Control Systems Engineer

WEC • Full-time • Woking, ENG, GB • 1d ago

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 in the same year.

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:

As a member of the Control Systems group you will be responsible for matters relating to control systems operations, performance, reliability and legality.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of the race car control systems and associated control strategies.

Through liaison with drivers and Race/Performance Engineers you will generate opportunities for the team to improve race car performance.

You will contribute to the configuration, operation, legality and reliability of all electronic, electrical, and high voltage systems on our WEC Hypercar.

You will liaise with series suppliers to ensure that reliability and performance of all on-car systems are maximised.

You will assist the simulator group to ensure that on-car systems are accurately represented on the driver-in-the-loop simulator.

Role Dimensions:

You will work closely with drivers, race team engineers, internal performance and simulation groups, and our power unit supplier to develop and improve control strategies to maximise race car performance and reliability.

This role is primarily factory based, including supporting tests and races from our UK site. However, occasional travel may be required to attend trackside events where necessary, and to support control systems test and development items at dynos and test facilities off site.

The role requires detailed knowledge of all the systems in the car, including behaviour in nominal and failed conditions.

You will develop new ways of working and be able to solve complex problems together with your team members.

Principal Accountabilities:  

Liaison with Race Team Car Systems Engineers and Performance Control Engineers to ensure correct preparation and operation of all on-car systems.

Liaison with series suppliers between events.

Provide advanced systems issue diagnosis from telemetry data.

Develop and utilise car condition monitoring systems to ensure reliability.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:  

Essential

Experience with high voltage electric/hybrid powertrains.

Experience in Formula 1, Formula E, WEC Hypercar or WRC.

Knowledge of Motion Applied VCU/ECU, ATLAS and System Monitor (or Marelli, Bosch etc. equivalents).

Experience in developing control systems using Simulink (including code testing and source control).

Experience in independent fault finding and problem solving.

Desirable

Experience in VBA/Python programming

Personal Attributes:  

Innovative and enthusiastic self-starter

Good communication skills to work effectively as part of a close-knit team, with shared responsibilities, working under challenging conditions.

Ability to take decisions quickly, often under high pressure, with strict time constraints and incomplete information and to be able to work calmly and diligently under such conditions.

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

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.

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