Job Title
Design Manager - Motorsport and MSO
Ref #
59091
Date posted
Friday, May 15, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Bicester
Business area
Design
Department
Design
Position level
4 - Management / Technical Expert (L-18)
Working time
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Working pattern
9am - 6pm Monday to Friday
What to Expect

The role of the Design Manager, Motorsport and MSO is to lead and manage the design and development of bespoke and high-performance automotive design projects across McLaren Racing and McLaren Special Operations (MSO). This individual will be responsible for overseeing the successful delivery of creative and production-ready design solutions, ensuring alignment with brand identity, programme objectives, engineering feasibility, and manufacturing requirements. The role combines strategic leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and people management responsibilities to drive exceptional design outcomes across multiple programmes and stakeholders. The Design Manager will ensure that all design activities are delivered to the highest standards of quality, innovation, and performance while fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture. 

 

What You'll Do
Design Leadership & Programme Delivery: 
• Lead and manage the delivery of design projects across McLaren Motorsport and MSO, ensuring alignment with programme requirements, brand values, and performance expectations. 
• Oversee the development and refinement of design concepts into production-ready solutions, ensuring feasibility, functionality, and quality. 
• People Management & Team Leadership: 
• Provide leadership, coaching, and development support to design team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture. 
• Manage team priorities, resource allocation, and performance to ensure successful project delivery. 
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: 
• Serve as the key interface between design, engineering, manufacturing, programme management, and commercial stakeholders to ensure alignment on project objectives. 
• Participate in design reviews, stakeholder meetings, and programme evaluations to maintain design integrity and delivery standards. 
• Process Improvement & Technical Integration: 
• Drive continuous improvement in design and delivery processes, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and quality. 
• Support the integration of technical requirements, manufacturing constraints, and performance considerations into design development. 
• Design Advocacy & Brand Alignment: 
• Champion McLaren Racing and MSO design principles, ensuring all outputs align with brand identity and customer expectations. 
• Act as a subject matter expert and design leader, providing guidance and decision-making support across programmes and teams. 
What You'll Bring

 Experienced Automotive Manager: 
• Extensive experience in automotive exterior design, with a strong understanding of production processes and engineering constraints. 
• Expertise in evaluating and optimizing vehicle exteriors for both aesthetic and functional purposes, ensuring manufacturability. 

 Technical Problem Solver: 
• Ability to address complex challenges related to aerodynamics, material selection, and manufacturing techniques. 
• Strong focus on efficiency and sustainability, providing innovative solutions for production. 

 Cross-Functional Collaboration: 
• Works closely with engineering, manufacturing, and other teams to ensure seamless integration of design into production. 
• Ability to bridge the gap between creative design and production realities, ensuring designs are achievable within cost and quality standards. 

Process & Quality Focused: 
• Attention to detail and commitment to ensuring high production quality standards are met. 
• Active involvement in defining and validating production processes, including prototype testing, crash testing, and material durability evaluations. 

Leadership & Guidance: 
• Provides technical expertise to teams, guiding them through production challenges while maintaining design integrity. 
• Ability to resolve production issues swiftly and effectively, ensuring minimal disruption to timelines. 

Continuous Learner: 
• Passion for staying up-to-date with advancements in automotive technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes. 
• Constantly seeking ways to optimize design for production and enhance product quality. 

Strong Communicator: 
• Clear and concise communicator, capable of presenting complex design and production challenges to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. 
• Offers actionable recommendations and promotes collaboration to achieve production goals Strong understanding of the automotive industry, including market trends, consumer preferences, and competitive dynamics. 

• Familiarity with cost constraints, manufacturing processes, and regulatory standards essential for producing high-quality, safe, and cost-effective vehicles. 
• Knowledge of sustainability practices, environmental regulations, and material innovations relevant to automotive production.
Essential Functional / Technical Skills:
Advanced skills in sketching, 3D modeling (e.g., Alias, Blender, Autodesk), and design visualization to ensure production-ready designs. 

• Expertise in exterior design, material selection, manufacturing processes, and automotive engineering principles. 
• Deep knowledge of automotive trends, competitor landscape, and consumer expectations, with a focus on production integration. 
• Ability to drive cross-functional collaboration, ensuring production timelines and design quality are met. Inspirational Leader: Motivates and supports teams to achieve ambitious goals while fostering collaboration and accountability. 

Problem-Solver: Strong ability to identify issues and propose effective solutions throughout the production process. 
• Resilient: Maintains focus and composure under pressure, adapting to changing project demands. 
• Collaborative: Works seamlessly with a variety of teams, creating a positive and productive work environment. 
• Decisive: Makes informed decisions, balancing creativity with practicality in production design. 
• Quality-Driven: Committed to maintaining high standards and ensuring that the final product meets both aesthetic and performance expectations. 

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 

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
Who Are We?
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. 

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