Supplier Quality Development; SQD Engineer

We are hiring 6x SQD Engineers on permanent full time roles. Please note we will consider locations in Bicester & Woking.

Please see commodities below:

3 x ICE Propulsion

1x Composites

2x Electrical Propulsion

As part of McLaren Automotive’s multi-propulsion strategy and ongoing growth, we are strengthening our Supplier Quality & Development (SQD) team. This role will focus on managing suppliers for powertrain components, ensuring that high quality, delivery, and reliability standards are met across new and existing vehicle programmes.

Operating primarily from the UK with a global remit, you will support suppliers throughout the product lifecycle—from sourcing and industrialisation to series production—ensuring successful launches and ongoing performance. This role is supplier‑facing and hands‑on, with responsibilities including process feasibility, quality planning, and issue resolution.

• Conduct thorough assessments of new global supplier sites to ensure a competent and reliable supply base.
• Ensure non‑IATF
  16949 suppliers achieve certification in line with approved nomination plans.
• Collaborate with Engineering and Purchasing to select and nominate capable suppliers aligned with programme requirements.
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) & PPAP
• Support and implement APQP for all new tooled parts, ensuring timely and robust completion of activities.
• Work with Engineering and suppliers to complete PPAPs 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 and define feasible manufacturing processes that meet quality and delivery targets.
• Ensure suppliers meet launch and delivery commitments in line with APQP requirements.
• Manage suppliers during series production to maintain PPAP compliance and resolve quality, capacity, and delivery concerns.
• 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.
• Implement risk mitigation strategies to prevent supply chain disruptions and ensure business continuity.
• 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.
• Develop and implement improvement strategies with suppliers to enhance performance and capability.

• Strong understanding of the end‑to‑end supply chains within typical automotive OEM supplier networks.
• In‑depth knowledge of automotive OEM manufacturing processes
• 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 goods receipt to final dispatch—when required.
• Skilled in scenario planning to identify risks and define effective mitigation strategies as needed

• Language:
  Fluent in English (oral & written)
• Qualifications:
  
  Degree‑level qualification in a technical engineering discipline or equivalent practical experience.
• Commodity Expertise:
  Must possess deep commodity expertise, including a strong understanding of supplier manufacturing processes, tooling requirements, and typical quality and delivery risks associated with their commodity area.
• Supplier Quality Expertise:
  Proven experience in SQA/SQE roles, including leading suppliers through multiple new model launches.
• Core Quality Tools: PPAP, MSA, APQP, FMEA, SPC
• Structured…