Head of Electronics Systems & Software in Banbury

At Prodrive we believe there’s no limit to what can be achieved when the brightest minds come together. Joining one focused and driven team, you will challenge boundaries in order to change the game for our customers. We are the world’s leading independent motorsport company and the business behind some of the greatest names and achievements in motorsport over the last 40 years. Our skilled Technicians, Mechanics, Fabricators and Engineers work together every step of the way to design, build and run elite competition cars on the track and off‑road across the globe.

We are seeking an experienced Head of Electronics Systems & Software to lead a small team of engineers delivering robust, high‑performance electronic architectures for elite motorsport programs, including GT3, WEC, W2RC, and other high‑profile racing and niche projects. You will own the end‑to‑end lifecycle of electronics systems—from concept and validation to trackside deployment—while driving software strategy, data systems, reliability, and compliance with series regulations. This role combines hands‑on technical leadership with operational accountability across factory, test, and race environments. Collaboration is key, you will work closely with Prodrive’s Electrical Design Team, responsible for wiring harness and hardware design, ensuring seamless integration with vehicle and powertrain teams. Together, these groups deliver optimised, reliable, and compliant solutions for all programs.

Beyond technical leadership, you will engage with project teams across multiple programmes to define system requirements, align priorities, and ensure timely delivery of electronics and software solutions that meet performance and regulatory standards.

• Team Leadership & Delivery: Lead, mentor, and develop a small team of systems and software engineers; set priorities, allocate resources, conduct performance reviews, and grow capability. Establish clear delivery plans and engineering standards; ensure on‑time, on‑budget execution across programmes. Foster a blameless culture of continuous improvement, fast feedback, and reliability.
• Systems Architecture & Integration: Define and own the vehicle electronics architecture: ECUs, PDMs, power distribution, network topology (CAN/CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet, FlexRay where applicable), gateways, and telemetry. Collaborate with Prodrive’s Electrical Design Team to ensure harness design, connector selection, sensor and actuator selection, and packaging meet performance, durability, and regulatory requirements. Manage requirements and revision control across platforms (GT4, GT3, WEC LMGT, W2RC, other motorsport and niche programmes).
• Software & Controls: Own embedded software strategy and development: low‑level drivers, calibration layers, control algorithms, diagnostics, and fail‑safes. Oversee toolchains and workflows (e.g., C/C++; MATLAB/Simulink; Python for data/tooling; ETAS INCA; Vector CANalyzer/CANoe; Bosch Racecon/Windarab; MoTeC MTune/i2; Cosworth Caltool/Toolset). Implement robust software release management: branching/versioning, CI/CD, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), bench tests, regression tests.
• Reliability, Safety & Compliance: Drive FMEA, DFMEA, and robust validation plans (bench, rig, track); own incident response and root‑cause analysis. Ensure compliance with FIA/series regulations, homologation constraints, scrutineering requirements, and BoP‑related data handling. Where appropriate, complete HARA and Safety Concept.

Who Are We Looking For?

Several years of motorsport experience with direct programme involvement in high‑level motorsport such as GT3, WEC, W2RC, WRC (minimum 5–8+ years preferred). Proven track record running a small team of systems and software engineers in a fast‑paced race environment. Strong background in embedded systems and vehicle networks; hands‑on with ECU configuration, sensor/actuator integration, and diagnostics. Proficiency with motorsport electronics ecosystems (e.g., Bosch, Cosworth, MoTeC, Marelli, Life Racing) and tools. Solid software engineering fundamentals (C/C++), scripting for tooling/automation (Python), and model‑based design (MATLAB/Simulink). Experience with reliability engineering (FMEA, test plans), HIL/rig testing, and trackside fault finding under time pressure. Familiarity with FIA regulations, homologation processes, scrutineering, and data compliance; BoP awareness for GT classes. Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechatronics, or equivalent.

What can we offer you?

An attractive salary which will grow in line with your ongoing development and impact. 25 days holiday (which increases with long service) with an opportunity to purchase up to 15 extra days. Training opportunities for continuing professional development. Onsite subsidised staff restaurant. Car and pension salary sacrifice schemes. Cyclescheme. Exercise classes. Paid time off for volunteering. Consultations with our Fit 4 Life expert. Social events throughout the year. Exclusive company discounts. Life assurance.

We are an equal opportunities employer. At Prodrive we are committed to attracting and nurturing the best talent and creating an inclusive workplace. We value individual differences and diversity amongst all staff so that everyone has the widest opportunities to maximise their potential. We aim to ensure that no job applicant is placed at a disadvantage by practices or requirements which disproportionately impact protected groups and which are not justified by the demands of the job. If you feel you are right for this role, we welcome your application. Come and make a difference.