Materials Engineer

Materials Engineer

McLaren Automotive

Woking, United Kingdom

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.