Lead Project Engineer

Our OEM Client based in Gaydon, is searching for a Lead Project Engineer to join their team, Inside IR35. This is a 12-month contract position (maternity cover) until 31st March 2026.

Umbrella Pay Rate: £33.64 per hour.

We are currently looking for an experienced engineer to join us as a Lead Engineer in an engineering integration team that delivers a Durability, Robustness and Towing Customer Experience. The team sits in Vehicle Engineering and is responsible for the confidence we have in the whole vehicle, for the length of its life, wherever they go in the world.

This role will aim to enhance the customer experience through the design, development, measurement and balance of customer attributes for our client's vehicles. Utilising your engineering experience, you will take the lead on Project Managing vehicle programmes and/or technology projects. The scope of the role could include the whole vehicle development lifecycle from benchmarking, developing design solutions with delivery teams through virtual/physical verification/validation phases to Job#1 delivery. The ideal candidate will have experience and enthusiasm for the automotive sector with desire to learn, build and apply technology and/or competitor knowledge.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Project Manage Vehicle or Technology Programmes.
• Detailed strategy and delivery planning for the attribute utilising CAE, RLD, rig and/or driven DV activities with status reporting.
• Produce solutions for projects and be able to apply technical subject matter expertise to new knowledge into foundation knowledge and vehicle programs.
• Working with system and component areas to define and maintain cascaded target requirements in support of overall vehicle level targets (RMDV, Doors as required).
• Work with Component Engineers and suppliers as required to drive implementation and resolution of all engineering solutions.
• Research concept ideas using complex modelling to work out whether new developments and innovations would work and be cost effective.
• Deliver technical recommendations and reports.
• Conduct benchmarking studies to determine best practices, industry movements and future trends.
• Produce solutions for projects by Leading Subject Matter Expert groups to resolutions.
• Working with system and component areas to support of overall vehicle level targets.
• Support Programme Team to ensure all technical issues are identified and resolved.
• Many opportunities to share and convey knowledge, experiences or innovations to a progressive forward-thinking team.

What you’ll be part of:

• A team with a collective and collaborative mindset.
• A team that rewards and support drive and ambition.
• A team with the ability to listen to or challenge existing thinking in a positive way.

What you’ll need:

• Broad appreciation of vehicle technologies.
• An individual with a customer first mindset.
• A baseline engineering understanding of Engineering Principles.
• Drive to learning and contribute to Durability and Robustness Team.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Durability and Strength principles.
• Experience in Project Management of engineering test activities.
• Previous use of problem-solving including application of Root Cause Analysis, DoE etc.
• Understanding of Systems Engineering Principles
• Relevant degree or equivalent experience preferred.
• Ability to effectively explain complex ideas.
• Microsoft package elements Power Point and Excel.
• Knowledge of whole vehicle engineering.