At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team in developing and maintaining wind tunnel systems for high-quality aerodynamic testing.
- Company: Join the Alpine Formula One Team, a leader in motorsport innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Work in a state-of-the-art facility with a collaborative and fast-paced team.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of motorsport technology and make a real impact on performance.
- Qualifications: Degree in engineering and experience with complex systems in demanding environments.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ per year.
Alpine Formula One Team is seeking an experienced and motivated Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader to join our Experimental Aerodynamics Department. Based at our state‑of‑the‑art wind tunnel facility in the Oxfordshire countryside, this is an exciting opportunity to lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the systems that enable high‑quality aerodynamic testing.
If you are a hands‑on engineer with a strong systems mindset, a passion for problem‑solving, and the ability to lead a team in a fast‑paced and innovative environment, this role could be your next step in motorsport.
The Role
As Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader, you will provide technical and people leadership to a team responsible for the development, operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the electrical, electronic, control, instrumentation, and hydraulic systems that support our wind tunnel, test rigs, and related technologies. You will work closely with aerodynamicists, wind tunnel engineers, mechanical designers, electronics, software, and other stakeholders to ensure that our testing environment is safe, reliable, efficient, and capable of delivering high‑quality data. The role combines leadership with hands‑on engineering, spanning operational support, system development, fault finding, simulation, embedded and electronic product development, and continuous improvement across the wider wind tunnel systems environment.
The Person
To succeed in this role, you will bring a strong engineering background in complex systems, ideally gained within a wind tunnel, motorsport, aerospace, automotive, or similarly demanding test environment. You may have deeper expertise in controls/software, electrical/instrumentation, electronics, or hydraulic systems, but you will be comfortable leading across the broader systems landscape and understanding how these disciplines interact in an operational environment. You will be equally comfortable balancing leadership responsibilities with practical engineering involvement, diagnosing and resolving issues quickly, supporting reliable day‑to‑day operation, and driving longer‑term improvements to system capability, robustness, and performance. You will be an effective communicator, a natural collaborator, and someone who takes pride in delivering reliable, high‑quality work. A proactive mindset, calm manner under pressure, strong attention to detail, and commitment to safety and quality are essential.
Key Skills & Experience
- A degree in Electrical, Control, Systems, Mechatronic, Electronic, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Proven experience with complex engineering systems, ideally within a wind tunnel, motorsport, aerospace, automotive, or similarly demanding environment.
- Experience of wind tunnel facility and model systems, with a good understanding of the interaction between control, electrical, instrumentation, electronics, hydraulic, and mechanical subsystems.
- Experience of industrial automation, system integration, commissioning, and fault finding, ideally in real‑time or operational environments.
- Experience in some of the following areas: PLC programming, Beckhoff TwinCAT, embedded software development, application development (.NET, C#, Python), data acquisition/instrumentation, electrical systems, electronics, and hydraulic systems.
- Experience of modelling, simulation, and system behaviour analysis, using tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, Stateflow, Simscape, or equivalent.
- Strong communication, teamwork, and project leadership skills, with a hands‑on, proactive, and detail‑focused approach, a calm manner under pressure, strong problem‑solving capability, and a commitment to safety, quality, and reliability.
Working Pattern
This is a factory‑based role at our Enstone Technical Centre in the Oxfordshire countryside. Standard working hours are 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday. A flexible attitude to working hours is required, with the expectation that you will work as necessary to meet the demands of the role. Occasional weekend work and travel will also be required.
Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader employer: Alpine
Contact Detail:
Alpine Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the motorsport and engineering fields, especially those who work at Alpine or similar companies. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to job opportunities that aren't even advertised.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you have any projects or experiences related to wind tunnel systems or complex engineering, make sure to highlight them in conversations. Bring your passion for problem-solving to the forefront!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on technical knowledge and leadership skills. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in past roles, especially in fast-paced environments like motorsport or aerospace.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in being part of the Alpine team.
We think you need these skills to ace Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Wind Tunnel Systems Team Leader role. Highlight your experience with complex engineering systems and any relevant projects that showcase your leadership skills and hands-on engineering expertise.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're passionate about motorsport and how your background aligns with our needs. Share specific examples of your problem-solving abilities and teamwork experiences that relate to the role.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to mention your technical skills! Whether it’s PLC programming, system integration, or experience with MATLAB, make sure we see how your expertise fits into the multidisciplinary team we’re building.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Alpine
✨Know Your Systems Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of complex engineering systems, especially those related to wind tunnels and motorsport. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your experience where you've successfully integrated or improved these systems.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to share instances where you've led a team in a high-pressure environment. Highlight how you balanced hands-on engineering with leadership responsibilities, and be ready to discuss your approach to problem-solving and team collaboration.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Effective communication is key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing technical concepts. Use examples that demonstrate your ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and stakeholders.
✨Demonstrate a Proactive Mindset
Be prepared to talk about how you've taken initiative in past roles. Discuss any improvements you've driven in system capability or performance, and how you maintain a calm and detail-focused approach under pressure.