Head of Performance in Woking

Job description

At McLaren Racing, we’re not just here to try to take the chequered flag. We’re here to excite our fans, inspire our people and deliver for our partners. And we’re also committed to evolving our sport, our industry, and our technology, too

We have an incredible history in endurance racing, securing a legendary 1995 win at Le Mans at the first attempt, and are the only team to have won the prestigious Triple Crown: winning the Monaco GP, the Indy500 and the 24hr Le Mans.

From 2027, we’ll once again be the only team in the history of motorsports to be competing in the top three racing series, and we’re excited to be building our team.

Purpose of the Role:

To lead and contribute to the Vehicle Performance team’s efforts to:

• Improve the team’s vehicle dynamics knowledge and capabilities.

• Identify strengths and weaknesses of our racing car, and the way we operate that car on track.

• Exploit the team’s vehicle dynamics knowledge and capabilities to improve overall performance on track.

• Provide direction for future car development (through the deployment of jokers and future homologations).

Role Dimensions:

• The Vehicle Performance team sits alongside the Simulation & Simulator, Control Systems and Race Strategy teams within the WEC Technical Department

• The role is responsible for driving and delivering the development and exploitation of vehicle dynamics knowledge to optimise overall vehicle performance.

• The role will involve significant collaboration with the rest of the WEC Technical department.

• The role will also involve interaction with internal and external organisations who may be able to help the team.

• The role will involve working with the Technical Director, and other leaders in the WEC Technical department, to define the overall technical objectives for the team.

• Working during race weekends is required (100%) and unsocial and extended hours may be involved.

• Travel to race and test events is required on an ad-hoc basis.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Deliver improved on-track performance through a greater vehicle dynamics contribution to car development, setup and operation.

• Ensure continuous improvements in our vehicle dynamics capabilities.

• Identify and develop any relationships with internal and external partners that may facilitate acceleration of this plan.

• Management of activities in the Vehicle Performance team; for race support, development of the car, and development of vehicle dynamics capabilities.

• Management of activities in our Race Support Room (located at our base in the MTC) during race events. This will include management of engineers from outside of the Vehicle Performance team who are working in the Race Support Room.

• Motivation and development of a strong team of engineers who are both experts in their field and well-rounded vehicle dynamics engineers.

• Recruitment to augment / maintain the team as required.

Job requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Outstanding academic background with an MEng or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Maths, Physics or a related discipline.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of racing car vehicle dynamics.

• Significant experience in the fields of vehicle dynamics, vehicle performance, aero performance and tyre performance/modelling.

• Proven technical leadership and people management skills.

• Proven ability to deliver a highly technical programme to standard and on time.

• Proven ability to deliver real world on track performance.

Desirable

• Previous exposure to the track/race team environment in top level motorsport (F1, FE, WEC etc.)

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to leading and developing the engineers within the Vehicle Performance team.

• Possess the drive to strive and achieve results using all the information available.

• Excellent communication skills to target a variety of audiences at all levels and the ability to influence them.

• Desire for continuous improvement in our performance, including analysis, operations and execution.

• An intelligent, data-driven approach to solving new and challenging problems, with strong problem-solving skills.

What McLaren can offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.