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.
Overview
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.
Key Responsibilities
* 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
Required Technical Background
Essential
* 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 QuantumX / 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
Desirable
* 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
Additional Requirements
* Full UK driving licence
* Willingness to travel occasionally and attend supplier/customer sites
* Comfortable working in fast‑paced development environments
Why This Role
* 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
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing and Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing
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