Materials Engineer

Job Title

Materials Engineer

 #

58854

Date posted

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Woking

Business area

Quality

Department

Perceived Quality

Position level

5 - Supervisory / Professional​ - (L-15)

Working time

Full Time

Contract type

Permanent

Working pattern

9am - 6pm Monday to Friday

What to Expect
As a Materials Engineer, you will support the examination, measurement, and analysis of component materials to ensure they meet McLaren Automotive’s uncompromising quality standards. This role focuses on developing your technical skills and contributing to material testing and failure analysis activities. You will work closely with experienced engineers, supporting design and production teams with material data and insights within a fast-growing, high-performance automotive environment.

What You'll Do
Support material investigations, including root cause analysis of failure mechanisms and performance degradation.  Carry out material testing strategies, covering tensile, impact, fatigue, corrosion resistance, and thermal property evaluations.  Assist with sample preparation and microstructural analysis.  Provide material test data and observations to support engineering and design teams.  Support communication with suppliers to gather material information and confirm compliance within material specifications.  

Prepare clear technical reports and recommendations to stakeholders, influencing product development and validation strategies.  Contribute to process improvements in material analysis processes, and help implement new tools or methods where appropriate.  Collaborate with team members, mentor early career students within the team.
What You'll Bring
Technical Competencies Bachelors, Masters or PhD in Materials Engineering, Materials Science or related field Some industrial experience; internship, placement, etc. preferably in the Automotive or Aerospace industry Basic understanding of failure mechanisms, fatigue behaviour, and environmental degradation of all material types Familiarity of material testing techniques Awareness of quality standards and engineering best practices Comprehensive understanding of what materials are used in the automotive sector (metallics, polymers, etc.)

Interest in developing deeper knowledge of failure mechanisms Business Knowledge Awareness of manufacturing processes and their relevance to automotive applications Basic understanding of supply chain considerations (can be developed on the job) Proficiency in CAD and other engineering software tools  Interpersonal Skills Strong communication and influencing skills, capable of engaging stakeholders within engineering teams Curious mindset with a desire to learn and grow Ability to manage assigned tasks and stay organised Collaborative approach and willingness to support team objectives Flexible and adaptable to evolving business needs and technological advancements.

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 policiesA 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.