Senior Paint Manufacturing Engineer

Mclaren Automotive; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join McLaren Automotive as a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, leading efforts in process improvement and quality assurance within high-performance vehicle production. This role requires strong leadership skills and a background in mechanical/automotive engineering to drive successful manufacturing practices. Enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and be part of an innovative team committed to excellence.

Benefits

25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays

Enhanced pension scheme

Discretionary bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance (4x salary)

Sabbatical options

Wellbeing initiatives

Qualifications

• Knowledge of complex vehicle systems and assembly processes.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills essential.
• Commitment to safe working practices required.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of manufacturing engineering practices.
• Create new processes to ensure safe and controlled manufacturing.
• Investigate and resolve manufacturing issues while monitoring quality.

Skills

Leadership

Problem Solving

Project Management

Quality Control

Education

Degree in Mechanical/Automotive Engineering or equivalent experience

Job description

What to Expect

You will be responsible for supporting and developing a team of engineers, continuously improving and developing the manufacturing processes used to paint our cars. You will accept new model build processes from our Future Manufacturing Engineering teams and develop them within Series production. This includes continuous process improvement, quality investigations, and applying industrial engineering tools and techniques. As a Senior Engineer, you will have an understanding of niche vehicle production and brand requirements, leading by example within your functional area and cross-functionally within Manufacturing Engineering. Working in a fast-paced environment requires calmness, clarity, and decisiveness under pressure. You will drive the business toward ‘Best in Class’ performance standards, think creatively to solve problems, and communicate effectively. You will also lead your team’s career development and training, ensuring skill gaps are addressed.

What You'll Do

As a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, you will lead the development and execution of Manufacturing Engineering practices, focusing on Project Management, Safety, Quality, Cost Management, People Development, and Product Delivery. You will identify vehicle characteristics and translate them into manufacturing process parameters. You will create new processes and procedures to ensure safe and controlled manufacturing in accordance with design intent. Supporting the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, you will help scope, specify, and implement operational practices aligned with brand expectations, develop departmental budgets, and contribute to overall program business cases. You will lead virtual manufacturing and process simulations to validate design and process concepts, develop timing plans for full program delivery, and liaise with Health and Safety to ensure process and material suitability. You will investigate and resolve manufacturing issues, ensuring quality and operator familiarity with process changes. Collaborating with engineering teams, you will design layouts, model/simulate, and integrate material flow to align with factory plans. You will identify and execute process improvements to enhance safety, ergonomics, quality, uptime, cycle time, capital utilization, and demand attainment. You will monitor headcount, manage HPC data, and create tools to audit efficiency and identify cost reductions, communicating improvement plans across the factory.

What You'll Bring

A degree in mechanical/automotive engineering or similar (2:1 or above) or equivalent experience. Knowledge of complex vehicle systems, assembly processes, trim and final processes, end-of-line vehicle finishing, and procurement of assembly equipment. Strong leadership, coaching, and motivational skills. Ability to resolve product issues and ensure quality targets are met. Commitment to safe working practices.

What We'll Do for You

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including structured career development, 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, annual buy & sell of up to five days, enhanced pension scheme, discretionary bonus, private medical insurance, health cash plan, life assurance (4x salary), sabbatical options, lifestyle benefits, parental leave, wellbeing initiatives, friends and family events, and opportunities to experience our cars. Eligibility criteria apply.

Who Are We?

McLaren Automotive pushes boundaries and rethinks limits. We create high-performance road cars with a diverse team united by passion and innovation. We are committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion, which fuels our creativity and excellence. Join us on our journey. For more details, salary, and company information, use the apply link.