Senior Vehicle Launch Lead

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced pension scheme

Discretionary annual bonus

Job summary

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior Launch Manager to lead end-to-end launch delivery for new vehicle programmes. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure gateway readiness and on-time delivery within McLaren's governance framework.

You will drive data-driven decisions, champion continuous improvement, and lead a high-performance team while maintaining H&S standards across all launch activities.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management, or equivalent industry experience.
• 8+ years' experience within a manufacturing and/or production launch environment.
• Proven background in low volume, high complexity, premium automotive manufacturing.
• Experience leading complex vehicle or product launches across multiple build phases.
• Demonstrable experience managing cross functional and matrix teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong technical judgement with the ability to make timely, evidence-based decisions aligned to business priorities.
• Solid understanding of programme governance, manufacturing readiness, and industrialisation processes.
• Advanced problem-solving capability with DMAIC, 8D, TQM or similar.
• Comfortable operating in fast paced and high-pressure environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end launch execution for assigned vehicle programmes or content introductions.
• Act as a key interface between manufacturing and the wider business to ensure smooth programme delivery.
• Ensure manufacturing readiness targets are achieved and issues addressed robustly.
• Lead, coach, and develop launch team members.
• Drive lessons learned, standardisation, and improvement actions for future launches.
• Promote and maintain high Health & Safety standards across launch activities.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Problem-solving

Data-driven decisions

DMAIC / 8D / TQM

Governance & compliance

Manufacturing readiness

Industrialisation processes

Strong technical judgement

Matrix team management

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

SIPOC

PFMEA

APQP

Job description

McLaren Automotive is seeking a Senior Launch Manager to lead end-to-end launch delivery for new vehicle programmes. You will coordinate cross-functional teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality and Supply Chain to ensure gateway readiness and on-time delivery within McLaren's governance framework.

You will drive data-driven decisions, champion continuous improvement, and lead a high-performance team while maintaining H&S standards across all launch activities.