Race Engineer - Ford Racing in Witney

About Us

In 1901, Henry Ford designed and built the race car called “Sweepstakes.” On October 10th of that year, he drove Sweepstakes against Alexander Winton, a famous racer and builder. Against all odds Ford won. That was the beginning – “the race that changed the world” – and it continues to this day. From our victories at Le Mans in 1966 and exactly fifty years later in 2016, to multiple World Championships, the spirit of Henry Ford lives with us every day through our motorsport efforts around the world.

About the Role

This is a career-defining opportunity to take a pivotal role in one of the most competitive and prestigious racing series in the world. The Race Engineer acts as the primary point of contact for the driver and balances live race decisions, technical setup optimisation, and driver communication, ensuring the team operates with precision and confidence under immense pressure.

Our ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success as a Race Engineer at the top levels of motorsport, combining calm, clear decision-making with technical excellence and a passion for performance.

Key Responsibilities

• The Race Engineer is the driver’s voice within the team, ensuring that car performance, reliability, and race strategy are delivered seamlessly. This role requires exceptional leadership and collaboration to bring together the efforts of mechanics, engineers, and drivers in pursuit of success.
• Driver Liaison & Communication
  • Main point of contact for the driver during practice, qualifying, and races.
  • Translate driver feedback into clear engineering actions to improve car performance and setup.
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with drivers, ensuring they are always confident and well-informed.
  • Provide calm, concise instructions under pressure, especially during high-stakes, live race situations.
• Setup Direction & Vehicle Optimisation
  • Lead the setup process in collaboration with the Performance Engineer and Chief Mechanic, balancing data analysis with driver feedback.
  • Make final decisions on engineering changes trackside, ensuring they are realistic, effective, and safe.
  • Validate setup directions using performance data, simulation inputs, and trackside observations.
  • Provide actionable guidance to the mechanical team to ensure precise implementation of changes.
• Trackside Leadership & Race Execution
  • Act as the engineering leader trackside, coordinating the activities of the Chief Mechanic, Performance Engineer, and Strategy Engineer to ensure seamless operations.
  • Take ownership of all live technical decisions during practice, qualifying, and races, including setup changes, pit stop timing, and tyre selection.
  • Work closely with the Strategy Engineer to evaluate tactical options, while making the final engineering calls under pressure.
  • Provide calm, clear, and decisive communication to the driver and team during high-stakes moments.
  • Quickly adapt to changing race conditions such as weather, track evolution, and competitor behaviour to optimise performance.
  • Ensure all actions and decisions are compliant with FIA sporting and technical regulations, with professionalism, precision and safety at the forefront.
• Post-Event Analysis & Continuous Improvement
  • Lead detailed debriefs with drivers and engineering staff to capture performance insights and reliability concerns.
  • Produce clear reports to inform future setup directions and strategy development.
  • Collaborate with factory teams to ensure trackside learnings feed directly into ongoing car development.
  • Drive improvements in engineering tools, systems, and processes to increase team performance and operational excellence.
• Health, Safety & Compliance
  • Promote a culture of safety, professionalism, and regulatory compliance across all activities.
  • Ensure adherence to FIA regulations and internal company standards.
  • Support the Chief Mechanic in maintaining the highest safety and quality standards for all trackside work.

Qualifications, Skills & Personal Attributes

Essential

• Proven experience as a Race Engineer or equivalent role within a top-tier motorsport environment (e.g., WEC, Formula 1, Formula E, Le Mans).
• Strong technical knowledge of high‑performance race car systems, data interpretation, and setup optimisation.
• Expertise with data acquisition and analysis software (MoTeC, Pi Toolbox, MATLAB, or similar).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for driver management and team coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to make calm, rapid decisions under pressure in live race conditions.
• Willingness to travel extensively, including internationally, for tests and race events.

Desirable

• Experience in endurance racing programs and the unique demands of multi‑driver, long‑duration events.
• Familiarity with FIA regulations and technical regulations.
• Knowledge of simulation tools and advanced telemetry systems.

Personal Attributes

• Calm and focused under pressure, with a solution focused mindset.
• Excellent communicator, able to deliver concise instructions at critical moments.
• Highly analytical and detail‑oriented, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into clear, actionable strategies.
• Highly collaborative, with excellent interpersonal skills for cross‑functional teamwork.
• Passionate about motorsport and driven by the pursuit of excellence.
• Ambitious and driven to deliver world‑class results.

Why join us?

We are at a pivotal moment in our journey, taking on one of the most prestigious and challenging projects in global motorsport. This is your opportunity to play a key role in delivering success on the world stage. As part of our team, you’ll help shape the future of endurance racing, working with world‑class people and cutting‑edge technology.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and generous performance‑based bonus
• Comprehensive private health and dental benefits package
• Flexible working / 4‑day week
• Generous holiday allowance & Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice EV Car & Bike Scheme plus on‑site free EV charging
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• Collaborative and innovative work environment
• Social events and clubs / sport

Venture Engineering Ltd is an equal opportunity employer. We value and celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.