Automotive Electrical Engineering Lead

Location: Bristol
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 DOE

We are seeking an experienced Automotive Electrical Engineering Lead to take full technical ownership of electrical systems across vehicle conversion programmes. This is a senior, hands-on role for someone who can combine system design expertise with leadership and quality oversight.

You will be the technical authority for electrical architecture, standardisation, and sign-off — ensuring vehicles are released compliant, electrically robust, and built to consistent standards.

The Role

This position is responsible for engineering and standardising 12V and 24V electrical systems within vehicle conversion projects. You will lead the creation of structured processes, eliminate electrical rework, and raise build quality across the business.

You will work closely with Production, Engineering, Aftersales, and Quality teams to ensure right-first-time installations and long-term reliability.

Key Responsibilities

Electrical System Design & Architecture

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Design and own vehicle electrical architectures (12V / 24V)

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Define system logic, protection, and power distribution

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Produce electrical schematics, layouts, and technical documentation

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Ensure compliance with OEM, safety, and regulatory requirements

Standardisation & SOP Development

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Create and own clear, practical Standard Operating Procedures

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Define installation methods, loom routing, protection standards, and testing processes

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Implement document control and continuous improvement processes

Leadership & Capability Development

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Act as the technical authority for all electrical activity

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Train and upskill electrical teams to deliver consistent installations

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Set clear engineering and quality standards

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Reduce dependency on undocumented practices

Quality & PDI Ownership

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Define and manage electrical PDI standards and test procedures

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Establish electrical sign-off criteria before vehicle release

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Act as escalation point for complex electrical issues

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Drive reduction in rework, defects, and warranty claims

Continuous Improvement

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Lead root cause analysis of electrical failures

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Support new product introductions and customer-specific requirements

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Drive measurable improvements in reliability and build quality

About You

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Strong experience designing and documenting automotive electrical systems

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Confident producing schematics, layouts, and structured documentation

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Proven ability to standardise processes and implement technical controls

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Excellent fault-finding and diagnostic capability

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Confident communicator with a quality-first mindset

Desirable:

Experience within vehicle conversion or fleet programmes

Familiarity with OEM or major fleet standards

Electrical qualifications (NVQ / City & Guilds or equivalent)

What Success Looks Like

Electrical systems are engineered and standardised

Installations are right-first-time

Clear SOPs are embedded across the workshop

PDI identifies issues before release

Electrical defects and rework are materially reduced

This is an excellent opportunity for a senior electrical engineer who wants to take ownership, shape standards, and drive long-term quality improvement within a growing automotive engineering operation