IT PLM Lead Engineer

Lotus Cars is renowned for crafting world-class, high-performance, and lightweight sports cars that are celebrated across the globe.

Lotus Cars Limited serves as the company’s manufacturing HQ in the UK, where we proudly produce iconic models such as the Emira and the all-electric Evija. As we continue to elevate our capabilities and global presence, we are seeking a IT PLM Lead Engineer to join our dynamic IT team at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hethel.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced IT PLM Lead Engineer to take responsibility for the strategic direction, lifecycle management and ongoing performance of our Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems.

This is a key technical role supporting business-critical applications across Lotus Engineering and Manufacturing. You will ensure our PLM solutions remain reliable, relevant and capable of supporting the continued growth of the business.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, CAx teams, IT colleagues and external technology partners, you will oversee the full application lifecycle – from the successful transition of new solutions into production through to capacity, release, change and service management.

You will also act as a Subject Matter Expert for PLM, providing technical leadership and ensuring that appropriate service levels are established and consistently delivered.

What You'll Do

• Support and drive the effective use of PLM systems across the business.
• Take technical ownership of PLM applications and their ongoing lifecycle.
• Manage governance around IT products, including change, prioritisation, maintenance and release management.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert for PLM solutions and associated technologies.
• Work closely with CAx, Engineering and Manufacturing teams to maintain an integrated technical computing environment.
• Ensure the successful transition of new solutions and projects into production and operational support.
• Identify, assess and manage technical and operational risks associated with PLM solutions.
• Manage third-party suppliers and Group IT resources, ensuring agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are achieved or exceeded.
• Support the business in moving towards more frequent and automated software and solution releases, minimising disruption and reducing defect levels.
• Support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and successful business deployment of new releases.
• Contribute to budget management across the hardware, software and services required to support the PLM environment.
• Ensure PLM solutions continue to meet business requirements while delivering appropriate service quality and cost effectiveness.

Key Stakeholders

You will build strong working relationships across the business and with our external partners, including:

• Engineering, BOM, PLM and Manufacturing teams
• CAx and technical computing teams
• IT colleagues and Service Desk teams
• Business users and product owners
• External technology and service providers
• Group IT partners, including Geely

A key part of the role will be introducing new technologies, supporting business change and ensuring appropriate business ownership throughout testing and deployment.

Essential

• Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant technical discipline.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems, including Teamcenter.
• Experience of IT Application Lifecycle Management.
• Good understanding of IT Service Management principles and ITIL.
• Experience managing IT suppliers and third-party technology partners.
• Experience deploying and supporting IT solutions within an automotive environment.
• Experience working with Linux cluster environments, including PBS queuing software.
• Experience supporting and deploying PLM and engineering software solutions within an automotive or engineering environment.
• Good understanding of CAx systems.
• Strong technical knowledge with the ability to diagnose and resolve complex operational issues across interconnected software and hardware environments.

Experience with engineering applications such as HyperWorks, Oasys, LS-DYNA and Autodesk would be particularly relevant.

Desirable

• Experience deploying and supporting CATIA V5 or V5-6.
• Broader experience across CAx and associated engineering IT systems.

About You

You will be a technically credible and collaborative individual who is comfortable operating across both IT and Engineering environments.

You’ll Bring

• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• A collaborative approach to working across technical and business teams.
• An analytical and logical approach to problem solving.
• The ability to make effective decisions under pressure.
• Strong integrity and professional credibility.
• A continuous improvement mindset.
• A flexible and pragmatic approach.
• The ability to develop knowledge within teams and support colleagues and users.
• Confidence working with senior stakeholders, suppliers and technical specialists.

What We Offer

• We provideaccess to a Company Carscheme smoother!
• 25 Vacation Days + Bank Holidays: Recharge, explore, or binge-watch your favorite series with plenty of time to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
• Performance Bonus: Get rewarded for your hard work with an exciting, non-contractual bonus scheme—because great effort deserves great perks.
• Future-Proof Pension: Plan for your tomorrow while thriving today with a solid pension scheme to keep your future bright.
• Private Healthcare: Stay healthy and stress-free with premium healthcare coverage tailored to keep you at your best.
• We work hybrid, meaning you will be in the office when necessary and you can work from home when you're needed there, but will need to be in Hethel 2-3 days per week.

Additional Information

• This role will be working from our Hethel plantwithin our flexible working policy
• Frequent travel will be required to visit different entities and the Customer Care Center based in Europe. Applicants must therefore possess the ability to travel freely without restrictions
• Candidates must be eligible to work in UK without VISA sponsorship.

Our Company

Group Lotus is a leading sports car manufacturer with over 75-year long history of iconic designs, groundbreaking engineering and legendary victories on the F1 track. Today we are transforming into a truly global performance car brand focused on the electrical future. In 2022 welaunched the Eletre, the world’s first all-electric hyper-SUV, and in 2023 our fully-electric Hyper-GT, Emeya.

As part of the Lotus team, you push boundaries. Those of the car industry and of your own. Every member of the Lotus family has some of the pioneering mindset of founder Colin Chapman in them.

Hethel, Norfolk, England has been the home of Lotus for over 60 years, ever since Colin Chapman, our founder, started making championship‑winning racing cars. In conjunction with production facilities in Norwich, and research facilities near Warwick, our UK sites offer a wide breadth of roles for all disciplines.

We're not just a car company; we're a diverse mix of talent from all walks of life. At Group Lotus, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but essential pillars of a thriving and successful organisation.

Read more here: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Lotus Cars.

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