Consulting

Senior Expert - Automotive Product Development

Job ID: 105214

As a Senior Expert in Product Development you’ll advise clients on automotive challenges, leveraging expertise in full-vehicle development to optimize processes & drive innovation.

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Do you want to work on complex and pressing challenges—the kind that bring together curious, ambitious, and determined leaders who strive to become better every day? If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place.

Your Impact

As a Senior Expert in Product Development, you will play a key role in helping clients address their most critical challenges in the automotive industry.
You will collaborate with senior client leadership to identify issues, develop hypotheses, and design tailored solutions. Your expertise will focus on full-vehicle architecture, efficiency, cost optimization, and best practices in product development, particularly in the context of electric vehicles (EVs) and CASE (Connected, Automated, Shared, and Electrified) technologies.
You will lead transformational change initiatives, helping clients build capabilities and implement strategies that deliver measurable impact. As a thought leader, you will shape McKinsey’s approach to product development in the automotive sector and contribute to the firm’s knowledge base. Additionally, you will mentor and develop consultants, sharing your expertise and providing guidance on client engagements.
In this role, you will work closely with McKinsey’s global network of experts and consultants, as well as with our Operations Practice and McKinsey Digital teams. Together, you will deliver integrated solutions that combine operational excellence with cutting-edge digital and data-driven approaches. This position offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects across the automotive industry, including engagements with leading OEMs, suppliers, and startups. You will also have the chance to shape the future of product development, driving innovation and sustainability.
You will be based in one of our European offices as part of our Operations Practice, with a focus on the automotive sector.
McKinsey’s Operations Practice helps clients solve their most complex operational challenges by blending strategic thinking with hands-on practicality. Within the Product Development service line, we work with clients to develop products that meet market needs, deliver attractive margins, and enhance brand reputation.
Learn more about our Operations and Automotive Practices here: 

Your Growth

Driving lasting impact and building long-term capabilities with our clients is not easy work. You are the kind of person who thrives in a high performance/high reward culture - doing hard things, picking yourself up when you stumble, and having the resilience to try another way forward.
In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we'll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities you need to become a stronger leader faster than you ever thought possible. Your colleagues—at all levels—will invest deeply in your development, just as much as they invest in delivering exceptional results for clients. Every day, you'll receive apprenticeship, coaching, and exposure that will accelerate your growth in ways you won’t find anywhere else.
When you join us, you will have:
  • Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
  • A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
  • Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions for our clients. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
  • World-class benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

Your qualifications and skills

  • Degree in engineering, automotive engineering, or a related field preferred
  • 10+ years of experience in product development within the automotive industry, ideally in roles such as Chief Engineer or similar, with responsibility for full-vehicle management and development
  • Deep knowledge of full-vehicle architecture, systems engineering, and product lifecycle management
  • Experience with electric vehicles (EVs) and CASE technologies
  • Familiarity with advanced product development tools and methodologies
  • Proven track record of leading large-scale product development projects, including managing cross-functional teams, budgets, and stakeholder relationships
  • Strong analytical and critical thinking abilities, with a focus on delivering practical, high-impact solutions
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with clients and teams
  • Fluency in English is required; additional European languages are a plus
Please review the additional requirements regarding essential job functions of McKinsey colleagues.
Our unwavering commitment to integrity drives everything we do, guiding us to always act in the best interests of our clients, our people, and the communities we serve.
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FOR U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

FOR NON-U.S. APPLICANTS: McKinsey & Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. For additional details regarding our global EEO policy and diversity initiatives, please visit our McKinsey Careers and Diversity & Inclusion sites.

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