Senior Aerodynamics Designer

Purpose of the Role:  

To design race car aerodynamic surfaces, wind tunnel model parts and assemblies, and provide leadership for a localised area of the car, with the aim of delivering high quality and legal surfaces, model parts and assemblies to CFD, Wind Tunnel and final release to the race car. 

Role Dimensions:  

  • Sits within the Aero Design Team, which is responsible for all design of surfaces and components for the Aero Dept. 

  • Reports to the Team Leader – Aero Design, and will involve close cooperation with the rest of the Aero Design team, the Vehicle Engineering team, the modelshop, production team, the WT and CFD Aerodynamicists. 

  • Role can be specialised in model design, surface design or flexible and skilled in both. 

  • This role is factory based but may involve occasional travel to our wind tunnel facility. 

  • This role is predominantly carried out during standard working hours, but will sometimes include additional hours and weekends. 

Key Relationships: 

Team Leader – Aero Design, Lead Designer for the area of the car, Principal Aerodynamicist and Project Leaders for the area of the car, other Aero designers, Modelmakers and Aerodynamicists. 

Principal Accountabilities:  

  • Preparation of robust, high quality and legal surface models for CFD, wind tunnel and race car, design of high quality parts and assemblies to tight deadlines, satisfying the aerodynamicist’s spec, and according to the department’s methodologies and best practises.  

  • Providing all necessary drawings and information to allow manufacture, preparation, prefit and set up of the parts and assemblies. 

  • Providing expert knowledge, leadership and guidance for all surfacing and model design work in an area of the car.

  • Responsible for developing and maintaining the quality of models and methodology used in this area (taking guidance on department-wide methodologies and best practise from the Team Leader and Lead Designers). 

  • Documenting guidelines, methodologies and best practise for this area, and presenting them to other team members. 

  • Expert knowledge of legality, packaging considerations and CFD requirements, manufacturing techniques, structural concerns, build considerations, prefit and jig requirements, drawing and other set up information requirements in this area. 

  • Maintaining a close relationship with – and understanding of the requirements of – the Aerodynamicists, CFD engineers, model designers, Veh. Eng. Designers and modelmakers who work in this area; acting as point of contact for queries. 

  • Be the “go to” person for any other designer picking up work in this area. 

  • Act as project leader and manager whenever there is a project in that area which requires multiple designers’ resource. 

  • Checking other designers’ work in this area, ensuring that it is ready to release (checking methodology, quality, legality, packaging, completeness etc.) before passing it to the Lead designer for final sign off. 

  • Mentor and train new starters and less experienced members of the team when required. 

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:  

Essential 

  • Extensive Formula One aerodynamics surface design and aerodynamics model design experience. 

  • Proficient with MS Office. 

Desirable 

  • Proficient in the use of CATIA V5 

  • Degree in Mechanical / Automotive / Aeronautical engineering discipline. 

  • Experience using the 3DCOM product management database. 

  • Familiarity with the latest Formula One technical regulations. 

  • Understanding of a typical F1 WT model layout, and the systems on the model. 

  • Understanding of Formula One race car mechanical systems and layout. 

  • Understanding of typical design methodologies, manufacturing techniques and the prefit and set-up process used for F1 WT models. 

  • Experience of managing multiple simultaneous projects. 

Personal Attributes:  

  • Team player with strong interpersonal, communication and leadership skills. 

  • Well organized - able to manage their own time effectively and to balance multiple demands, often with limited information and ever-changing priorities. 

  • Desire to improve how things are done; pro-activity and initiative to make this happen. 

  • Highly self-motivated and able to work autonomously under pressure and to tight deadlines. 

  • Thorough worker with good attention to detail. 

  • Results focused and driven to achieve successful outcome.