Senior Automotive Project Lead

Senior Automotive Project Leader Location: Crewe, United Kingdom Work Model: Full-time, fully on-site Expected Start: Q4 2026 Initial Contract Duration: 3 years, with possible extension Language: English – C1 level or higher Travel: Occasional business travel may be required About the Role HIto Solutions is looking for an experienced Senior Automotive Project Leader to join a long-term automotive engineering programme based in Crewe, UK. The successful candidate will take overall responsibility for coordinating the engineering team and managing Current Model Production activities across the complete body and trim perimeter . This is a highly visible, customer-facing role requiring strong project leadership, technical understanding and the ability to coordinate multidisciplinary engineering activities in a demanding series-production environment. Key Responsibilities Take overall responsibility for activities performed by the engineering team. Lead, steer and coordinate the assigned Lead Engineers. Ensure compliance with project milestones, timing, cost and quality targets. Act as the principal on-site interface between the engineering team and the customer organisation. Coordinate information exchange between the on-site team in Crewe and the supporting engineering team in Italy. Consolidate technical input from relevant stakeholders and represent colleagues during customer meetings when required. Organise and lead weekly project meetings, including agendas, open-point lists and minutes. Lead technical reviews and escalation meetings involving Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Purchasing, Finance, Logistics, Supplier Quality and Bill of Material functions. Manage Current Model Production issues from identification and root-cause analysis through to final resolution. Coordinate containment and permanent series-production solutions. Ensure solutions are validated and formally released through the applicable engineering change processes. Define and coordinate prototype builds, physical validation and vehicle line trials. Monitor technical risks, priorities, issue status, timing and costs. Maintain project timing plans, tracking lists and open-point lists. Obtain preliminary cost, investment and timing evaluations from suppliers. Present complex issue-resolution proposals to senior management. Support engineering releases, change approvals and homologation activities. Technical Scope The role covers: Body-in-White, including platform and upper-body structures Fenders, bonnet, doors and tailgate Closures and add-on body components Paint, sealing, sealing management and damping Exterior systems and body hardware Interior systems and trim Seating systems Restraint systems, including airbags and seatbelts Requirements Minimum 5 years of experience in a comparable automotive Project Leader role. Strong experience in Current Model Production and series-production issue resolution. Proven ability to coordinate multidisciplinary and cross-functional engineering teams. Strong knowledge of automotive product-development processes, milestones and release procedures. Experience managing engineering changes, containment actions, validation plans and production implementation. Good technical understanding of BIW, exterior, interior, seating and restraint systems. Strong stakeholder-management, communication, reporting and escalation skills. Ability to work independently and represent the engineering organisation directly on-site. Knowledge of CATIA/LCA, Teamcenter and relevant automotive PDM, BoM, release and change-management systems. Fluent English at C1 level or higher . Desirable Previous experience working on Bentley projects or within the Bentley organisation would be considered a significant advantage. Working Conditions The position is fully on-site in Crewe. Remote or hybrid working is not currently foreseen. Candidates must already reside in the UK and preferably be based in Crewe or within a reasonable daily commuting distance.