Description
Job Title: Senior Quality Engineer - NPI
Location: Sheffield
Job Type: Full-time
About the Role:
We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Quality Engineer to lead and manage the New Product Introduction (NPI) Quality function at our Composites Technology Centre (MCTC). As a key member of our quality team, you will be responsible for delivering assigned NPI projects into series production in a complete fashion, ensuring PPAP maturity is achieved at each project gateway.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage the NPI Quality function at MCTC, directly line managing the NPI Quality team.
- Take full accountability for delivering assigned NPI projects into series production in a complete fashion, ensuring PPAP maturity is achieved at each project gateway.
- Manage multiple concurrent NPI projects across different stages of development, prioritising resources and providing clear direction under pressure.
- Own NPI planning and APQP deliverables, including PPAP, validation plans, FMEAs, Control plans, and ensure timely closure of quality gates and handover to operations.
- Define and deliver validation strategies, capability studies, MSA/gauge R&R, and SPC for new processes and parts in collaboration with the Metrology Team.
- Lead cross-functional activity with Design, Manufacturing Engineering, Production, Process Engineering, Supplier Quality, and Test to ensure cohesive DFM decisions and programme delivery.
- Drive quality strategies for projects introducing new technologies and first-of-type processes, assessing risk and implementing suitable controls to protect production readiness.
- Lead containment, structured problem-solving (8D, RCA, Ishikawa, 5 Whys), and verification of corrective action effectiveness to minimise escalation and ensure projects handed to series will run smoothly.
- Monitor, report, and present NPI quality metrics and status to programme leadership and the Quality Manager, escalating only with defined mitigation plans when required.
- Support audits and ensure compliance with IATF principles and internal quality system requirements.
What You'll Bring:
- Degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Materials, Composites, Manufacturing) or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5–8 years' quality engineering experience with a proven track record delivering development projects into production in an IATF/automotive quality environment.
- Demonstrable, composites experience across development and production (prepreg/autoclave, OOA, RTM/infusion, bonding/assembly) and associated NDT/inspection methods.
- Demonstrable experience introducing new technologies/first-of-type processes into production and managing associated NPI risks.
- Experience managing or leading multiple engineers/technicians and allocating resources across concurrent programmes.
- Deep practical knowledge and use of APQP, PFMEA, Control Plans, PPAP, MSA, SPC, and structured RCA methodologies.
- Experience with inspection for complex composite components and familiarity with composite-specific failure modes.
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, and presentation skills; ability to influence cross-functional teams and make decisions under pressure.
What We'll Do for You:
- 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?
McLaren Automotive exists to create breathtaking 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.