Engineering Industrial Placement 2027

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.

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

We are recruiting for Industrial Placement Interns to join our world-class Engineering team at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey. As an Engineering Intern, you will support the design, development, and delivery of our high-performance road cars, contributing to engineering projects and gaining first-hand experience of how McLaren turns cutting-edge concepts into world-class vehicles.

This 12-month programme (2x six-month placements) will provide hands-on experience in an advanced automotive engineering environment. Working alongside experienced Engineers and technical specialists, you will develop technical and practical skills through gaining exposure to the tools, processes, and expertise that define McLaren’s Engineering excellence.

Please note this is an on-site position.

What You'll Do

You will be assigned to one of our Engineering departments, including Vehicle Development, Design Engineering, Project Management, Powertrain, Chassis & Vehicle Technology, Body Engineering, and Electrical Systems & Controls.

During your Industrial Placement year, you’ll be actively involved in live projects, helping to ensure our new models meet McLaren’s uncompromising standards for performance, quality, and innovation. Key responsibilities may include:

• Support component and system design activities using CAD and simulation tools.
• Assist in prototype builds and testing, helping to gather and analyse performance data.
• Contribute to design validation activities, ensuring parts and systems meet performance and durability targets.
• Help develop and refine engineering processes and documentation.
• Participate in engineering change requests and design reviews.
• Work with suppliers and cross-functional teams to resolve technical queries.
• Support vehicle and rig testing programmes, analysing results and providing recommendations.
• Contribute to problem-solving activities during the build, test, and validation phases.

Throughout the placement, you will gain valuable insight into McLaren’s engineering lifecycle—from early concept through to production sign-off—while developing the skills to support your future career in automotive engineering.

What You'll Bring

• Currently studying a relevant Engineering degree at a UK university and predicted to achieve a 2:1 or above. 
• A strong interest in high-performance vehicle design and development. 
• Enthusiasm for working in a fast-paced engineering environment. 
• Analytical thinking and a willingness to engage with complex engineering challenges. 
• Strong communication and collaboration skills. 
• Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools, or engineering analysis techniques is advantageous. 

You must also bring a passion for cars, and a desire to work at the cutting edge of the automotive industry within our R&D business area.

Personal Attributes:

We’re seeking individuals who bring creativity, technical rigour, and a passion for pushing engineering boundaries. You should demonstrate:

•  Engineering mindset – enjoys problem-solving and creating practical, high-quality solutions.
• Attention to detail – accuracy in analysis, design, and documentation is critical.
• Problem-solving – able to approach technical challenges methodically and creatively.
• Adaptability – comfortable working across multiple engineering functions.
• Collaboration – builds strong working relationships with engineers, technicians, and cross-functional teams.
• Initiative – proactive in taking on tasks and identifying opportunities to contribute.
• Resilience – remains focused and constructive under pressure.
• Commercial awareness – understands how engineering decisions affect cost, quality, and timing.
• Clear communicator – able to share ideas and updates effectively with different audiences
• AI Proficiency – Comfortable using AI tools ethically and effectively to support learning, productivity, innovation, and problem-solving.
• Passion for performance engineering – aligned with McLaren’s vision and dedication to innovation.

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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