Senior Specialist, Technical Wear and Development

Arrow McLaren IndyCar; Woking; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Specialist to oversee the design and lifecycle of technical clothing for F1 drivers. This role is critical in ensuring safety and performance through innovative materials and meticulous quality control. You will collaborate closely with suppliers and internal teams to deliver high-quality apparel that meets FIA regulations. Join a pioneering team at a state-of-the-art facility, where your contributions will directly impact the performance of elite athletes in high-stakes racing environments.

Benefits

Private healthcare

Car schemes

Life insurance

Generous pension contributions

Gym access

Restaurant facilities

Indoor and outdoor break-out areas

Qualifications

• Experience in motorsports or technical wear apparel industry.
• Strong understanding of garment construction and testing standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead procurement and supplier management for technical clothing.
• Oversee quality assurance and control for all clothing items.

Skills

Motorsports experience

Project management

Supplier coordination

Textile materials knowledge

Communication skills

Tools

PLM/ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

At McLaren, our mission is to set the standard for high performance in sport. Everyone, in every part of the team, has a role to play. So if you want to test your ideas with the world watching... And measure your progress in milliseconds... And play your part in racing history... You belong here. High performance starts with you.

Purpose of the Role:

In High performance motor racing, driver clothing is far more than a uniform—it is an essential piece of performance and safety equipment. Helmet, HANS Devices, Race Suits, Gloves, Boots, and Nomex underlayers must offer the highest level of safety, exceptional comfort under extreme conditions, and minimal impact on mobility. The right technical clothing contributes directly to a driver's focus, reaction time, and endurance throughout a race and can have a direct sporting impact. As such, this role is critical in safeguarding our drivers and giving them every possible edge on track through cutting-edge materials, innovative design, and meticulous quality control.

We are therefore seeking a highly driven and detail-oriented senior specialist to manage and oversee all aspects of the design, procurement, development, and lifecycle of technical clothing for our F1 drivers, World Endurance Programme, Formula 1 Academy, Driver Development Programmes and Indycar Championship.

This includes end-to-end responsibility for, quality assurance and control, driver feedback, and logistics. You will work closely with suppliers, drivers, performance engineers, trainers and regulatory bodies to ensure all clothing meets the highest standards of safety, performance, comfort, and compliance with FIA regulations.

Role Dimensions:

Primarily based at McLaren Technology Centre (MTC). The role may involve travel to suppliers, test facilities and race/test events.

Key Responsibilities:

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Lead the requirements, selection, and design process with colleagues within our internal Commercial departments.

• Maintain strong relationships with our technical clothing supplier to ensure timely delivery and compliance with specifications.

Product Development & Engineering

• Translate driver requirements into detailed technical clothing specifications.

• Collaborate with our technical clothing supplier and internal departments on the development of garments (race suits, fireproof underwear, gloves, boots, etc.).

• Oversee testing and iteration of prototypes for performance, fit, and durability.

• Help strategize and facilitate test process through liaison with sim, test and TPC departments.

Quality Assurance & Control

• Define and implement QA/QC processes for all delivered clothing items.

• Conduct goods incoming inspections to ensure compliance with FIA and internal standards.

• Investigate and resolve quality issues swiftly, collaboratively and effectively.

Driver & Team Feedback Integration

• Act as the primary point of contact for driver and engineer feedback on technical clothing.

• Coordinate feedback sessions and analyse usage data to inform continuous improvement.

• Work with the performance engineers and driver trainers to enhance driver comfort and performance.

Logistics & Inventory Management

• Plan and coordinate the production and delivery schedules aligned with the F1 calendar.

• Manage inventory levels of all technical clothing items across MTC, racetrack, and remote facilities.

• Facility delivery of items in ways that best support the needs of the trackside team.

• Ensure all items are serialised and logged to event usage and mileage.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Experience within the motorsports arena.

• Ideally from within the technical wear Apparel industry, or high-end manufacturing.

• Strong understanding of textile materials, garment construction, and testing standards.

• Familiarity with FIA regulations relating to driver clothing and safety.

• Exceptional project management and supplier coordination skills.

• Meticulous attention to detail and quality standards.

• Proficiency in PLM/ERP systems and Microsoft Office.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to liaise with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.

Desirable:

• Experience in motorsport or high-performance sportswear industries.

• Knowledge of flame-retardant fabrics and homologation processes.

• Ability to travel occasionally to supplier sites and Grand Prix events.

What can McLaren offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking.

Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.