Performance Engineer - IMSA

Job Description

Porsche Penske Motorsport is looking for a qualified Performance Engineer to join our team. This role will serve as a vital member of our shop based and travelling racing organization as we race two Porsche 963 prototype sportscars in the International Motorsport Association (IMSA) with our manufacturer partner Porsche. This position will include extensive travel both domestic and internationally throughout the year. Time periods of two weeks away from the home base is expected. This position is available at our facility in Mooresville, North Carolina.

 The Performance Engineer directly contributes to the performance of our race cars by working with the race engineers, engineering staff, team personnel, as well as independently to identify, test, organize, analyze, validate and communicate areas of improvement and ways in which these improvements can be realized.  Using data, research, internal and external resources as well as other staff, the performance engineer role will develop items and help to understand and optimize configurations that will aid in the performance of the race car.  The qualified person will be organized, self-motivated, and able to work with minimum supervision and under extreme pressure to make quick, calculated decisions.  A strong inter-personal and communication skillset is required along with an exceptional team mentality.   

• Utilize data software to collect, analyze, visualize, and share time series data from multiple sources.
• Use or program tools to analyze, predict and simulate potential gains.
• Understand and work with simulation tools to validate and confirm potential gains in performance from development areas.
• Model and modify vehicle dynamics parameters to improve performance.
• Interpret and optimize suspension systems including 7-post-rig testing.
• Support the Race Team in tire performance optimization and tire management before, during and after the event.
• Ensuring mandatory tire reporting is completed on time and to a high standard.
• Expand and guide development of tire performance tools, analysis methods and infrastructure in collaboration with the Race Team and Porsche Motorsport Tire Engineering 
• Support the PPM/PAG Simulation Group for tire model correlation activities. 
• Understand, interpret and report aerodynamic performance and implement aerodynamic testing principles in testing, simulation and race events. 
• Develop high confidence results based on test plans developed specific to a particular goal and validate various testing results with testing data. 
• Assist Strategy Engineer with pre- and post-event analysis tasks covering data and competitor information.
  • Comfortable with live strategic decision making.
• Assist with live strategy analysis and support during races. Run and monitor strategy options using HH Timing, including input parameterization such as base lap times and tire degradation curves. 

Qualifications and Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering
• At least 6 years of experience in an engineer role, specifically:
  • Expert level data analysis – 6 years’ experience with multiple data software.
  • Expert in vehicle dynamics – 4 years’ experience working with suspension systems. 
• Proficient in computer software i. e. WinTax, HH Database and Timing, MATLAB and Microsoft Suite
• High level motorsports experience in tire performance and strategy optimization. 
  • Experience with Michelin tires is preferred.
  • Experience with empirical and physical tire models and the determination of model parameters.
• Strong understanding of performance-related aspects of vehicle-tire interaction. 
• Excellent presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences including drivers. 
• Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines with minimal errors.
• Persistent, open-minded, resilient team personality with a strong solution-orientation.