Test Driver

McLaren Racing; Old Woking; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured career development

25 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Pension scheme

Discretionary benefits

Job summary

McLaren Automotive seeks an experienced test driver to support development of high-performance road and track cars. Reporting to the Chief Test Driver, you will work with a small team and collaborate with chassis, drivetrain, NVH and durability engineers across national and international circuits.

Your role focuses on developing dynamic attributes, conducting shakedowns, and driving at or near limit conditions to validate performance while ensuring consistency and safety.

Qualifications

• Experience in high performance car development.
• Ability to develop and tune dynamic attributes on road and track.
• Proven track driving experience and testing discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and tune dynamic attributes: suspension, aero, tires and brakes.
• Vehicle shakedown and test driving at circuits.
• Collaborate with chassis, drivetrain and NVH engineers.
• Drive at or near limit conditions and sign off on performance.
• Support events and press car preparation.

Skills

High-performance car development

Vehicle testing

Chassis/drivetrain knowledge

Track driving experience

Education

Mechanical degree beneficial

Job description

Reporting directly to the Chief Test Driver, this individual is driven to support an innovative and collaborative atmosphere. Working in a small team of test drivers with close cooperation with dynamic, durability, drive train and NVH engineers, testing and developing future McLaren Automotive vehicles. Primarily off-site at national and international test circuits and proving grounds (typically >75% off-site). Regular travel and occasional work at McLaren campus. What You'll Do

• To develop and tune dynamic attributes: shock absorber, spring and roll bars, aero, steering, tires, engine and drive train, ABS and Electronic Stability systems, brake systems.
• FOKs
• Press car preparation
• Vehicle Shakedown
• A & B driving permit
• Pure McLaren Events
• Vehicle Development
• Limit
• Subjective signoff
  Experience in high performance car development
• Experience in quality assessment and issues identification
• Driving in limit condition
• Consistency during hot laps sessions using same line and same driving style (lap time decay to stay inside tyre and engine degradation)
• Fixed driving style: not adapt driving style to the vehicle
• More feedforward control. Feedback control only to recover car instability
• Ultimate lap time performance
• Racing experience
• Track knowledge (Nardo', Castelloli, Alcarras, Silverstone, Hockenheim, Spa, Paul Ricard and all possible pure event tracks)
• Nürburgring Nordschleife specialist or equivalent circuit expertise beneficial.
• Natural interest in mechanical background
• Mechanical understanding
• Mechanical Degree is beneficial
• Extensive motorsport background as a driver. Mainly asphalt but ice/gravel experience also valuable. GT3, DTM, WRC2, or higher.
• Extensive experience and understanding in the art of car set up and collaboration with chassis and drivetrain engineers to bring a vehicle through development and to desired target of performance.
• Genuine interest in the "whole product" incl NVH, quality, technical solutions, teamwork, work procedures.
  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