Team Leader - Test & Development

Account Manager at TCG | Motorsport, Defence & Clean Tech Start-ups | X-McLaren Production Lead

Location: Warwick (on-site, 5 days)

Salary: Up to £60,000

Working hours: 37 hours per week (flexi leave scheme)

Team size: 6 direct reports. Reports to Chief Engineer.

We are supporting a long‑established UK vehicle manufacturer in appointing a Test & Development Team Leader
. This senior technical leadership role sits at the heart of product verification and regulatory compliance, leading a stable, highly experienced Test & Development function. You will be accountable for planning, resourcing, executing and reporting all design validation activities across new technologies, product updates and certification programmes. The role is a genuine people‑manager position with "as‑and‑when" hands‑on technical involvement.

• Lead and develop a team of six Test & Development Engineers
• Own delivery of full vehicle and system‑level Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)
• Schedule and manage all internal and external validation and certification activities
• Ensure all new products, technologies and vehicle updates are robustly validated prior to release
• Manage development vehicle fleet, test equipment, calibration and asset readiness
• Conduct 1‑to‑1s, performance development and training planning
• Control project delivery against cost, timing and technical targets
• Maintain traceable test documentation and technical reporting
• Drive continuous improvement of test processes and validation methodology

• Degree in Engineering (or equivalent)
• Proven experience leading test & validation teams in an agile engineering environment
• Delivery of structured Design Validation Programmes (DVPs)
• Coordination of test programmes from concept through to completion
• Strong knowledge of instrumentation and measurement systems including strain gauges, load cells, LVDTs, accelerometers (AC/DC), thermocouples, pressure and flow sensors, microphones
• Experience with HBM Quantum
  
  X / Vector DAQ systems and associated software
• Data analysis and post‑processing using tools such as DIAdem, MATLAB, CATmanAP, nCode
• CAN data logging and interpretation (J1939)
• Production of concise, technically robust validation reports
• Strong understanding of EN / FMVSS / ECWVTA standards and engineering compliance frameworks
• Highly organised, delivery‑focused, and confident presenting to senior stakeholders

• Whole‑vehicle DVP ownership on major vehicle programmes
• Electric vehicle test and validation exposure
• Truck, automotive or off‑highway vehicle experience
• Knowledge of automotive gateways and development deliverables
• Six Sigma / 8D / 5Y problem‑solving methodologies

• Full UK driving licence
• Willingness to travel occasionally and attend supplier/customer sites
• Comfortable working in fast‑paced development environments

• Highly established, technically capable Test & Development team
• Genuine leadership remit with real authority over validation strategy and delivery
• Long‑term, stable environment with strong engineering culture
• Competitive salary to £60k and flexible leave scheme

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Motor Vehicle Manufacturing and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing