Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Engineer

Spire Motorsports; Mooresville (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Spire Motorsports seeks a Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Engineer to enhance its simulation and analytical capabilities, supporting the Race Engineering team with data analysis, vehicle modeling, and DiL correlation between offline and on-track conditions.

You will prepare weekly data reports, analyze balance metrics across tracks, run DoE studies, develop analytical tools, and ensure data integrity across vehicle models, contributing to race preparation and setup decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical or Automotive Engineering.
• 2–5 years of motorsport vehicle dynamics, simulation or performance engineering experience.
• Proficiency with simulation software and data analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing weekly support to Race Engineers with simulation data and performance data.
• Track and analyze vehicle balance metrics across tracks to identify trends.
• Prepare weekly setup comparison reports for pre-event and post-event decisions.
• Support and execute DiL sessions with data organization and test planning.
• Collaborate with Race Engineers to reflect real-world behavior in DiL environments.
• Test DoE concepts and develop balance calculators to visualize trends.

Skills

Vehicle dynamics fundamentals

Data analysis

Project management

Cross-team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Automotive Engineering

Tools

Dymola

ChassisSim

VI-Grade

rFactor Pro

ATLAS

MoTeC

Pi Toolbox

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Job Summary:

The Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Engineer plays a critical role in advancing Spire Motorsports’ simulation and analytical capabilities to improve race car performance. This role supports the Race Engineering team on a weekly basis with data analysis, vehicle modeling, and simulation support, ensuring correlation between offline and Driver-in-the-Loop (DiL) environments. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, data-driven, and passionate about using simulation tools to find measurable on-track performance gains.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Key Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing weekly support to Race Engineers by preparing, organizing, and maintaining all relevant simulation and performance data.
• Track and analyze vehicle balance metrics for each track to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Prepare weekly setup comparison reports to aid in pre-event and post-event decision-making.

• Support and execute DiL sessions, assisting with data organization, test plan development, tire model scaling, and track correlation exercises.
• Collaborate with Race Engineers and Performance groups to ensure the DiL environment reflects real-world vehicle behavior and track conditions.
• Test theoretical and off-line simulation concepts in the DiL for proof-of-concept validation and quantification of performance impact.

• Perform Design of Experiments (DOE) using balance metrics and other simulation outputs to assess parameter sensitivities and guide setup direction.
• Develop and maintain a balance calculator or equivalent analytical tool to quantify and visualize balance trends across circuits.
• Ensure simulation data integrity and version control across vehicle model iterations and setup configurations.

• Work closely with vehicle performance, systems, and race engineering groups to integrate simulation learnings into race preparation and setup sheets.
• Contribute to the ongoing calibration and correlation of simulation tools (offline and DiL) against track data.
• Identify process efficiencies and propose new methods for simulation-driven performance validation.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Exceptional organizational, and project management skills.
• Analytical and strategic mindset focused on efficiency, quality, and operational excellence.
• Ability to balance priorities across multiple projects and teams.
• Demonstrated understanding of vehicle dynamics fundamentals (aero, mechanical grip, suspension kinematics, tire behavior, etc.).
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to support multiple car programs in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, or related field.
• 2–5 years of relevant experience in motorsport vehicle dynamics, simulation, or performance engineering (NASCAR experience preferred).
• Proficiency with simulation software such as Dymola, ChassisSim, VI-Grade, rFactor Pro, or similar platforms.
• Strong background in data acquisition and analysis (ATLAS, MoTeC, Pi Toolbox, MATLAB, or Python).

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand, walk, and move in diverse operational environments, including race shops, race tracks, SIM cells, and office environments.
• Comfortable working in variable environmental conditions, including loud, high-traffic, or high-pressure environments.
• Prolonged periods working at a computer and in a shop environment.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds regularly and occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent bending, kneeling, and accessing low or awkward spaces.
• Ability to safely work around machinery, shop equipment, and vehicles.

Please note:

this role is subject to U.S. export control restrictions. Successful candidates must either be a U.S. Person (defined by U.S. law as U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) or a non-U.S. Person who is eligible to obtain any required export control authorization.

Spire and all affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity employer(s). Minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information regarding the EEOC, please visit 22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf.