Vehicle Development Engineer

Racer Jobs; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

RFK Racing in Concord, NC is seeking a Vehicle Development Engineer who will perform hands-on testing, data acquisition, and analysis. You will help integrate electronic control systems, instrumentation, circuit layout, and harnessing while driving innovation to enhance vehicle performance in a fast-paced motorsports environment.

You will work across data acquisition, CAN networks, ECU integration, sensor communications, and vehicle controls development, applying CAD design and testing to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience with CAN communications and automotive electrical systems is essential.
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, or C++ is a plus.
• FSAE/Baja SAE/Formula Student experience encouraged.
• CAD experience with Teamcenter/NX is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Data Acquisition – use data systems for track, shop, rig testing and validation.
• Electrical engineering for data systems, controls, and harness design.
• Develop and validate CAN networks including ECU integration and diagnostics.
• Support vehicle controls development, calibration, and validation across race platforms.
• Design using CAD.

Skills

2+ years experience

Vehicle simulation

Harness design

CAN bus

CAN networks

MATLAB

Python

C++

Systems engineering

Vehicle dynamics

Collegiate motorsports

MoTeC

DEWESoft

McLaren Applied

Data acquisition sensors

Electrical harnesses

Electrical wiring

Race car maintenance

FSAE experience

CAD

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Teamcenter

NX

Job description

About RFK Racing

RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns.

RFK is seeking a skilled Vehicle Development Engineer to join our dynamic team. The ideal candidate is energetic, organized and able to work in a fast paced and constantly evolving work environment.

About the role:

As a Vehicle Development Engineer your main responsibility will be to perform hands‑on testing, data acquisition, and analysis. Assist in the integration of electronic control systems, instrumentation, circuit layout, and harnessing while driving innovation through the development and validation of new technologies to enhance vehicle performance. Additionally, you need a solid technical understanding of motorsports.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Data Acquisition – Utilize data acquisition systems for track testing, shop testing, rig testing and machine validation.
• Electrical engineering for data systems, controls, vehicle wiring harness design, instrumentation, and electronic integration.
• Develop, implement, validate, and troubleshoot vehicle CAN communication networks, including ECU integration, sensor communications, controls systems, and data logging architectures.
• Support vehicle controls development, calibration, diagnostics, and validation of electronic systems across race vehicle platforms
• Design/CAD

Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience preferred.
• Proficiency in vehicle simulation tools and data analysis is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of 12V DC automotive harness design, electronic controls, and motorsports electrical systems.
• Demonstrated experience with CAN communication protocols and CAN bus architecture in automotive or motorsports applications.
• Experience developing, configuring, troubleshooting, and validating CAN networks, including CAN message creation, DBC file development and management, ECU integration, diagnostics, and network analysis.
• Programming knowledge in MATLAB, C++, or Python is a plus.
• Broad knowledge of mechanical systems, signal processing, and systems engineering principles.
• Expertise in vehicle dynamics, electronics, controls, and data analysis.
• Hands‑on experience in collegiate motorsports programs (FSAE, Baja SAE, Formula Student, or similar) is highly encouraged.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems, particularly MoTeC, McLaren Applied, and DEWESoft platforms.
• Experience with data acquisition sensors, calibration, instrumentation installation, ECU controls, wiring, and sensors.
• Experience building race grade electrical harnesses is a plus.
• Proficiency in automotive, DC, and industrial control wiring, harness construction, connector termination, and electrical troubleshooting.
• Hands‑on experience with race car construction, tuning, testing, and maintenance is highly desirable. Extensive FSAE experience is strongly encouraged.
• Software programming experience in MATLAB, Python, or similar languages is a plus.
• Experience with CAD software is preferred; Teamcenter/NX experience is a bonus.