Automotive test engineer prospects
Discussion
After almost 15 years in several test / development engineering roles (incl F1) at a big oil company, i am considering leaving and want to try out life at a small OEM who put out performance or unique cars.
Obvious candidates are AML (special operations) where i have some contacts and Mclaren (incl MSO) where i can get some. Also considering Lotus, Dyson EV, Polestar, and partner firms like Cosworth and Prodrive etc.
Would not having come through a straight OEM route hurt my chances?
I know that at AML and McLaren, the "prestige" comes ahead of the money. I could accept a suitable position there for a couple years just to bolster my CV and learn some new skills. A good environment and working in a small high performing team is also quite important to me (honestly I've been a bit spoilt!).
But i would also need a salary (pre tax) starting with a 5... am i dreaming?
Is there anywhere else (UK) to consider?
Obvious candidates are AML (special operations) where i have some contacts and Mclaren (incl MSO) where i can get some. Also considering Lotus, Dyson EV, Polestar, and partner firms like Cosworth and Prodrive etc.
Would not having come through a straight OEM route hurt my chances?
I know that at AML and McLaren, the "prestige" comes ahead of the money. I could accept a suitable position there for a couple years just to bolster my CV and learn some new skills. A good environment and working in a small high performing team is also quite important to me (honestly I've been a bit spoilt!).
But i would also need a salary (pre tax) starting with a 5... am i dreaming?
Is there anywhere else (UK) to consider?
skinny said:
I know that at AML and McLaren, the "prestige" comes ahead of the money.
Yer AML tried that with me too.I don't get the whole AML mentality about themselves, their cars are "ok" and their share price just keeps falling so why the bIg head?
I've yet to hear anything nice said about working at Mclaren either.
McLaren (road car not race car) shouldn't care about not having worked "prestige" before - they've taken grads with little to no experience off me before and given them salaries starting with 4, and they've also taken experienced folk I know who've been civil servants for most of their lives (albeit in automotive approval) whom I presume were paid a lot more than something beginning with 4.
If you only want to do it for a couple of years to bolster the CV, what's the plan for afterwards?
I highly doubt your current experience will be a barrier to getting a job with anyone you've listed.
Looking at AML vacancies it seems you need to be management grade or above for £50k+ salary. So it really depends what level of responsibility you're aiming for? Most OEMs seem to be similar salary wise.
McLaren have a lot of staff turnover and not so great reputation as mentioned above.
AML may not be too secure if you believe the news.
Lotus and Polestar are good shouts (both Geely funded and growing).
Dyson probably an ok option too (basically a load of ex AML people, and probably now Honda!).
There's other independent engineering outfits like Multimatic and RML that are also worth looking at.
Or go independent test services with someone like Millbrook, MIRA, IDIADA, intertek etc.
I highly doubt your current experience will be a barrier to getting a job with anyone you've listed.
Looking at AML vacancies it seems you need to be management grade or above for £50k+ salary. So it really depends what level of responsibility you're aiming for? Most OEMs seem to be similar salary wise.
McLaren have a lot of staff turnover and not so great reputation as mentioned above.
AML may not be too secure if you believe the news.
Lotus and Polestar are good shouts (both Geely funded and growing).
Dyson probably an ok option too (basically a load of ex AML people, and probably now Honda!).
There's other independent engineering outfits like Multimatic and RML that are also worth looking at.
Or go independent test services with someone like Millbrook, MIRA, IDIADA, intertek etc.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
I've only considered the next 2-3 years just because this is a fair departure for me so to plan the next 10 or even 5 years in the unknown would be difficult. However, some of the next steps are about building skills, experience, and contacts, so ultimately I'm probably expecting to move again once or twice over the next 10 years to find something that i could consider a long term career path (unless i get very lucky on my first try).
I actually remembered multimatic just this morning coincidentally as somewhere else to consider. I might have to work a little harder to get at 'in' there though. Same for Williams Advanced engineering.
Pure test houses like Millbrook / Mira i have considered but i think i wouldn't be as interested as i like the feedback / development part of the process as much as the actual testing so that probably wouldnt fulfil me
I've only considered the next 2-3 years just because this is a fair departure for me so to plan the next 10 or even 5 years in the unknown would be difficult. However, some of the next steps are about building skills, experience, and contacts, so ultimately I'm probably expecting to move again once or twice over the next 10 years to find something that i could consider a long term career path (unless i get very lucky on my first try).
I actually remembered multimatic just this morning coincidentally as somewhere else to consider. I might have to work a little harder to get at 'in' there though. Same for Williams Advanced engineering.
Pure test houses like Millbrook / Mira i have considered but i think i wouldn't be as interested as i like the feedback / development part of the process as much as the actual testing so that probably wouldnt fulfil me
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