Lead Tyre Performance Engineer

At McLaren, our mission is to set the standard for high performance in sport. And everyone, in every part of the team, has a role to play. So if you want to test your ideas with the world watching... And measure your progress in milliseconds... And play your part in racing history... You belong here. High performance starts with you.

Purpose of the Role:

As the Tyre Performance Lead Engineer, you will be the primary point of contact at the track for all tyre‑related operations and performance matters. You will lead the event support function, ensuring clear, concise and fast delivery of tyre analysis to Race Engineering, Performance, and the wider Engineering teams.

This role offers the opportunity to lead a sub‑team of tyre performance engineers, shape our analysis capability, and contribute directly to car development throughout the race season.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Leading the end‑to‑end event support process for tyre performance at all race and test events.

• Delivering real‑time tyre data analysis during high‑pressure race weekends.

• Identifying performance opportunities and providing actionable setup recommendations.

• Developing and enhancing tyre analysis tools, methods, and processes.

• Supporting and developing tyre performance engineers, including trackside exposure and technical growth.

• Documenting processes and maintaining strong cross‑functional relationships across Performance, Race Engineering and the wider Engineering Department.

• Travelling to most race and test events, with some rotation opportunities to support rest and recovery.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Strong experience managing complex tasks and people in a high‑intensity trackside or similar environment.

• Deep knowledge of tyre behaviour, performance analysis and broader vehicle modelling.

• 3–5 years’ experience in tyre or performance analysis, with a proven ability to extract and communicate insights from large datasets.

• Experience in Performance Engineering or Race Engineering.

• Understanding of race‑car setup trade‑offs across tyres, mechanical systems, and aerodynamics.

• Proficiency in MATLAB for analysis tool development.

• A Master’s degree in a relevant engineering discipline.

Personal Attributes:

• Strong team player with the confidence to make independent decisions.

• Experienced leader with excellent communication skills, able to influence and guide a wide audience.

• Highly driven, analytical and solutions‑focused, with strong problem‑solving skills.

• Adaptable and open‑minded, able to manage rapid changes in scope or direction.

• Committed to learning, sharing knowledge and developing others in the team.

What McLaren can offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.