Motorsports IndyCar Performance Engineer

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. The successful candidate is expected to report to Concord, NC three times per week, at minimum. Given the need to support some live race events during weekends, this role will require the ability to work a flexible schedule.

This role will work within the GM Motorsports Performance Engineering group with a focus on supporting the IndyCar program. This group is responsible for driving on-track performance improvements through developing and implementing new motorsports analysis tools, guiding long-term vehicle development directions, and providing event specific vehicle configuration, setup, and strategy recommendations to supported race teams.

Role responsibilities will span many disciplines requiring work in the areas of vehicle dynamics, data analytics, race strategy, as well as vehicle simulation model development, refinement, and correlation. Typical tasks will involve data reduction, correlation, and interpretation from on-track tests, rig tests, and DIL simulator sessions, vehicle simulation studies to identify areas for vehicle performance, and development and distribution of tools to assist teams and internal GM Motorsports groups in generating insights and efficiently finding conclusions.

An essential aspect of this role will be the effective collaboration with a range of internal GM Motorsports groups and external race team partners to build understanding, understand needs and convey findings, and improve race team understanding to further effective application of GM motorsports work output and tools. This position will leverage resources across the GM Motorsports program to effectively develop program toolset and develop recommendations to increase the competitiveness of GM Motorsports IndyCar teams. This position will closely collaborate with the GM Motorsports Simulation group to develop and refine simulation tools and advance analysis methodologies. Coordination with GM production engineering, GM IT, GM Motorsports personnel, and GM race teams is essential in both developing underlying knowledge and implementing solutions.

What You’ll Do

• Assist GM IndyCar race teams in utilizing GM Motorsports toolchain and support race teams with vehicle performance insights.
• Mine prior event data for performance trends and characterise competitor performance by analysing series-provided telemetry, timing and scoring data, and derived metrics from GM Motorsports race strategy tools.
• Utilise vehicle simulation tools, both offline and DiL simulator, to characterise event specific sensitivities and derive favourable vehicle configuration directions and setup recommendations.
• Support race teams and other GM Motorsports engineers in setup and use of Driver in Loop (DiL) simulators.
• Develop race team understanding of simulation toolchain functionality and best modelling and analysis practices.
• Correlate vehicle models, comparing logged track data with model output and develop relationships between performance and handling metrics and driver-perceived vehicle behaviour.
• Convey findings in regular written reports distributed to GM IndyCar Teams.
• Actively review quality of correlation, accuracy of previous recommendations, and process bottlenecks/weaknesses to identify areas of future enhancement.
• Provide engineering support for rig and track tests, developing test plans, performing data analysis, and teaching team personnel to use tools and interpret simulation output.
• Travel to occasional IndyCar events to support at-track engineering efforts.
• Collaborate with Performance group members supporting other series to transfer learnings and adopt most useful analysis and reporting methods developed across the group.
• Brainstorm new ways of achieving greater performance in targeted areas.
• Coordinate with other internal GM Motorsports groups to share information, build knowledge base, and assist in collaboratively advancing support program.

What You’ll Need (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related subject.
• 3+ years of experience in a top-level motorsports series including IndyCar, F1, NASCAR, IMSA, WEC, or similar.
• Intimate knowledge of simulation workflows in a professional motorsports organization including offline simulation and DIL.
• Demonstrated experience using simulation tools to optimise vehicle performance.
• Proficient programming in Python, MATLAB, or similar language.
• Experience analysing on-track performance, defining performance metrics, and deriving actionable recommendations through application vehicle dynamics principles and statistical methods.
• Highly analytical, detail oriented, customer focused, with positive relationship and strong communicative skills.
• Ability to travel to 4-7 domestic race events times per year.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, or related subject.
• Software development experience with C#, WPF, or similar languages.
• Race Engineering experience in IndyCar, F1, or Formula E with intimate knowledge of race car setup, event preparation, technical inspection, race procedures and race strategy.
• Proficiency in Motorsports data analysis software including Pi Toolbox, Atlas, Motec or similar.
• Strong knowledge of high-performance vehicle, tire, and aero simulation modelling techniques.

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