Find out more

Manufacturing Industrial Placement 2027

Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automotive.

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.

Webinar Highlight
What's it like when you first join McLaren? Relocation, making new friends, learning new things...
To watch the full Gradcracker/McLaren Automotive webinar, click here.

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 an Industrial Placement Intern to join our Manufacturing Engineering team at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, Surrey. As a Manufacturing Intern, you’ll support critical operations across our production environment—helping to implement new build processes, drive continuous improvement, and contribute to the performance and precision McLaren is known for.

This is a 12-month, full-time Industrial Placement designed to give you hands-on experience and practical insight into high-performance automotive manufacturing. You’ll work alongside experienced engineers and production professionals, gaining exposure to the tools, processes, and mindset that bring our iconic cars to life.

Please note this is an on-site position (5 days per week).

What You'll Do

During your Industrial Placement Year, you will be immersed in core manufacturing functions. You’ll play an active role in live engineering and production support projects. Key responsibilities may include:

  • Supporting the integration of new model build processes into live production.
  • Assisting in process mapping, sequencing, and maintaining traceability documentation.
  • Contributing to engineering change assessments and helping to coordinate design reviews.
  • Participating in time and motion studies and line balancing to improve efficiency.
  • Helping to identify production bottlenecks and working cross-functionally to resolve issues.
  • Applying lean principles to reduce waste, enhance productivity, and improve build quality.
  • Collaborating on facility layout planning and production simulation modelling.
  • Supporting wider manufacturing projects as needed based on business requirements.

Throughout the Industrial Placement Year, you’ll gain an understanding of how McLaren delivers performance at scale—from initial process design to final vehicle assembly—and build key skills to support your early career. 

What You'll Bring

  • Supporting the integration of new model build processes into live production.
  • Assisting in process mapping, sequencing, and maintaining traceability documentation.
  • Contributing to engineering change assessments and helping to coordinate design reviews.
  • Participating in time and motion studies and line balancing to improve efficiency.
  • Helping to identify production bottlenecks and working cross-functionally to resolve issues.
  • Applying lean principles to reduce waste, enhance productivity, and improve build quality.
  • Collaborating on facility layout planning and production simulation modelling.
  • Supporting wider manufacturing projects as needed based on business requirements.

Personal Attributes:

We’re looking for individuals who are curious, proactive, and driven to contribute in a fast-moving production environment. Key traits include:

  • Hands-on mindset – ready to roll up your sleeves and support real-time manufacturing projects.
  • Attention to detail – accuracy in planning, measuring, and reporting is critical.
  • Problem-solving – analytical thinker who can spot inefficiencies and suggest improvements.
  • Adaptability – able to work across different production functions and embrace fast change.
  • Collaboration – works effectively with technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams.
  • Initiative – takes ownership of tasks and actively looks for ways to contribute.
  • Resilience – stays focused and positive in a high-pressure, performance-driven environment.
  • Commercial awareness – appreciates how quality, time, and cost interact in manufacturing.
  • AI proficiency – comfortable using AI tools ethically and effectively to support learning, productivity and problem-solving,
  • Communication – clear, respectful, and confident when sharing ideas or updates.
  • Passion for performance – aligned with McLaren’s commitment to engineering excellence.

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
We've signed the Gradcracker feedback pledge.
(This means that we will supply feedback if requested after an interview.)

1e127ede32d8f816eacfb0aed73cee11

Job ID Number: 59536
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.

This button will open a new tab and take you directly to the employer's website.
Please remember, if asked, that you found this opportunity on Gradcracker.
Add to Shortlist
Shortlisted
  • Deadline
    Ongoing
  • Hiring Multiple Candidates
    Yes
  • Salary
    Competitive + benefits
  • Degree required
    2:1 and above (expected)
  • Duration
    12 months
  • Location
    Woking (Surrey)
Show location/s on map
Disciplines Accepted...
  • Automotive
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials/Metallurgy
  • Mechanical
The 2026/27
Gradcracker Toolkit
Explore the online version
For our new webinar season we are inviting students to submit questions to our featured employers.
Find out more here
© 2007 - 2026 Gradcracker Limited
Log in/Register
Gradcracker Limited, October House, Long Street, Easingwold, York, YO61 3HX
01347 823822
info@gradcracker.com
Company registration number: 6370348