Aerodynamic Design Industrial Placement

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team; Brackley; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Formula One team based in Brackley, UK, is seeking an Industrial Placement in Aerodynamic Design. As part of a small team, you will work on enhancing design quality and efficiencies using CAD. Ideal candidates are engineering students with strong problem-solving skills, a passion for design, and at least one year left in their studies. The role offers a competitive salary, generous benefits, and valuable industry experience.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous joining bonus

Wellbeing programme including free gym

Subsidised food

Private medical cover

Qualifications

• Strong background in an engineering discipline with excellent skills in Mathematics and Physics.
• At least one year remaining on your current course or enrolled in your next course.
• Demonstrate experiences reflecting values: Passion, Respect, Innovation, Determination, Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Work alongside Aerodynamicists and Designers in Surfacing and Model Design.
• Use CAD to generate compliant aero surfaces and design components.
• Support capability and methodology through programming or process improvements.

Skills

Problem solving

Mathematics

Physics

CAD Proficiency

Attention to detail

Education

Currently enrolled in an engineering discipline

Tools

CATIA 3DX

Job description

Overview

Brackley, United Kingdom

Build your skills. Make an impact. Race towards excellence. Every dream needs a team. Join the Aerodynamic Design Department as we take on the challenge of Formula One’s exciting new era of sustainable technical regulations.

By spending your year in industry with us, you will:

• Apply your learning in one of the most technically demanding global sports
• Take on responsibility as you are supported and trained throughout your year
• Join us for a year-long placement from the end of June 2026 to the end of July 2027
• Work in a fast-paced environment at our state-of-the-art factory in Brackley, United Kingdom
• Be an integral part of a cohort of students working across all functions of our team

Role and responsibilities

As an Industrial Placement in Aerodynamic Design: working alongside our Aerodynamicists and Designers and collaborating as part of a small team, your role will cover our main design disciplines of Surfacing and Model Design. You will play your part in improving the quality, efficiency and accuracy of designs to support the aero development. This role will see you using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to generate aero surfaces that are compliant to Technical Regulations as well as designing components for our state-of-the-art wind-tunnel model. Additionally, you will support our capability and methodology through programming or process improvements. As a placement student with us you will enjoy the same responsibilities and creative freedoms as our full-time employees and will make a very real contribution to the performance of our Team. You’ll be supported and mentored by experienced engineers who are passionate about helping you grow—technically, professionally, and personally. You will return to university to complete your studies having enjoyed an experience that helped you grow as an engineer.

Successful candidates will

• Have a passion for design and problem solving and are excited about the opportunity to develop your skills and understanding to practical engineering challenges
• Have a strong background in an engineering discipline with excellent skills in Mathematics and Physics
• Have at least one year remaining on your current course or be enrolled on your next course* from the point at which you start your placement with us (Please note that if you will be enrolled on a Masters or PhD course you will need to be able to evidence enrolment to confirm eligibility)
• You can demonstrate how your experiences reflect our values: Passion, Respect, Innovation, Determination, Excellence
• Take full ownership of your work, driving projects forward with initiative and independence
• Be adaptable, have a proactive mindset, a collaborative approach and thrive in a team environment
• Show determination and resilience when facing challenges
• Have keen attention to detail
• Possess an analytical and inquisitive approach
• Relish challenges and enjoy pushing for continuous improvement

A prior interest in motorsport is not required: we are more interested in your potential to apply your skills and understanding to practical engineering challenges.

Skills you could gain from your placement include

• CAD Proficiency: Hands-on experience with industry-standard CAD tools (CATIA 3DX) for surfacing and component design
• F1 Technical Regulations: Learning how to interpret and apply technical regulations to surfaces and perform checks to ensure designs are compliant
• Design Process: Exposure to all stages from initial idea generation through to final design reviews and production of parts for physical testing
• Idea Development: Experience in refining designs through feedback loops and collaboration with aerodynamicists, model shop and production
• Team Collaboration: Working closely with a variety of stakeholders in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary team
• Time Management: Balancing multiple tasks and deadlines in a dynamic engineering environment
• Adaptability: Learning to respond to changing priorities and technical challenges

If you’re ready to apply your skills in a high-performance engineering environment and grow as part of a world-class team, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

When you put the effort in, we give it back. Start with a competitive salary, a generous joining bonus, add in a world-class wellbeing programme (including a free on-site gym), delicious subsidised food, and private medical cover - all on our riverside campus powered by 100% renewable energy. You’ll have everything you need to thrive both inside and outside of work.

How to apply

1. Submit your CV and cover letter as a single PDF to our Workday portal
2. Complete our application form

Our IP programme is designed with the intent to progress into available graduate roles in the future. You will be required to meet the eligibility criteria of the IP programme including any right to work requirements for your application to progress. As these roles are based in the UK, any visa sponsorship must meet current Home Office immigration rules.

Ref : REQ-250384