Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing Engineering, you will be responsible for leading a team of high performing Manufacturing Engineers in the delivery of planned and proven processes to cost and time constraints. Responsible for leading the manufacturing engineering function that supports all paint shop operations around the processing of carbon fibre bodies and associated components. This role ensures that paint processes are safe, stable, efficient, cost effective, and capable of delivering the required quality standards. Key responsibilities

HS&E compliance, process improvement Process, tooling and equipment definition, validation, and implementation OEE and HPC Process capability Technical guidance Resource management Cost management Quality assurance ISO-9001 / IATF 16949

Leadership & Management

Lead a team of Manufacturing Engineers to be high performing individuals Allocate resources to support daily production, NPI, equipment and process validation and improvement projects Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement Collaborate closely with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and HS&E leaders

Process Ownership

Own paint process capability, including application, curing, film build control, and surface quality Manage paint recipes, mixing systems, applicators, robotics, and environmental controls

Production Support

Provide daily engineering support to solve process issues and minimise downtime Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) including FPY, waste, downtime, paint usage, defects, OEE

Continuous Improvement

Lead projects using lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and problem‑solving methodologies Reduce paint consumption, energy use, rework, and scrap through process optimisationDrive automation improvements including robot programming and application optimisation Implement best practices for defect prevention (e.g., contamination control, airflow management) Be up to date with the latest advancements in manufacturing technologies and automotive engineering, Industry 4.0

New Product Introduction (NPI)

Plan and execute engineering activities for new colours, materials, and product variants Validate new paint materials, equipment, tooling, and processes Ensure equipment readiness, PFMEA, process flow, control plan, and standard work updates

Equipment & Maintenance Coordination

Work with maintenance to ensure paint equipment reliability and planned maintenance routines Support upgrades of robots, booths, ovens, conveyors, air handling, and fluid delivery systems Ensure compliance to environmental permits and VOC/solvent usage regulations

Health, Safety & Environmental

Ensure all paint operations comply with EHS standards and regulatory requirements Support incident investigation and resolution

Qualifications

Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Management, or suitable industry experience Proven leadership background in manufacturing environment, ideally automotive Ability to understand risk and mitigate through thorough analysis and factual data Robust understanding and proven application of quality principles to encompass a variety of manufacturing processes Proven experience with budgetary control and achievement of cost targets A desire to digitally transform the manufacturing process through automation of equipment and AI system development to streamline processes and data collation Ability to foster a positive team culture and drive high performance in others Experience in developing and implementing improvements to optimise production efficiency and quality Strong technical knowledge to ensure right decisions are made at the right time

Personal attributes

Live the McLaren values Highly motivated, resilient, and agile Able to adapt your leadership style to influence and instruct accordingly Data driven and process focussed Dynamic, with the ability to respond to challenging situations in an innovative manner Clear communication skills Collaborator, quickly develop good working relationships / teamwork Empower and develop team members Trustworthy. Build trust within your team, process partners, and wider organisation Ability to think logically whilst ensuring day to day operation objectives are achieved

Equal opportunity statement 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. Benefits 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

#J-18808-Ljbffr