Resident Project Leader – Body-in-White

LUZA Group; Crewe; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

HIto Solutions seeks a Resident Project Leader specializing in Body-in-White (BIW) to support a long-term automotive engineering programme in Crewe.

The successful candidate will lead Current Model Production activities across the BIW perimeter, acting as the on-site technical interface for BIW topics and coordinating a remote team in Italy, while ensuring milestones, cost status and technical documentation are managed.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in BIW automotive projects.
• Strong knowledge of BIW structures, closures, joining technologies, sealing and damping.
• Experience coordinating on-site and remote engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the BIW engineering team and act as on-site interface.
• Coordinate the team in Italy and drive issue resolution.
• Manage issues from analysis through validation and release.
• Lead weekly project meetings and technical reviews.
• Ensure release of complete drawings and BoM updates.
• Liaise with cross-functional teams including manufacturing and purchasing.

Skills

BIW project leadership

Project management

English fluency

Cross-functional coordination

BIW interface coordination

Tools

CATIA/LCA

Teamcenter

Job description

Resident Project Leader – Body-in-White

Location: Crewe, United Kingdom
Work Model: Full-time, fully on-site
Expected Start: Q4 2026
Initial Contract Duration: 3 years, with possible extension
Language: English – C1 level or higher
Travel: Occasional business travel may be required

About the Role

HIto Solutions is seeking an experienced Resident Project Leader specialising in Body-in-White (BIW) to support a long-term automotive engineering programme in Crewe.

The successful candidate will lead and coordinate Current Model Production activities across the Body-in-White perimeter, acting as the principal on-site technical interface for BIW-related topics.

The role combines technical engineering expertise, project coordination, issue resolution and close collaboration with customer, manufacturing and supplier organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate the assigned Body-in-White engineering team.
• Act as the principal on-site technical interface for BIW Current Model Production topics.
• Coordinate the supporting engineering team based in Italy.
• Support root-cause analysis and develop technically feasible solutions.
• Manage technical issues from initial analysis through proof of concept, containment, validation, engineering change and final resolution.
• Develop containment solutions to protect series production and prevent repeat failures.
• Coordinate permanent series-production solutions in accordance with formal engineering change procedures.
• Ensure preparation and release of complete 2D drawings and 3D CAD data.
• Identify requirements for FE analysis, packaging studies and technical feasibility assessments.
• Assess the impact of proposed changes on interfacing vehicle systems.
• Ensure manufacturing and assembly feasibility of proposed changes.
• Coordinate prototype builds, physical trials and production-line validation.
• Manage BoM creation and updates, product-data changes and engineering releases.
• Liaise with Engineering, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Logistics, Supplier Quality, Field Quality, Finance, Certification and Bill of Material teams.
• Coordinate suppliers and rework partners during feasibility, validation and implementation.
• Manage project milestones, cost status, timing plans and technical documentation.
• Prepare and lead weekly project meetings, technical reviews and management updates.
• Maintain tracking lists and ensure timely closure of open technical points.

Technical Scope

• Platform and upper-body structures
• Fenders and bonnet
• Doors and tailgate
• Closures and add-on body components
• Paint
• Sealing and damping
• BIW joining and manufacturing feasibility

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Body-in-White automotive projects.
• Strong technical knowledge of BIW structures, closures, joining technologies, sealing and damping.
• Proven experience in Current Model Production and series-production problem solving.
• Experience with root-cause analysis, containment solutions and permanent corrective actions.
• Strong knowledge of engineering change, release, BoM and PDM processes.
• Experience coordinating remote engineering teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Knowledge of CATIA/LCA, Teamcenter and automotive release systems.
• Knowledge of BIW joining management and manufacturing-feasibility processes.
• Strong project-management and communication skills.
• Fluent English at C1 level or higher.

Desirable

Previous experience working on Bentley projects or within the Bentley organisation would be considered a significant advantage.

Working Conditions

This is a fully on-site position in Crewe. Candidates must already reside in the UK and be able to commute to Crewe on a daily basis.