Job Title
Senior Supplier Quality & Development Engineer (SQD) - Powertrain
Ref #
53847
Date posted
Friday, September 26, 2025
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Woking
Business area
SQD
Department
Supplier Quality Assurance
Position level
5
Working time
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Working pattern
8:30am - 5:30pm Monday to Friday
What to Expect

 

As part of McLaren Automotive's continued growth and its multi-propulsion strategy, we are expanding our Supplier Quality & Development (SQD) team. Strengthening the global SQD function will enhance collaboration with suppliers worldwide and reinforce the delivery of robust quality standards across both new and existing vehicle programmes. 

 

As a Senior Supplier Quality & Development Engineer, you will take ownership of suppliers within the Powertrain commodity area, managing a global supply base for components such as engines, transmissions, and ancillary systems including hoses, pumps, cooling fans, and other critical powertrain assemblies. You will manage these suppliers across the full lifecycle—from sourcing and industrialisation through to series production—ensuring launch success and ongoing performance in quality, delivery, and durability. Operating from the UK with a global remit, you will lead industrialisation activities, assess and guide supplier manufacturing processes, and build long-term capability within the powertrain supply chain.

What You'll Do

Supplier Sourcing & Qualification 

  • Conduct thorough assessments of global supplier sites for powertrain components to ensure competent and reliable supply. 
  • Ensure non-IATF16949 suppliers achieve certification in line with nomination plans. 
  • Collaborate with Engineering and Purchasing to select and nominate capable suppliers that meet programme requirements for engines, transmissions, and ancillary systems.  

Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & PPAP 

  • Support and implement APQP for all new tooled or assembled powertrain parts, ensuring timely and robust completion of activities. 
  • Work with Engineering and suppliers to complete PPAPs (including performance and durability validation) according to commodity timing plans and track approvals against delivery milestones. 
  • Provide progress reporting to Purchasing and SQD Programme teams, covering APQP open issues, PPAP pedigree, and delivery forecasts. 
  • Manage non-PPAP part concessions to ensure a “Plan for Every Part” is in place for build support. 

Design for Manufacturing (DFM) & Process Feasibility 

  • Collaborate with Engineering and suppliers to refine product designs, focusing on feasibility for processes such as casting, machining, heat treatment, assembly, balancing, welding, hose manufacturing, pump assembly, and cooling system production. 
  • Ensure manufacturing processes achieve performance, durability, and reliability standards for high-performance automotive applications. 

Launch & Series Production Support 

  • Ensure powertrain suppliers meet programme launch, quality, and delivery targets. 
  • Manage supplier performance during series production to maintain PPAP compliance and address mechanical, thermal, and reliability concerns.  

Series Supplier Management & Governance 

  • Conduct annual supplier audits to verify continued compliance with McLaren standards and regulatory requirements. 
  • Monitor supplier performance through KPIs and quality metrics, ensuring sustained capability and delivery. 
  • Facilitate regular governance reviews with key suppliers to address risks, escalate issues, and drive continuous improvement. 
  • Identify critical suppliers and parts requiring cross-functional engagement and oversight.  

Risk Management & Issue Resolution 

  • Implement risk mitigation strategies to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity. 
  • Identify critical suppliers and parts requiring cross-functional engagement. 
  • Drive resolution of major open issues, ensuring supplier senior management is actively involved. 
  • Deliver quality and capacity verification in line with McLaren Development Process (MDP) targets.  

Supplier Development & Continuous Improvement 

  • Develop and implement improvement strategies with suppliers to enhance performance and capability. 


What You'll Bring
  • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes relevant to powertrain production, including precision machining, casting, forging, assembly, balancing, welding, sealing, hose and pump production, and cooling system manufacture.
  • In-depth knowledge of automotive OEM manufacturing processes and powertrain supply chains.
  • Proficient in analysing programme plans and assessing suppliers’ capability to deliver high-quality components on time, aligned with key project milestones.
  • Able to plan and oversee the full manufacturing process at the supplier—from raw materials receipt to final dispatch—when required.
  • Skilled in scenario planning to identify risks and define effective mitigation strategies as needed.
  • Ability to influence senior stakeholders within supplier organisations to ensure correct prioritisation and focus.
  • Knowledge of durability, efficiency, and performance validation for powertrain systems, including thermal performance, wear resistance, NVH optimisation, leak prevention, and heat management.
  • Experience conducting feasibility assessments for critical powertrain systems such as engines, transmissions, cooling modules, pumps, and associated ancillaries.
  • Familiarity with tooling, precision measurement, and dimensional control specific to powertrain components.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

  • Language: Fluent in technical and conversational English (oral & written). Additional languages beneficial.
  • Education: Degree-level qualification or higher in a technical engineering discipline.
  • Supplier Quality Expertise: Proven experience in an Automotive OEM Supplier Quality/Quality Engineering role responsible for Interior Trim.
  • Core Quality Tools: Strong working knowledge of PPAP, MSA, APQP, FMEA, SPC, particularly in appearance and tactile performance parameters.
  • Structured Problem Solving: Expert in 8D, DMAIC.
  • Quality Management Systems: IATF16949 and AIAG standards.
  • Engineering Standards: Advanced understanding of GD&T and its application to Interior Trim fit & finish.
  • Systems Competence: Proficient in Microsoft Office, SAP, and CAD visualisation tools (CATIA viewer). 

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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