Motorsports Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Engineer

Job Description

In 1901, Henry Ford design and built the racecar called "Sweepstakes." On October 10 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 today. From our victories at Le Mans in 1966 and again fifty years later in 2016, to championships in NASCAR, World Rally Championship, Off-Road, Sports Cars, NHRA, and other series across the globe, the spirit of Henry Ford lives with us every day through our motorsports efforts around the world.

Ford Racing is seeking a talented, committed engineer to be a part of their motorsports vehicle dynamics and chassis engineering team and develop World-Class, race-winning vehicle dynamics simulations, design chassis architectures and systems, and support test and track-side engineering for vehicles such as the Mustang GT3, Mustang GT4, LMDh, Mustang Darkhorse R, W2RC Rally Raid (Dakar), Bronco 4600 (King of Hammers), Next Gen NASCAR Cup, NOAPS, Craftsman Truck, other future high-performance demonstrators, and Hybridization/Electrification.

In this position...

The Ford Racing Dynamics team supports race teams through vehicle dynamics and chassis engineering expertise, test car and race car data analysis, and race car setup consultation and simulations. We help the cars perform on the track to win.
Projects in our department have included race-specific design/builds of customer race vehicles (eg. Bronco 4600, Darkhorse R), demonstration vehicles (eg. electrified vehicles), simulation CAE tool development, performance engineering tools, and tire modeling.

You will use simulation tools and methods along with your in-depth vehicle dynamics knowledge to meet our primary goals of Winning Races, Winning Championships, and Transferring Technology to and from production vehicle programs and the greater Company.

Throughout this process you will perform and advocate a high level of quality and adhere to the Ford+ Transformation Behaviors - Excellence, Focus, and Collaboration.

This hybrid role is based at the Ford Racing Technical Center in Concord, NC and requires at least four days per week onsite. Candidates must be able to work flexible hours, including occasional late evenings, nights, weekends, and travel as needed to support company objectives.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

• Develop simulation and DiL simulator models to maximize vehicle dynamics performance
• Develop race cars and trucks by using simulation engineering tools
• Integrate simulation/simulator vehicle models, tire models, aerodynamics models, powertrain models
• Use simulator tools to meet customer and race team needs
• Run simulator sessions for race team drivers to develop and test race setups, acclimate drivers, and provide race engineers and crew chiefs simulated performance data
• Be the conduit between Ford engineering and programs, race team engineers, and race drivers to maximize Ford's on-track race performance
• Leverage and interpret the data generated by race teams, Ford test vehicles, event databases, and simulations to maximize performance
• Exercise vehicle dynamics knowledge and data to propose designs and setups for DOEs and simulations, leading to the optimum configurations
• Contribute to the improvement of simulator and simulation tools
• Partner with race teams to prepare for simulator sessions
• Partner with race teams to analyze the performance of cars and drivers at races and tests to improve race outcomes

Qualifications

You'll have...

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering degree or related field of study
• 2+ years of experience in automotive suspension design, vehicle dynamics, or vehicle dynamics simulations

Even better, you may have...

• Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering degree
• 3+ Years of experience in motorsports vehicle dynamics including simulation, track testing, and interdisciplinary work with other engineering departments
• 1+ years of experience with simulations
• Formula SAE experience in Suspension and/or Vehicle Dynamics
• High level of motivation and commitment
• Demonstrated history of…