Lead Engineer (Seat Belts)

Our OEM Client based in Gaydon, is searching for a Lead Engineer (Seat Belts)to join their team, Inside IR35. This is a contract position until 31st March 2026.

Umbrella Pay Rate: £33.64 per hour.

The purpose of this role is to co-ordinate the design, development, testing and introduction of new or modified seat belt system across specific programmes.

Operating in a cross-functional organisation, the Lead Engineer will report into the Chapter Leader and where delivering on specific vehicle programmes, have a matrix report into the programme Technical Chapter Lead.

The role requires the individual to deliver the commodity plan to quality, cost and time and lead the technical content and integrity of the seat belt systems across specific vehicle programmes.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• Support the on-cycle squad (including direction from Tech Chapter Leader, Product Owner and Scrum Master) in order to deliver the ABR/PI aspiration, delivering value in each sprint, aligned to the relevant Programme Group vision and epics.
• Contribute to the delivery of the seat belt system onto the programmes, in-line with the Product Creation & Delivery System and/or Agile Methodology.
• Maintaining the Worldwide Engineering Release System (WERS).
• Manage component and sub-system test plans, including detailed planning of test and development stages through to design verification sign-off and support Engineering Test Teams with rectification of issues.
• Resolve issues with component and sub-system engineering and vehicle attribute teams to develop designs that meet targets.
• Developing and managing the implementation of feasible technical solutions to achieve programme targets.
• Programme targets for cost, weight, quality (utilising Failure Mode Avoidance techniques) and functional performance.
• Managing all the Key Stakeholders associated with safety component development (e.g. Suppliers, Purchasing, Vehicle Engineering, Quality, Design, Optical & Perceived Quality, Finance, Manufacturing, Service, Logistics, etc.).

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Previous experience of leading the resolution of business, technical and process issues within an Automotive Engineering Project Team environment.
• A good working knowledge of product creation & delivery, engineering change control, product definition and change management processes.
• Engineering related Degree or relevant equivalent experience.
• Proven experience of engineering project management within a technical environment, ideally encompassing the management of Suppliers or other External Organisations.
• Previous experience in Body Engineering / Safety Components, Restraint Electronics or Vehicle Safety environments.
• Working knowledge of safety system development including airbag or seat belt dynamic performance, manufacturing processes and related standards and test procedures or vehicle safety attribute delivery or test.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Knowledge of vehicle level safety requirements.
• At least one full development cycle on Safety Components or interior system.
• Trained/Experienced using AGILE Methodology and Agile planning tools such as Jira and Confluence.
• Experience in Design Failure Mode Effect Analysis (DFMEA) & Design Review Based of Failure Mode (DRBFM).

Essential Personal Profile:

• Demonstrates our Creator’s Code behaviours of Customer Love, Unity, Integrity, Growth and Impact.
• Continually working hard to deliver a modern luxury experience to earn and keep our customer’s trust and loyalty.
• Embracing differences, being empathetic, welcoming challenges together empowering each other to deliver.
• Building trust by speaking openly and honestly, listening attentively, and treating others respectfully.
• Taking initiative and using failure as an opportunity to learn. We develop by giving + seeking honest feedback.
• Making a difference through our results.
• We innovate and never lose sight of what we want to achieve.
• A passion for the automotive industry and the potential of automotive technology
• Comfortable challenging cross-functionally and at a variety of levels within the business.
• An effective team player, actively develops and supports team members.

Desirable Personal Profile:

• Resilient and enthusiastic, an individual able to deliver results under pressure, whilst responding constructively to new ideas and inputs.
• A dynamic and determined individual, highly driven, committed and results-orientated with significant pace, energy and confidence.
• Able to combine a short-term, pragmatic focus with strategic vision.
• Able to deliver quality and consistency in a complex, highly demanding environment with a range of expectations on what customer-focussed solutions might look like.
• An individual with the ability to challenge existing thinking in a positive way whilst building credibility and trust through experience and personal style.