sigma, Lean, etc.).
• Demonstrated success in driving continuous improvement and implementing best practices.
• Excellent communication skills, able to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong analytical mindset with proficiency in data analysis and interpretation.
• Professional quality certification (e.g., ASQ CMQ/OE) desirable., Inquisitive mindset with a willingness to challenge and understand the 'why'.
• Proactive, driven, and eager to take ownership.
• Energetic and motivated to excel in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders.
• Confident decision-maker, comfortable recommending solutions.
• Flexible, adaptable, and responsive to business needs.
• Professional, credible ambassador of McLaren's brand values.
• Results-driven with a winning mentality.
• Self-starter with the initiative to make things happen with minimal supervision.
  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