Senior Design Engineer

Red Bull Powertrains; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading motorsport engineering company in Milton Keynes is seeking a Senior Design Engineer for its Test Design Team. This role will involve leading multi-disciplinary mechanical design projects to enhance the performance of Power Units. The successful candidate will collaborate across teams and must possess strong leadership traits and technical expertise in CAD modeling. Additionally, the position offers competitive compensation and a range of benefits including a bonus scheme and private health care.

Benefits

Bonus scheme

Private health care cover

Life assurance scheme

Company contributed pension scheme

On-site gym & fitness classes

Free daily food allowance

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary mechanical design projects.
• Strong technical leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate engineers.
• Experience in making complex decisions under tight timelines.
• Ability to develop robust design tools.
• Lead fault resolution activities and oversee responses.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design of systems for Power Units and test facilities.
• Collaborate closely with teams within Red Bull Powertrains.
• Ensure test design project scope is fit for purpose.
• Model parts and assemblies, guiding others in CAD design.
• Assess implications of faults and approve or reject parts.

Skills

Leadership skills

Technical design ability

Project management

Complex decision making

Expert CAD modeling (NX)

Manufacturing processes understanding

Education

Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or Physics

Tools

NX CAD software

Job description

For many fans of Formula One, the sport exists between lights and chequered flag on a Sunday afternoon. It begins and ends with the exploits of the drivers on the track. But this is merely the tip of the spear. The reality of modern F1 is that of a complex and intertwined operation, every part of which needs to perform near its limit if success is to be achieved. From the pit crew searching for the ultimate repeatable pit stop, to the inspiration of the designers, the application of engineers and the herculean efforts of an army of fabricators and machinists. Much of our success is thanks to the diversity of thought and spectrum of skill sets held within the team, our ability to recognise unique contributions from individual team members is just a part of why we love what we do.

Job Description

Red Bull Powertrains has an exciting opportunity to join our technical office as we transition from building our team’s first Power Units to refining them into a race‑ready package, all aimed at delivering the most competitive car on the 2026 Formula One grid. We are seeking a Senior Design Engineer to join our Test Design Team and drive the future of motorsport innovation. You will be based at our cutting‑edge engineering and manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes, designed to produce high‑performance Power Units for the 2026 engine regulations.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for delivering the maximum performance potential to the podium, collaborating closely with all teams within Red Bull Powertrains. To succeed, you must lead the design of systems which interface between PU (ICE, ERS, ESS, Turbo) and fired/non‑fired test facilities to enable to the UUT to be evaluated against verification/confirmation criteria. Includes sub‑system level (Rigs) test capability.

Key Attributes:

• Proven ability to lead complex multi‑disciplinary mechanical design projects, collaborating within the Test Design Team, Test Operations Department and across the wider business, while also working independently when required. Can do attitude.
• Strong technical leadership skills in a number of areas relevant to Test Design, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and coach engineers within the Team and across the wider business.
• Demonstrated experience in complex decision‑making and strategic thinking, even when faced with imperfect data and tight timelines. Confident in challenging the wider business to ensure Test Design project scope & tasks are fit for purpose.
• Proven ability to develop robust design tools such as calculation worksheets that can be used by others in the Team, run models and support development of Test Systems modelling.
• Able to lead fault resolution activities into faults assigned through the fault system and oversee the response to several faults across the team. Able to assess the implication of NCR's and Concessions on any parts or assemblies, and approve or reject them.

Key Competencies:

• Expert NX (or other CAD package) user able to model parts and assemblies of any complexity themselves and guide others in the Team.
• Expert understanding of drafting and GD&T, able to tolerance complicated assemblies, and capable of robustly checking the drawings of others in the Team.
• Good appreciation of DFM and DFA and how own designs can be adapted for manufacturing, assembly, and cost targets. Full understanding of manufacturing processes used within Test Design projects.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Physics, or an equivalent qualification.
• High level of competence in both Mechanical Engineering fundamentals and practical applications of mechanical, fluid, and thermal analysis of components.
• Experience in conducting measurements for development rig or dyno testing of mechanical components, sub‑assemblies, or power units.

Not only is this a fantastic Senior Design Engineer role, but it is also a fantastic team to work with here at Red Bull Powertrains. A good salary is just the start, there are many other benefits too such as our bonus scheme, private health care cover, life assurance scheme, workplace nursery scheme, company contributed pension scheme, on site gym & fitness classes, free daily food allowance, and a cycle to work scheme; but above all, the job satisfaction doesn’t get any better than the feeling of making a real contribution to our championship winning grand prix cars.