Product Development Engineering

This is where we develop new Jaguar and Land Rover vehicle concepts. Once a concept is approved, the rest of the business continues the development process through to volume production. The APC function ensures that all product proposals have the required strategic, technical and financial foundation to ensure successful product launches.

APC consists of three departments:

• Architecture – responsible for leading the development of specific vehicle programme concepts and achieving formal approval. Also responsible for developing vehicle platforms, or Architectures, from which a range of specific products can be developed.
• Research & Advanced Engineering – responsible for developing specific new vehicle component and system technologies in areas such as Body, Trim, Chassis, Electrical and low carbon vehicle technologies. They also carry out research on fundamental or primary technologies to assess their potential for being used in future vehicles. Furthermore, to ensure we select the latest and most advanced technologies for all Jaguar Land Rover products, our Research department works with a wide range of universities and industrial partners.
• Concept & Package – responsible for leading the development of the overall vehicle size, layout and occupant accommodation by defining the locations of the major vehicle systems and components such as Body, Powertrain, Chassis and Electrical and working closely with the Design and Vehicle engineering functions to optimise the whole vehicle geometric architecture. This responsibility also extends throughout the entire vehicle development process up to volume production.

Our Body Engineering team is tasked with delivering the sort of premium interiors and exteriors you’d expect from a luxury brand such as ours. It is not enough to produce comfortable and welcoming products. They must be durable, crafted and precise, with an attention to detail that meets the high standards of our global customers.

We specialise in the following areas:

• Door Systems
• Cockpit & Climate
• Cabin Systems
• Safety Components
• Body Structures
• Exterior Systems
• Glasshouse & Lids
• CAE
• Perceived Quality

At Jaguar Land Rover we have an exceptional reputation to uphold, and our Chassis Engineering team plays a crucial role in allowing us to do just that. They work on the suspension control arms & knuckles, sub-frames, engine mounts, wheels and tyres, braking systems, spring, damping and roll systems, steering etc., honing every component until it functions perfectly. Considering the impact the chassis has on the performance of a vehicle, it’s essential we get it exactly right.

Within Chassis Engineering there are a variety of roles, from design engineers who create original designs for chassis components to project managers who manage our relationships with suppliers and the delivery of vehicle programmes. We also have people focusing on computer-aided engineering who work to enhance the durability and performance of our vehicle systems, as well as development engineers who tune chassis systems to the high standards required of all Jaguar Land Rover vehicles.

There are four departments operating within Company Quality and Automotive Safety, all with the fundamental ethos of turning hindsight into foresight.

• Forward Model Quality – helps Product Development achieve successful and aligned vehicle programme delivery, uses and teaches Failure Mode Avoidance tools and processes, and acts as the conscience of Product Development.
• Quality Business Office (QBO) – drives JLR quality improvement by leading and being responsible for JLR quality strategy, quality targets (to achieve the strategy), quality improvement plans (to achieve the targets) and quality data analysis and insights (to support achievement of the quality improvement plans). The QBO also leads and manages both the JLR current model quality operating system and the warranty task force to ensure JLR current model quality is constantly improved and warranty spend minimised. Finally, the QBO is also responsible for JLR business process excellence and quality methods, tools and techniques improvement.
• Automotive Safety Office – provides regulatory foresight - clarifies and interprets global safety regulations to deliver vehicle certification/homologation requirements to enable new vehicle sales. The department reviews potential critical concerns, external safety and compliance investigations from governments around the world and ensures compliance the US governments TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) Act.
• Manufacturing Quality – responsible for the Manufacturing Quality Operating System (MQOS). This includes auditing compliance as well as improving existing – and developing new – procedures and standards for MQOS requirements. They also conduct the Premium Car Product Audit throughout all stages of product development and manufacture, complete Emission Conformity of Production testing and reports, and frequently assist the Manufacturing Director and Plant Directors.

Roles within Electrical Engineering offer you the opportunity to design, develop and shape the future of our electronic systems. Whether you’re focusing on hybrid technology or in-vehicle communications, you’ll work at the forefront of visionary developments. After all, it’s our commitment to exploring new thinking and executing innovative ideas with premium quality that’s kept us leading the world in luxury driving.

The electrical system on premium vehicles consists of up to 100 electronic control units, 15,000 software functions and up to 100 million lines of software code. It is widely acknowledged that electrical engineering is a major growth area in Product Development being at the heart of leading edge technology & innovation. Areas of progress include CO2 environmental initiatives, hybrid and stop start applications, information & entertainment (Infotainment) systems, advanced driver assistance systems (including radar, camera, laser scanning), advanced vehicle dynamic control systems, Human Machine Interface (HMI) and graphics design, network and communication systems, and telematics & off board communications.

Opportunities exist in all of the above areas for graduates and experienced hires having and aspiring to some of the following skills:

• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Component Engineering
• System Modeling & Simulation
• Control Engineering
• Project Management
• Problem Solving
• Component & Software Delivery
• EMC
• Quality and Robustness Testing
• Software and Programming
• Electrical Distribution Systems Engineering
• Chassis Electronics
• Electrical Systems Engineering (Integration)
• Human-Machine Interface
• Battery Components
• Power Supply
• Infotainment (including phone, hardware, digital and navigation)
• Driver Information
• Functional Safety

Engineered to Order (ETO) is responsible for designing and developing personalised vehicles. Their philosophy is to provide unique customer features in a nimble and responsive manner. The following categories outline the department's key work streams:

• Luxury & Sports Brand Development – focussed on increasing the luxury and exclusivity of our premium products and enhancing Jaguar Land Rover's performance attributes. (e.g. Jaguar XKR-S and Range Rover Ultimate )
• New Vehicle Personalisation – develops unique design themes that enhance the core vehicle attributes (e.g. Jaguar XJ Supersport and Range Rover Sport body styling kit).
• Accessories – designs and develops a versatile and comprehensive range of accessories that tailors a vehicle's attributes and appearance to each customer's requirements.
• Specialised Products & Limited Editions – develops unique products in-line with customer and market requirements. This ranges from armoured vehicles that enhance customer security through to colour and material changes that differentiate the customer offering.

The Hybrid Shared Technologies group is responsible for designing and developing low carbon propulsion systems from concept to production.

The group, which comprises of employees from a wide range of industries and backgrounds, consists of teams covering different disciplines: Component Engineering, Controls and Calibration, Systems and Integration, Simulation and Modelling, Vehicle Engineering, Project Management, Build Management, and Advanced Projects.

If you're an automotive, mechanical, electrical and electronics, or control and system engineer - or you have Matlab/Simulink modelling knowledge - then you're just the type of person we're looking for. You should also have relevant skills in hybrid and electric vehicles, or associated technologies, or in systems engineering, power electronics, motor drives, batteries and high voltage systems.

Powertrain Engineering is responsible for designing and developing world-class engines, transmissions, drivelines and powertrain systems that not only meet our customers’ high expectations for effortless performance, but that are highly sustainable as well.

Staying ahead of the competition is a major focus of the 800 engineers in our Powertrain department, but it’s not the only one. They also need to anticipate consumer demand and respond quickly to environmental and technological issues that shape and drive our industry.

As a Powertrain Engineer you’ll have access to state-of-the-art engineering systems, processes and facilities, including extensive simulation, test bed, rig and test track facilities. You’ll therefore be in a prime position to help us create vehicles that are even more appealing and relevant to people around the world – and that will keep us at the forefront of our field.

Product Development Operations provides the whole of Product Development with the tools, processes and technologies it needs to enable best-in-class delivery of all future Jaguar Land Rover programmes. In many respects they are the backbone of Product Development, and they consist of the following sub-departments:

• PD Factory – responsible for planning workforce requirements in response to changing business needs, as well as for project management and business improvements.
• Cross Car Line & Product Creation System (PCS) – responsible for managing vehicle programmes that provide the rest of Product Development with clear direction, time scales and product definition.
• Product Information – ensures the right parts get to the assembly track at the right time to meet each customer’s order. They use a complex system of coding and schedules to relay the information.
• Tools & Technologies – provides and maintains specialist IT tools to help develop new vehicles.
• Programme Management – oversees everything from the start of a programme through to the launch, and then beyond into future model years. Timing and product planners are responsible for working closely with all functions to bring a product to market.
• Turnkey & Offshore Management – Planning and delivery of engineering resources in collaboration with external partners.

Ultimately, Product Development Operations is a highly varied department that allows employees to immerse themselves into all functions. Therefore, the ability to adapt and communicate well with others is essential.

Product Strategy provides a containable, condensed strategy and cycle plan that is in-line with brand strategies and corporate requirements. They reach out and work with colleagues within Product Development and cross-functionally to ensure that all areas of the business are compatible.

• Whole Life Planning and Pre-Programme Start – Carry out strategic business planning and perform long-term studies.
• Futuring – Identify, benchmark and coordinate new Jaguar Land Rover features that are innovative and that will make our products even more competitive.
• Powertrain Strategy – Lead the development of Powertrain whole life plans and strategies, recommending appropriate Powertrain solutions for the future.
• Cycle Planning – Drive the decision-making process to enable approval of realistic master cycle plan documents, and communicate any changes to key areas.
• Legislation & Sustainability – Study and understand the requirements of current and proposed global legislation in order to develop, deliver and report corporate compliance plans for vehicle safety, fuel economy/CO2, emissions and environmental attributes.

Vehicle Engineering and Attributes (VEA) is an exciting, forward-thinking department whose engineers manage and deliver the key characteristics of all our vehicles, at all stages in a product’s development. These attributes are linked to the DNA of Jaguar Land Rover products and include how well a vehicle drives, ease of control, how good it sounds and how safe it is.

The team is responsible for:

• Benchmarking, tuning and developing the attributes of all vehicle lines
• Defining the character and attribute performance
• Defining customer requirements
• Driving, working with and integrating other engineering and design departments to meet customer requirements and attribute targets
• Evaluating the design using both virtual and physical tools
• Completing final vehicle testing, validation and sign off

Further project focused teams with VEA manage cross attribute integration & the design validation & verification process.

Engineering Technical Services (ETS) plays a fundamental part in the Product Creation process by providing a world class range of Technical Services to the Product Development organisation. The department comprises around 700 Engineers, Technical specialists, workshop technicians & support personnel who are split between the following departments:

• Prototype Vehicle Operations – encompasses the key departments responsible for building & maintaining JLR's Prototypes, taking the prototype concept through its phases from the prototype design & Rapid prototyping of parts, to the delivery of Body-in-White manufacture & assembly of the finished prototype followed by providing an instrumentation, maintenance, fleet management & driving resource.
• Product Analysis, Verification & Site Services – forms the backbone of JLR's component & vehicle level structural test / development capability and is responsible for the operation of all PD's facilities & site services including Structural Test, Road Load Data & Analysis, Vehicle Safety, NVH, Climatic Wind Tunnel and the Proving Ground facilities.
• Materials Engineering – provides technical support, advice and validation on all aspects of materials used across JLR's vehicles and is accountable for the selection, specification and approval of materials requirements to ensure technically robust, cost effective and environmentally friendly materials solutions.
• The Simulation Group – delivers leading edge engineering simulation capability (CAE and Systems) enabling JLR PD by developing and sharing simulation best practices, standards and conventions whilst ensuring JLR has the right software tools capable of satisfying technical requirements.
• Operational Strategy and Planning – is responsible for creating and managing the departmental strategies, budgets & holistic support of all test and shipping requirements for Product Development including managing JLR's overseas test operations in Europe, USA, Dubai & Asia.