Interior Design Manager

What to Expect:

The purpose of the role of an Interior Design Manager is to lead the design and development of innovative and high-quality future vehicle interiors, blending cutting-edge aesthetic concepts with functional engineering. This individual will be responsible for conceptualising and creating visually compelling, ergonomically efficient, and market-relevant interior designs of both concept and production vehicles.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, manage a talented group of designers, and ensure that our interiors not only meet customer expectations but also align with brand identity and market trends. You will have the opportunity to unleash your creativity and passion for automotive design while honing your leadership skills in a collaborative and supportive environment. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the automotive industry.

Build key relationships and collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative Interior design concepts. You will work closely with other departments such as engineering, marketing, and manufacturing, ensuring that the interior design aligns with technical feasibility, market positioning, and production requirements. Presenting design proposals to internal stakeholders, executives, and external partners, the design manager effectively communicates the rationale behind design decisions and persuasively advocates for their implementation. 

What You'll Do:

The Interior Design Manager supports senior design leadership in project planning, budgeting, and timeline management to ensure timely delivery of high-quality design solutions.  Marketing and branding team collaboration is vital in aligning designs with consumer trends, brand identity, and market position. Frequent collaboration with ergonomics, PQ, HMI and UX, to ensure the designs are highly usable and built to the highest standards. Close collaboration with the engineering teams is crucial to ensure that the interior design is not only aesthetically striking but also functional and manufacturable. Present design concepts and strategies internally to design leadership and product management, effectively communicating the rationale behind decisions.Lead design reviews, supplier meetings, and digital/physical model evaluations. Reviews and guides surfaces with modelling teams for production alignment. Ensure aesthetic intent is maintained through feasibility reviews, tooling constraints, and engineering integration.

Collaborate closely with clay modelers, CAS teams, and engineering departments to refine proportions and surface details. Drive design quality through all project phases — from early ideation to final surface release. Interpret and evolve the brand’s interior design language into exciting, functional, and usable interior spaces. Support the refinement and development of selected design directions, retaining design and engineering excellence. Lead a team of talent Interior designers to generate advanced and production-ready interior design concepts through sketches, digital renderings, and 3D models. 

What You'll Bring:

• You have extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in automotive interior design, engineering, and materials. 
• You can evaluate, refine, and optimise automotive interiors, taking into account aesthetics, craftsmanship and functionality.
• You stay ahead of trends inside and outside of automotive design, materials innovation and technologies. 
• You can logically and efficiently break down complex challenges and propose innovative solutions, whether related to design, ergonomics, manufacturing processes, or engineering components. 
• You enjoy working on technical details and have a passion for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 
• You intuitively demonstrate a drive to collaborate, and ensure consistent communication across departments and teams. 
• You manage a team of Interior Designers to align on objectives, timing and project requirements. 
• You can bridge the gap between concept design and manufacturing, ensuring that the interior design vision can be achieved efficiently and to the highest standards. 
• You are detail-oriented and committed to quality, ensuring that the interior design and development processes meet both internal and external standards. 
• You actively participate in demonstrating and defining the interior design standards, validating and guiding physical and digital/VR models. 
• You have a passion for continuous improvement and learning, keeping up-to-date with emerging trends and innovations in technology, design, and the automotive market. 
• You are always looking for ways to improve efficiency and workflows, showing a willingness to change and adapt. 
• You are able to articulate complex design ideas, technical challenges, and solutions to both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including senior management and external partners. 
• You provide clear and actionable recommendations while maintaining a collaborative and solution-focused attitude. 
• You are able to build narrative and presentation stories to best sell design themes.
• Advanced Sketching & Visualization: Communicative freehand sketching and digital rendering to explore and communicate designs clearly, and 3D visualization skills alongside Photoshop to produce high-level presentation content visuals. 
• Creative Concept Development: Ability to generate original, forward-thinking design concepts that align with brand identity and future mobility trends. 
• 3D Modelling Proficiency: Expertise in software such as Alias or Blender, for creating and exploring concept themes, as well as aiding communication with the CAS modelling team. 
• Creative team communication: Clear, considered design direction given to Design team colleagues, CAS and clay modelling teams, to support efficient design development. 
• Design Strategy: Skill in developing a compelling design narrative and translating it into impactful design concepts. 
• Story Telling: Skilled in creation of PPT presentation content and narrative, to best sell ideas and design themes to a wide audience. 
• Knowledge of Automotive Trends: Deep understanding of industry trends, competitor landscape, and consumer expectations. 
• Technical & Engineering Awareness: Ability to design within manufacturing, safety, ergonomic, and regulatory constraints. 
• Collaboration & Communication: Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with engineering, marketing, and leadership teams. 
• Attention to Detail: High level of precision, care and refinement in all stages of the design process.

What We'll Do for You:

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

• Structured career development framework
• 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
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice

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.