Performance Engineer - Freelance in Banbury

Location: Upper Heyford

About FAT Racing

FAT Racing is a high-performance motorsport start‑up built on merit, ambition, and the belief that talent — not budget — should decide who succeeds in racing. Launching with our inaugural 2026 British Formula 4 season, we are creating a fully‑funded, performance‑based pathway from grassroots karting to professional motorsport. We exist to challenge the traditional pay‑driver model. No pay seats. No shortcuts. Just performance. As a first‑season organisation with plans to scale into Formula 3 and Formula 2, this is a ground‑floor opportunity in a fast‑moving, high‑pressure environment. We’re looking for driven individuals who thrive on high standards, ownership, and being part of something that’s building momentum.

Role Summary

FAT Racing is seeking a Freelance Performance Engineer to support our inaugural 2026 British Formula 4 season and contribute to our mission of creating a merit‑based pathway from grassroots karting to professional motorsport. This is a unique opportunity to join a fast‑growing motorsport start‑up at the ground floor. You will assist at the intersection of professional racing operations and advanced engineering, collaborating with our F4 partner team to deliver technical excellence while building capabilities that will scale as FAT Racing expands into Formula 3 and Formula 2. As Performance Engineer you’ll provide engineering support before, during, and after testing and race weekends throughout the 2026 British F4 season. You will play a key role in developing our young drivers trackside and on the Driver‑in‑the‑Loop simulator, as well as developing in‑house capabilities through lap‑time simulation, vehicle modelling, and correlation testing. Beyond F4 you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to Smedley Group’s Advanced Technologies projects, working alongside industry leaders across Formula 1, SaaS, enterprise technology, and media.

Key Responsibilities

• Race Weekend Engineering Support
  • Collaborate with our F4 partner team to provide trackside engineering support, including setup optimisation, telemetry analysis, and performance engineering throughout the 2026 season.
  • Contribute to session planning, real‑time decision‑making, and post‑session debriefs, maintaining clear engineering documentation and performance tracking.
  • Deliver detailed technical reports and support continuous performance development across events.
• Driver Development & Simulator Correlation
  • Lead the relevant areas of FAT Racing’s in‑house simulator programme targeted at preparing the driver to a high‑level pre‑event.
  • Lead correlation programme between lap‑time simulation tools and on‑track F4 performance.
• Technical Analysis & Continuous Improvement
  • Analyse telemetry, video, and performance metrics to identify development areas.
  • Develop and implement data analysis tools and processes to improve engineering efficiency and driver performance.
  • Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of F4 technical regulations and competitor benchmarks.
• Advanced Technologies Contributions
  • Support Smedley Group’s Advanced Technologies projects outside race operations.
  • Contribute to simulation, data analysis, and performance engineering work across multiple motorsport disciplines.
• Operational Support
  • Coordinate with partner teams to ensure seamless technical delivery across race weekends, testing, and simulator activities.
  • Support logistics, equipment management, and resource planning as the programme expands.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum two years’ experience in motorsport, simulation, or high‑performance vehicle dynamics.
• Strong understanding of vehicle dynamics, setup fundamentals, telemetry, and data analysis principles.
• Experience with data acquisition systems and analysis tools (e.g. MATLAB, Python, MoTeC, AiM or similar).
• Ability to interpret complex technical data and communicate insights clearly to drivers and team members.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Self‑motivation, professionalism, and alignment with FAT Racing’s mission to broaden access to motorsport based on merit.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in Formula 4, Formula 3, or other junior single‑seater categories.
• Familiarity with driver‑in‑loop simulator environments, including simulator correlation.
• Experience supporting developing drivers in coaching or educational contexts.
• Knowledge of British F4 technical regulations and championship operations.

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Mechanical Engineering, Motorsport Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or a related discipline.

Equal Opportunity Statement

FAT Racing is committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We strive to be a team that supports diversity in the workplace and promotes an inclusive culture in which all team members are respected, empowered, and valued.