Job Title
Lead Engineer Development
Ref #
59041
Date posted
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Country
Spain
Location
Idiada
Business area
R&D
Department
Vehicle Development
Position level
5 - Supervisory / Professional​ - (L-17)
Working time
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Working pattern
9am - 6pm Monday to Friday
What to Expect
To lead the test and development deliverables for a McLaren Automotive vehicle project. Responsibility for creating and executing the development
test program, including vehicle validation test execution, technical leadership, team and resource management, budgeting, vehicle fleet specification and management. This role will be based in Idiada Spain, and the suitable candidate must be ellegible to work from this location.

What You'll Do
• Vehicle project ownership. Working to generate appropriate whole vehicle programs to develop and validate engineering designs from concept to production.
• Vehicle Line reporting for all Vehicle Development program deliverables - Point of contact for all Development functions to coordinate information flow between development, attribute, and program teams.
• Create and manage the DVP, coordinate test and performance validation activities, including test execution, analysis and reporting.
• Accountable for complete set of vehicle technical specification documentation necessary to design and produce prototype vehicles
• Utilise problem solving process for resolving test, build and field incidents to provide timely closure to issues affecting quality, reliability, and durability
• Ensure timely completion of all vehicle development and integration deliverables necessary to meet planned production introduction
• Become the driving force behind the plan and ensuring the wider project team is aligned. Demonstrate good Engineering judgement on proactive decisions for Engineering Sign Off success.
• Ensure engineering processes are consistently and effectively utilised
• Ensure product and all design changes are properly validated and comply with legislative compliance, regulatory, and testing requirements
• Meet corporate objectives for cost, quality, and efficiency.
• Support communication and interpretation of performance test and design requirements to internal and external sources.
• Maintain close working relationships across engineering to deliver program goals as a key member of the Product Development team.
• Frequent structured reviews with Chief Engineer and Programme manager to ensure clarity of the detail of the plan vs risks to the programme.
• Develop a team of engineers offering support and guidance and identifying training needs and opportunities
• Deliver programme gateways, appraisals and reports

What You'll Bring
• Engineering degree or equivalent, and a robust grasp of engineering theory and practical
• Detailed experience of vehicle development programme delivery, ideally gained on low volume, high performance vehicle programs
• Good amount of automotive testing experience
• Substantial knowledge and experience of a broad range of vehicle and rig data acquisition, test and analysis techniques. Some examples of testing software are ETAS INCA & MDA; Vector CANape, Logger Configuration and CANalyser.
• Experience on complex AUTOSAR based networks test and validation
• Experience on hybrid platforms testing and development is a benefit
• Understanding of big data analysis and reporting principles.
• Basic Agentic AI understanding is a benefit.
• Basic Knowledge of Atlassian JIRA workflow
• Excellent PC skills and at ease with MS Office products

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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