Project Manager - Interiors (Automotive)

About this Position:
Our client is seeking a multidisciplinary Contract Project Engineer to lead the end-to-end delivery of a one-off, customer-funded bespoke textile integration for a luxury interior programme. Based in Woking, with travel to suppliers as required, this role will act as the central coordination point across internal teams and external partners to ensure the feature is engineered, validated and delivered to build deadlines.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead delivery from concept through validation to vehicle assembly, maintaining programme timing to meet build milestones.

• Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders across engineering, design, purchasing, quality and assembly to ensure alignment and momentum.

• Serve as the primary interface with the luxury textile designer, seat manufacturer and client manager, facilitating reviews and supplier meetings.

• Own engineering requirements for textile integration (durability, manufacturability, validation), reviewing prototypes, samples, drawings and test results.

• Identify programme risks early and drive effective mitigation to protect delivery confidence.

• Lead supplier engagement, including commercial discussions and negotiations, working closely with purchasing on cost, lead times and contractual considerations.

• Ensure quality and compliance, coordinating inspections, sign-offs, documentation, and managing deviations/concessions/change requests in a controlled manner.

• Maintain clear project documentation (timing plans, risk logs, decisions) and provide concise updates to leadership and the client manager.

Experience Required:

• Proven project engineering or product development experience in textiles/soft goods, luxury consumer products, interiors, or bespoke/low-volume manufacturing.

• Strong understanding of premium textile materials, finishing techniques and relevant manufacturing processes.

• Demonstrable supplier management capability, including leading commercial negotiations with premium or design-led partners.

• Confident stakeholder management and communication skills, able to align diverse internal and external groups.

• Highly organised and self-directed, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance technical, commercial and timing pressures.

• Automotive experience is advantageous but not essential; experience working within a structured engineering environment is important.