Vehicle Performance & Simulation Lead - F1 Power Unit

GM Performance Power Units

Concord (NC)

On-site

USD 180,000 - 250,000

Full time

14 days+

Get a reply from this employer

Your resume and cover letter, tailored to exactly what they’re hiring for.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus scheme

Private healthcare

401(k) plan with company match

Employer-paid life insurance and dis–

32 days annual leave

On-site gym

On-site EV charging

Discounted GM vehicle purchase/lease

Job summary

GM Performance Power Units in Concord, NC seeks a Vehicle Performance & Simulation Group Lead to oversee development, testing, and trackside operations of our Formula 1 power unit program. Based near Charlotte, this onsite role drives model-based performance priorities, energy management strategies, and race-weekend decision-making to push for race wins in 2029.

You will lead a 6–10 engineer VPS team, own the 1D power unit simulation suite, and build full-vehicle lap-time and energy management

Qualifications

Master's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Automotive/Aerospace Eng with analytical & simulation emphasis.
10+ years engineering experience, with at least 5 years in performance simulation, powertrain development, or vehicle performance engineering within F1, top-tier motorsport, or high-performance automotive.
Proven track record leading a team of engineers, including hiring and workload prioritization in a fast-paced program environment.
End-to-end ownership of a simulation function: setting direction, tool infrastructure, and delivering outputs to engineering/operations stakeholders.
Experience interfacing with trackside or race operations translating simulations into usable guidance under race pressure.

Responsibilities

Lead, manage, and develop the VPS team (6–10 engineers) with clear goals and accountability.
Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and career development discussions.
Drive hiring and onboarding for the VPS team and integrate new members quickly.
Manage workload and resource allocation across in-season race support and development tasks.
Represent VPS in Power Unit Utilization leadership discussions and report program status clearly.
Own and develop 1D power unit simulation models using GT-SUITE/GT-Power or equivalents.
Direct power unit performance analyses and parameter sensitivity studies across the operating envelope.
Define and maintain the power unit performance database and versioning.
Develop and maintain vehicle-level lap time simulation integrating power unit with aero, tires, and vehicle dynamics.
Perform circuit-by-circuit lap time analyses and energy deployment strategy assessments ahead of races.
Establish model parameterization, correlation, and validation processes for reliable predictions.
Set technical direction for VPS toolset and drive automation via Python, MATLAB, or Simulink.
Collaborate with Reliability Data Engineer and Controls & Electronics to link sims with live telemetry.