Senior Brakes and ESC Engineer

At McLaren Automotive, we push the boundaries of performance, innovation and driving purity. As Senior Engineer – Brakes & ESC, you will be responsible for the development, tuning and validation of stability control and brakes attributes, supporting delivery of McLaren’s dynamic performance targets.

You will own the day-to-day technical delivery of ESC and Brake systems on vehicle programmes, working closely with Vehicle Dynamics, Controls, Chassis and Development teams, delivering world-class braking and stability performance.

Responsibilities:

• Define and deliver Brakes and ESC attribute targets for vehicle programmes, ensuring alignment with McLaren's vehicle dynamics philosophy, customer expectations, programme timing and performance objectives.
• Lead the technical development and integration of ESC and braking systems throughout the vehicle development cycle, ensuring robust system functionality, performance, safety and driver engagement across all operating conditions.
• Own the planning and execution of attribute development activities, managing technical priorities, test resources, budgets and programme deliverables to achieve sign-off milestones efficiently and on time.
• Develop objective and subjective performance metrics for braking and stability control systems, ensuring engineering decisions are supported by data-driven analysis and driver feedback.
• Collaborate with Vehicle Dynamics, Controls, Software, Chassis and Development teams to ensure effective system integration and delivery of cohesive vehicle behaviour across all vehicle modes and use cases.
• Direct validation and sign-off activities for braking and ESC attributes, ensuring performance targets, regulatory requirements and programme quality standards are fully achieved before vehicle release.
• Provide technical leadership in the evaluation and development of control strategies, simulation tools and vehicle models, enabling efficient resolution of engineering challenges and continuous improvement of attribute capability.
• Maintain comprehensive technical documentation, development records and engineering recommendations to support programme governance, knowledge retention and future vehicle development activities.

Requirements:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering or related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Extensive experience in vehicle dynamics engineering with demonstrable expertise in braking systems, ESC and chassis control systems.
• Proven capability in defining, developing, calibrating, tuning and validating vehicle dynamic attributes in both objective and subjective environments.
• Strong understanding of vehicle control systems, including ESC, traction management, brake control and related chassis technologies.
• Experience calibrating vehicle control systems to achieve intended vehicle behaviour, balancing objective performance targets with driver perception and customer expectations.
• Advanced data analysis capability with experience interpreting complex vehicle datasets to support engineering decisions and attribute development.
• Experience using MATLAB/Simulink and industry-standard calibration, measurement and data analysis tools.
• Strong knowledge of brake system architecture, brake performance, pedal feel development, thermal behaviour and brake durability.
• High-performance driving capability, with the ability to objectively assess vehicle behaviour and provide high-quality subjective feedback during development activities.
• Experience planning and executing vehicle development activities across simulation, proving ground, road and track environments.
• Ability to translate subjective driver feedback into robust engineering actions and measurable performance improvements.
• Experience collaborating across multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver integrated vehicle performance solutions.
• Understanding of model-based development and control system design would be advantageous.

Benefits:

• 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