HIL Rigs and Modelling Engineer

The primary purpose of this role is to develop, deploy, verify and maintain high-quality real-time Simulink plant models to strengthen the team’s modelling capability and thus enable accurate, robust Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing.

This role will deliver models that run deterministically in real time and integrate external plant modelling solutions where appropriate such as GT-Power and dSPACE ASM. Plant modelling at McLaren Automotive is critical to the development of high-performing vehicles, enabling accurate and robust HIL testing across our sophisticated systems. Working in close collaboration with software validation engineers, controls developers, and vehicle development teams, this role focuses on ensuring our HIL test environments accurately represent vehicle behaviours across complex systems including Hybrid Powertrains, Transmissions, Chassis Control, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

• Develop, validate and maintain real-time plant models in Simulink that execute deterministically for HIL deployment across vehicle systems.
• Apply classical plant modelling fundamentals (control/physical system modelling, signal conditioning, discretisation, stability and robustness considerations) to produce credible plant behaviour that meets test objectives.
• Integrate and configure external plant model components such as GT-Power and dSPACE ASM, ensuring correct interfaces, parameterisation and real-time performance.
• Perform model verification against requirements and data, support correlation activities, and manage datasets and parameters with appropriate version control.
• Work closely with validation, test engineers and HIL rig owners to ensure models meet use cases, are deployable and are straightforward to operate.
• Produce accurate documentation and maintain models to engineering standards, ensuring traceability and quality throughout the development lifecycle.
• Support continuous improvement of modelling processes, tools and methodologies to enhance throughput and quality of real-time plant models available to HIL users.

• Strong Simulink modelling skills with demonstrable experience in real-time execution constraints (sample times, solver choices, computational efficiency).
• Solid understanding of plant modelling concepts and methods, particularly for powertrain and vehicle systems.
• Good knowledge of control systems theory and physical system modelling applied to automotive applications.
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) test benches, particularly dSPACE SCALEXIO and Vector VT systems.
• Familiarity with model verification techniques, correlation activities and test data analysis.
• Understanding of automotive protocols (CAN, LIN, Ethernet) and how plant models interface with HIL environments.
• Strong engineering discipline: documentation standards, version control systems, and quality-focused approach.
• Electrical, Mechanical, Automotive or Control Systems Engineering degree 2:1, or above.
• Experience integrating GT-Power and/or dSPACE ASM (or equivalent tools) with a pragmatic approach to balancing model fidelity versus runtime performance.
• Previous exposure to programming languages (MATLAB, Python, C/C++) to support modelling activities.