Principal Engineer – Process & Systems

Principal Engineer – Process & Systems Ref #59471

Date posted

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Country United Kingdom Location Woking Business  area

Manufacturing Department Manufacturing  Controls Position level5 - Supervisory / Professional - (L-17)
Working time

Full Time Contract type

Permanent

Working pattern7:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday

SalaryN/AWhat 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 DoDefine 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’ service
* Benefits you can adapt to your…