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Manufacturing Graduate Scheme 2027

Materials, Manufacturing, Automotive, Logistics.

Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.

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McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.

What to Expect

As McLaren enters a new era, we are recruiting graduates to join our world-class Manufacturing team at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey. Manufacturing Graduates will play a pivotal role in shaping how our product range is engineered and built; supporting continuous improvement initiatives, implementing engineering changes, and helping to deliver flawless launches through every new model programme into series production. 

This is a two-year rotational programme will comprise of a number of strategic placements across key manufacturing functions. The programme is designed to develop your technical expertise, operational understanding, and leadership capability, preparing you for a career in Automotive Manufacturing, as such this is a full-time on-site position. 

What You'll Do

Throughout the programme, you will gain practical experience within McLaren’s manufacturing operations, developing a comprehensive understanding of how individual components are integrated safely, efficiently, and consistently in the production environment to deliver products of exceptional quality.

The emphasis will be on vehicle assembly and industrialisation rather than component design, by applying manufacturing engineering principles and processes, you will contribute to risk analysis, build documentation, quality control planning, jig and fixture development and delivery, material flow, and the design and optimisation of production systems. Working collaboratively across functions, you will apply a right-first-time mindset, structured problem-solving, continuous improvement, and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies to support successful new product introduction and robust series production.

During the programme, you will:

  • Collaborate with engineering teams on new model introductions, from concept handover through to series production readiness 
  • Support the development of robust build processes that meet plant sequencing, documentation, and quality requirements 
  • Conduct engineering change assessments and participate in design reviews for new product content 
  • Assist with facility layouts, simulations, and material flow planning to support scalable and efficient production systems 
  • Identify, analyse, and support resolution of production bottlenecks and operational inefficiencies 
  • Conduct time and motion studies to support line balancing and resource optimisation 
  • Apply lean manufacturing principles and APQP frameworks to drive continuous improvement, reduce waste, and enhance cycle times 
  • Contribute to cross-functional projects aligned with business priorities and operational excellence initiatives 

Your rotations will give you exposure to core areas of Manufacturing, including:

  • Logistics – supporting efficient material flow and inventory management 
  • Material Control – managing stock levels and ensuring parts availability 
  • Engineering – driving process improvements and supporting operations 
  • Manufacturing Quality & Production – maintaining quality standards and optimising daily performance

Alongside your rotations, you’ll take part in professional development workshops, innovation challenges, and knowledge-sharing sessions to sharpen both your technical expertise and leadership potential. 

What You'll Bring

  • You must have achieved, or be on track to achieve, at least a 2:1 in a relevant Engineering degree. 
  • A passion for performance vehicles and cutting-edge production environments. 
  • Strong analytical thinking and structured problem-solving abilities. 
  • The drive to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, precision-focused setting. 
  • Some experience with process analysis tools, lean methodology, or CAD software would be advantageous.
  • You must also bring a passion for cars, and a desire to work at the cutting edge of the automotive industry within our Manufacturing business area

Personal Attributes:

We’re looking for individuals who combine engineering expertise with curiosity, energy, and commitment to innovation. Desirable traits include:

  • Manufacturing mindset– a passion for process excellence, quality, and hands-on problem-solving.
  • Operational curiosity – interest in how a high-performance product is built at scale.
  • Attention to detail – care and precision in analysis, planning, and execution.
  • Continuous improvement thinking – always looking for ways to do things better.
  • Adaptability – able to pivot between technical detail and big-picture thinking.
  • Team collaboration – thrive in cross-functional environments, building trust with operators, engineers, and leadership.
  • Resilience – ability to work through challenges and maintain momentum in a high-precision, time-critical environment.
  • Ownership – proactive in taking responsibility and seeing tasks through to completion.
  • Effective communicator – clear and confident when presenting solutions and progress.
  • AI proficiency – comfortable using AI tools ethically and effectively to support learning, productivity, innovation, and problem-solving.
  • Passion for performance engineering – enthusiastic about McLaren’s vision and products.

What We'll Do for You

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

  • 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
  • Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
  • A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice
  • Opportunities to experience our fantastic cars
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Job ID Number: 59535
Can I use AI to apply?

While AI can be useful to help structure your thoughts and to check grammar, please do not rely on AI to write your CV and cover letter for you - it is easy to spot when you do! We want to see that your application is genuine, as this is our opportunity to get to know more about you.

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Shortlisted
  • Deadline
    Ongoing
  • Hiring Multiple Candidates
    Yes
  • Salary
    Competitive + benefits
  • Degree required
    2:1 and above
  • Location
    Woking (Surrey)
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Disciplines Accepted...
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials/Metallurgy
  • Mechanical
  • Supply Chain & Logistics
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