Motorsports Indycar Performance Engineer

Job Description

Hybrid: This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to Concord, NC three times per week, at minimum.

Given the need to support some live race events during weekends, this role will require the ability to work a flexible schedule.

The Role

This role will work within the GM Motorsports Performance Engineering group with a focus on supporting the IndyCar program.  This group is responsible for driving on-track performance improvements through developing and implementing new motorsports analysis tools, guiding long-term vehicle development directions, and providing event specific vehicle configuration, setup, and strategy recommendations to supported race teams.  Role responsibilities will span many disciplines requiring work in the areas of vehicle dynamics, data analytics, race strategy, as well as vehicle simulation model development, refinement, and correlation.  Typical tasks will involve data reduction, correlation, and interpretation from on-track tests, rig tests, and DIL simulator sessions, vehicle simulation studies to identify areas for vehicle performance, and development and distribution of tools to assist teams and internal GM Motorsports groups in generating insights and efficiently finding conclusions.

An essential aspect of this role will be the effective collaboration with a range of internal GM Motorsports groups and external race teams partners to build understanding, understand needs and convey findings.   and improve race team understanding to further effective application of GM motorsports work output and tools.  This position will leverage resources across the GM Motorsports program to effectively develop program toolset and develop recommendations to increase the competitiveness of GM Motorsports IndyCar teams. This position will closely collaborate with the GM Motorsports Simulation group to develop and refine simulation tools and advance analysis methodologies.  Coordination with GM production engineering, GM IT, GM Motorsports personnel, and GM race teams is essential in both developing underlying knowledge and implementing solutions.

What You'll Do

Assist GM IndyCar race teams in utilizing GM Motorsports toolchain and support race teams with vehicle performance insights:

• Mine prior event data for performance trends and characterize competitor performance by analyzing series-provided telemetry, timing and scoring data, and derived metrics from GM Motorsports race strategy tools.

• Utilize vehicle simulation tools, both offline and DiL simulator, to characterize event specific sensitivities and derive favorable vehicle configuration directions and setup recommendations. Investigations will likely begin with large simulation batches/DOEs, followed by targeted application of desktop sims and finalized by Driver in Loop (DiL) assessment.

• Support race teams and other GM Motorsports engineers in setup and use of Driver in Loop (DiL) simulators

• Develop race team understanding of simulation toolchain functionality and best modeling and analysis practices

• Correlate vehicle models, comparing logged track data with model output and develop relationships between performance and handling metrics and driver-perceived vehicle behavior.  Fit collected data and develop inputs for simulation modeling.

• Convey findings in regular written reports distributed to GM IndyCar Teams.

• Actively review quality of correlation, accuracy of previous recommendations, and process bottlenecks/weaknesses to identify areas of future enhancement.  Conceptualize and develop methods improvements and new tools to address identified issues and add value to customer race teams.

• Provide engineering support for rig and track tests, developing test plans, performing data analysis, and teaching team personnel to use tools and interpret simulation output.

• Travel to occasional IndyCar events to support at-track engineering efforts.

Build GM Motorsports program, by furthering global performance initiatives and transferring knowledge of team learnings and improved analysis methods across the GM motorsports group.

• Collaborate with Performance group members supporting other series to transfer learnings and adopt most useful analysis and reporting methods developed across the group.

• Represent race teams as a stakeholder in the simulation toolchain development process.

• Brainstorm new ways of achieving greater performance in targeted areas.  Reimagine and prototype new and better solutions to common problems or questions.

• Coordinate with other internal GM Motorsports groups to share information, build knowledge base, and assist in collaboratively advancing support program. Provide recommendations consolidating the newest findings across the GM Motorsports groups to supported IndyCar teams.

#LI-LP2

Additional Job Description

What You'll Need (Required Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related subject

• 3+ years of experience in a top-level motorsports series including IndyCar, F1, NASCAR, IMSA, WEC, or similar

• Intimate knowledge of simulation workflows in a professional motorsports organization including offline simulation and DIL

• Demonstrated experience using simulation tools to optimize vehicle performance

• Proficient programing in python, MATLAB, or similar language

• Experience analyzing on-track performance, defining performance metrics, and deriving actionable recommendations through application vehicle dynamics principles and statistical methods

• Highly analytical, detail oriented, customer focused, with positive relationship and strong communicative skills

• Ability to travel to 4-7 domestic race events times per year

• This job may be eligible for relocation benefits

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Physics, or related subject

• Software development experience with C#, WPF, or similar languages

• Race Engineering experience in IndyCar, F1, or Formula E with intimate knowledge of race car setup, event preparation, technical inspection, race procedures and race strategy

• Proficiency in Motorsports data analysis software including Pi Toolbox, Atlas, Motec or similar

• Strong knowledge of high-performance vehicle, tire, and aero simulation modeling techniques

About GM

Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.

Why Join Us

We aspire to be the most inclusive company in the world. We believe we all must make a choice every day – individually and collectively – to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Our Work Appropriately philosophy supports our foundation of inclusion and provides employees the flexibility to work where they can have the greatest impact on achieving our goals, dependent on role needs. Every day, we want every employee, no matter their background, ethnicity, preferences, or location, to feel they belong to one General Motors team.

Benefits Overview

The goal of the General Motors total rewards program is to support the health and well-being of you and your family. Our comprehensive compensation plan incudes, the following benefits, in addition to many others:
• Paid time off including vacation days, holidays, and parental leave for mothers, fathers and adoptive parents;
• Healthcare (including a triple tax advantaged health savings account and wellness incentive), dental, vision and life insurance plans to cover you and your family;
• Company and matching contributions to 401K savings plan to help you save for retirement;
• Global recognition program for peers and leaders to recognize and be recognized for results and behaviors that reflect our company values;
• Tuition assistance and student loan refinancing;
• Discount on GM vehicles for you, your family and friends.

Diversity Information

General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that workforce diversity creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.   We understand and embrace the variety through which people gain experiences whether through professional, personal, educational, or volunteer opportunities. GM is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statements

GMis an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. GM is committed to providing a work environment free from unlawful discrimination and advancing equal employment opportunities for all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, all practices and decisions relating to terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment are made without regard to an individual's protected characteristics. For purposes of this policy, “protected characteristics" include an individual's actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression, sexual orientation, weight, height, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances.  If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us at [email protected] or call us at 800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.​