Senior CFD & Aerodynamics Engineer

McLaren Racing Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

McLaren Accelerator, part of McLaren Racing, seeks a CFD & Aero Senior Specialist to deliver advanced CFD across partner projects on a fixed-term contract. You will work in multidisciplinary teams and apply simulation techniques to solve aerodynamic and thermal challenges, translating engineering excellence into practical solutions.

The role requires a degree in STEM, hands-on CFD tool experience (OpenFOAM, STAR-CCM+, ANSYS Fluent), CAD skills, and the ability to communicate technical results to

Qualifications

• Degree in STEM or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong aerodynamics, fluid dynamics and turbulence knowledge.
• Industrial CFD experience in a high-performance environment.
• Experience with meshing, solver setup, validation and post-processing.
• Experience delivering CFD projects for customers.
• Formula 1 or motorsport exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Act as subject matter expert in CFD for McLaren Accelerator projects.
• Develop and execute CFD studies for aerodynamic and thermal challenges.
• Create and maintain CAD geometry for simulations.
• Manage CFD work packages from concept to delivery.
• Interpret results and provide technical recommendations.
• Collaborate across engineering and high-performance programmes.
• Support proposals, scoping and technical bid activities.
• Develop CFD methodologies and workflows.
• Engage with partners and academic institutions.

Skills

CFD

OpenFOAM

STAR-CCM+

ANSYS Fluent

Python scripting

CAD CATIA NX

Meshing strategies

Aero dynamics

HPC for CFD

Communication skills

Project delivery

Motorsport experience

Education

Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or related STEM

Tools

CATIA

NX

OpenFOAM

STAR-CCM+

Ansys Fluent

Job description

McLaren Accelerator is a multidisciplinary consulting and engineering business that applies the technology, methodology and high-performance culture of Formula 1 to help organisations solve complex challenges and unlock competitive advantage.

Drawing on McLaren Racing's championship-winning expertise, we work across engineering, technical consulting and high-performance programmes to deliver measurable impact through people, processes and products. By combining elite engineering, advanced analytics and innovative ways of working, we help partners accelerate innovation, improve performance and drive sustainable growth.

Our teams bring together expertise from engineering, simulation, data science, manufacturing, project delivery and organisational performance to deliver solutions that are faster, smarter and built for lasting impact.

Job Description

We are looking for a CFD & Aero Senior Specialist to join McLaren Accelerator on a fixed-term contract, providing specialist Computational Fluid Dynamics expertise across a range of partner projects.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who are available to start in the near future, ideally as soon as possible.

Working within multidisciplinary teams, you'll apply advanced simulation techniques to solve complex engineering challenges, delivering technical insight and commercially valuable outcomes for our partners. You will collaborate closely with engineers, consultants, project managers and subject matter experts, helping translate McLaren Racing's engineering excellence into real-world solutions across multiple industries.

What You'll Be Doing

• Act as a subject matter expert in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), supporting the delivery of McLaren Accelerator engineering projects.
• Develop and execute CFD studies to solve complex aerodynamic, fluid flow, thermal and multi-physics challenges across a range of engineering applications.
• Create, modify and maintain CAD geometry suitable for simulation and engineering assessment activities.
• Manage CFD work packages from concept through to delivery, taking ownership of geometry preparation, meshing, solver setup, post-processing and validation activities.
• Analyse and interpret simulation results, providing clear technical recommendations to project teams and customers.
• Collaborate across Engineering, Technical Consulting and High-Performance Programmes to deliver integrated solutions.
• Support proposal development, project scoping and technical bid activities.
• Develop and improve CFD methodologies, workflows and best practices.
• Work with commercial partners, academic institutions, suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
• Contribute to capability development through knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Support the delivery of High-Performance Programmes by bringing engineering experiences to life within partner environments.

Qualifications

Required

• Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics or a related STEM discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong understanding of aerodynamics, fluid dynamics, turbulence modelling, heat transfer and associated simulation methodologies.
• Demonstrable industrial experience in aerodynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), applying simulation techniques to solve complex engineering challenges within a high-performance multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Strong knowledge of CFD processes, including geometry preparation, meshing, solver setup, convergence assessment, validation and post-processing.
• Experience with OpenFOAM, STAR-CCM+, Ansys Fluent or similar CFD tools.
• Experience with Python, scripting, process automation or data analysis tools.
• Strong understanding of meshing strategies and simulation accuracy considerations.
• CAD modelling and surfacing experience using CATIA, NX or similar systems.
• Ability to independently develop geometry, execute simulations and provide technical recommendations.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience delivering technical projects against agreed objectives and deadlines.
  
• Experience within Formula 1 or othermotorsport environments.
• Experience in aeroacoustics, turbomachinery, thermodynamics.
• Experience developing cloud-based High Performance Computing (HPC) environments for CFD analysis.
• Experience correlating CFD predictions with experimental or test data.
• Experience delivering customer-facing engineering, consultancy or technical project work.
• Experience working with academic institutions or external technical partners.
  

Personal Attributes

• Self-motivated, proactive and capable of working independently.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving mindset with excellent attention to detail.
• Effective communicator who thrives in collaborative, multidisciplinary teams.
• Adaptable and resilient, able to perform under pressure and manage changing priorities.
• Committed to continuous learning, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
• Professional, team-oriented and willing to travel occasionally as required.

Additional Information

Success in racing comes from bringing together talented people with different skills, perspectives and experiences. We're committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to deliver their best work.

Every role has the potential to drive high performance. You'll be part of a team united by a shared ambition to push boundaries and embody our racing mindset. We invest in our people through opportunities to develop and grow, creating an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.
Alongside a range of wellbeing initiatives and development opportunities, we're committed to helping you build a rewarding career and make your mark at McLaren Racing.