POSITION: Vehicle Platform Tech Centre Lead - Forward Programmes

POSTING END DATE: 17/04/2025

LOCATION: Gaydon, Warwickshire (UK)

SALARY: Competitive

At JLR, we're on a continual journey to reimagine the future of modern luxury, and we want you to be part of it. Through our exquisite and timeless house of brands – Range Rover, Defender, Discovery and Jaguar – we're defining a new approach to sustainability and providing exceptional experiences. As a leader here, you have the opportunity to influence the way we think, providing your unique insight and vision for a better future. It's time to become a proud creator.
 
WHAT TO EXPECT

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Senior Leadership Team working on the future portfolio of JLR vehicles. Leading a Forward Model Architecture Team, you will be responsible for delivering a compatible set of assumptions at the <PD> / <PS> gateways for commodities and systems within the Vehicle Platform organisation, readying the Programme to be handed over to the AGILE Squads.

To conduct this role, you will need experience managing the delivery of projects containing Mechatronic Components and Systems in the Concept / Strategy Phase. Experience of delivering projects into series production would also be beneficial.

The role requires a significant amount of interaction and influence across business functions i.e. Vehicle Packaging / Integration / Finance / Programme Management / Creative plus All Chapters across Engineering including Attributes and Industrial Operations.

Vehicle Platform commodities span Body, Chassis and Propulsion. A Systems approach is required to ensure targets are correctly cascaded from Vehicle / Customer level through the system layer to component and that validation / verification methods provide entitlement to deliver world class levels of Quality. Whilst you will not have direct ownership / responsibility to develop these metrics / systems, there is a responsibility to ensure the Programme is compatible by being curious and taking a logical / methodical approach and applying a solid understanding of Engineering Principles.

This role works closely with Forward Programmes Integration team, who support with holistic technical evaluation and options and, the Technology Centres who provide the book of knowledge for their commodities which provide the foundation for all our work.

Propulsion content & scope in addition to Body-Chassis commodities following the recent formation of Vehicle Platform is to be determined and finalised but going forward these commodities should be considered in scope.

THE ROLE

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for creating with Technology Centres and, aligning with all stakeholders balanced RADS assumptions (Harlequins) in BURNS format.  This covers both hardware and software for all vehicle programmes and is iteratively developed to <PD> Gateway.  Further accountable for leading the alignment of Design Systems & Content with Creative and all other stakeholders.
• Support business case inputs in the context of meeting cascaded targets in parallel to developing assumptions above for Programme and Global Product Strategy.  This includes investment and variable costs and aligning with key stakeholders e.g. Cost Engineering, Industrial Operations, Creative.
• Coordinate and lead the Vehicle Platform response for PCDS programme deliverables up to <PD> gateway employing Agile methodology, toolset and cadence as a foundation to support data judgements and business gateways.
• Actively support the transaction of new technologies developed in Off-Cycle Engineering with robust technical and system readiness into forward vehicle programmes
• Drive quality improvement projects into forward vehicle programmes in the context of both lessons to be learnt and newness & severity, supporting Company Quality metrics e.g. repairs per thousand, assists per thousand, things gone wrong.
• Stakeholder management to ensure that all vehicle programme proposals work within architectural bandwidths and where proposals stretch the bandwidth these are robustly assessed and developed.
• Accountable for determining the resource demand together with the Technology Centres for forward vehicle programmes ahead of <PD> and ensuring resourcing to that model with appropriate headcount and skills.
• Assist Vehicle Programmes and Vehicle Platform delivery teams in the development of an effective full Agile operating model and professionally handing over our technical and business solutions to the delivery squads between <PD> and <PS>.
• Lead the employee net promoter score, capability and skill growth of the forward programme team, fostering Creators’ Code, continuous learning and improvement.

Key Performance Indicators

• Managed through Capabilities that sit under the Product Engineering Strategic Themes and reference PCDS deliverables. These include:
  • Forward Programmes PCDS deliverables for data judgements VDJ and ADJ and corresponding business gateways <CS>, <KO> and <PD>
• Budget
  • Vehicle Programme targets for variable cost & investment (TFLE)
  • Vehicle Platform fiscal year demand for forward vehicle programmes
  • Own departmental fiscal year budget, resource and overheads
• Attribute targets set within vehicle programmes, e.g. Quality, Weight, Sustainability, Performance, Timing
• Department PULSE and eNPS
• Talent management including skills gaps vs growth plans

Key Interactions

• Vehicle Programmes & Global Product Strategy (GPS)
• Creative – Studio Engineering, Design Creatives & Design Programmes
• Vehicle Engineering, including Vehicle Architecture and Vehicle Attributes
• Other Product Engineering, including Digital Platform, Energy Platform, Propulsion and Operations
• Industrial Operations, including Advanced Manufacturing Engineering
• Finance including Cost Engineering

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Essential Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Extensive experience of Vehicle Platform technologies or Mechatronics delivery with broad technical knowledge across a wide range of Vehicle Platform or Mechatronic commodities.
• Knowledge of the entire ‘System V’ including how customer requirements are cascaded down the left hand side of the V to component level and then validated up to vehicle level on the right hand side.
• Ability to conceptualise and communicate complex topics to senior stakeholders in a clear and understandable manner.
• Good knowledge of budgeting and resource allocation.
• Extensive knowledge of engineering and problem-solving tools, and the ability to guide teams in their use.
• Experience of applying AGILE operating principles and use of the AGILE Toolset (JIRA / Confluence).

Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Experience
 

• Some experience of vehicle-level attributes, how they relate to customer experience and the boundaries within which they can be traded.
• Experience of working within an Agile environment is preferred.
• Experience of Plant-based vehicle launch.
• Degree qualified or equivalent experience preferred.

Personal Profile

• Demonstrates our Creators' Code behaviours of Customer Love, Unity, Integrity, Growth and Impact and capable of maintaining these behaviours when working under pressure.
• An individual with a customer first mindset who is easy to do business with and makes people feel special, driven to deliver experiences that are personalised, transparent and dependable.
• An individual who is able to lead complex, multi-disciplinary teams through short and long-term projects reinforcing positive behaviours to ensure success.
• A resilient individual who has strong influencing and engagement skills, is comfortable challenging all stakeholders and can build credibility and trust through experience and personal style.
• An individual who consistently demonstrates high levels of emotional intelligence and integrity building creditability, confidence and trust through experience and personal style.
• An individual capable of inspiring and motiving Teams to deliver commitments.
• An individual who values Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, providing a platform for all and equality of opportunity.

Creating Modern Luxury requires a modern approach to work. At JLR, hybrid working is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement providing employees flexibility around how, when and where they work. Some roles require more on-site work, but details of this can be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview stage.

We work hard to nurture a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. We understand candidates may require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please discuss these with your recruiter so we can accommodate your needs.

JLR is committed to equal opportunity for all.