Principal Engineer – Process & Systems

Job Title

Principal Engineer – Process & Systems

 #

59471

Date posted

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Country

United Kingdom

Location

Woking

Business area

Manufacturing

Department

Manufacturing Controls

Position level

5 - Supervisory / Professional​ - (L-17)

Working time

Full Time

Contract type

Permanent

Working pattern

7:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday

Salary

N/A

What to Expect
Reporting directly to the Controls Manager, the Principal Engineer – Process & Systems delivers and integrates manufacturing electrical processes, diagnostic systems, software deployment, and vehicle commissioning solutions across vehicle programmes.

The role owns technical delivery within its assigned scope, from requirements and process definition through validation, production introduction, issue resolution, and readiness evidence.

Working with Engineering, Manufacturing, IT, Aftersales, programme teams, and suppliers, the role supports delivery through VP, PP, SOP, and series production.
What You'll Do
Define and deliver robust manufacturing electrical processes, system requirements, interfaces, validation plans, and implementation evidence.

Deploy and support diagnostic tool chains, End-of-Line validation, software download, coding, commissioning, traceability, and fault-diagnosis capability.

Ensure assigned solutions meet quality, cybersecurity, configuration-control, throughput, reliability, and production-readiness requirements.

Maintain requirements, process documentation, PFMEAs, Control Plans, validation evidence, risks, issues, and release records.

Investigate complex electrical, software, diagnostic, and integration faults using structured problem-solving methods and verify corrective actions.

Coordinate cross-functional and supplier deliverables, escalating risks and recovery actions to protect programme timing, quality, and cost.

Technical Expertise
· Vehicle electrical architectures,
· CAN/CAN FD,
· Automotive Ethernet,
· UDS/DoIP,
· EOL systems,
· SWDL,
· Coding and configuration,
· Cybersecurity,
· SDV,
· OTA,
· Manufacturing diagnostics.
What You'll Bring
Experience Significant experience in automotive electrical systems, diagnostics, manufacturing controls, process engineering, systems integration, or vehicle software deployment.

Proven delivery of complex technical work packages from requirements and validation through production implementation.

Experience supporting vehicle programmes through VP, PP, SOP, and series production within cross-functional and supplier environments.

High-performance, premium, or low-volume automotive manufacturing experience is desirable.

Personal Attributes Delivery-focused, analytical, resilient, and detail-oriented.

Proactive and pragmatic, with strong problem-solving and stakeholder communication skills.

Calm under pressure and committed to quality, process discipline, and operational excellence.

Success Measures Success will be measured by:

On-time delivery and validated readiness of assigned VP, PP, SOP, and series-production work packages.

Reliable integration of diagnostic, software-download, commissioning, and manufacturing process capability.

Achievement of agreed quality, throughput, availability, compliance, and fault-reduction targets.

Timely closure of requirements, validation evidence, risks, issues, and supplier actions within approved timing and cost.
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’…