Job Title

Senior Materials Engineer

Ref #

58851

Date posted

Thursday, March 5, 2026

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Woking

Business area

Quality

Department

Perceived Quality

Position level

5 - Supervisory / Professional - (L-16)

Working time

Full Time

Contract type

Fixed Term Contract

Duration

24 month FTC

Working pattern

9am - 6pm Monday to Friday

What to Expect

As a Senior Materials Engineer, you will lead the examination, measurement, and analysis of component materials to ensure they meet McLaren Automotive’s uncompromising quality standards. This role goes beyond technical execution—driving innovation in material selection, failure analysis, and advanced testing methodologies. You will act as a subject matter expert, influencing design decisions, supporting production and engineering teams, and shaping the future of material analysis within a fast-growing, high-performance automotive environment.

Please note this is a 24 month Fixed term contract

What You'll Do

· Lead complex material investigations, including root cause analysis of failure mechanisms and performance degradation.
· Develop and implement advanced material testing strategies, covering tensile, impact, fatigue, corrosion resistance, and thermal property evaluations.
· Provide technical leadership in sample preparation and microstructural analysis.
·Advise engineering and design teams on material selection, performance trade-offs, and compliance with McLaren quality standards.
· Drive supplier engagement, ensuring alignment on material specifications, quality expectations, and innovation opportunities.
· Author and present high-level technical reports and recommendations to senior stakeholders, influencing product development and validation strategies.
· Champion continuous improvement in material analysis processes, introducing new technologies and methodologies to enhance capability.
, fostering technical growth and knowledge sharing within the team.

What You'll Bring

Technical Competencies

Bachelors, Masters or PhD in Materials Engineering, Materials Science or related field
Significant experience in industry as a materials engineer preferably in the Automotive or Aerospace industry
In-depth understanding of failure mechanisms, fatigue behaviour, and environmental degradation of all material types
Proven track record in developing and executing complex material testing programs
Familiarity with regulatory standards and advanced quality assurance methodologies
Comprehensive understanding of what materials are used in the automotive sector (metallics, polymers, etc.)
Excellent understanding of the failure mechanisms of different materials

Business Knowledge

Deep expertise in material manufacturing techniques and their application in high-performance automotive environments.
Strong understanding of automotive supply chains and material lifecycle considerations.
Proficiency in CAD and other engineering software tools

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

Strong communication and influencing skills, capable of engaging stakeholders at all levels.
Strategic mindset with the ability to shape material engineering direction within the business.
Demonstrated ability to lead projects, manage priorities, and deliver results under pressure.
Collaborative approach with a commitment to mentoring and team development.
Flexible and adaptable to evolving business needs and technological advancements.

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.