Engineering Grad Schemes

[willg54]

Hi All,

Just doing my rounds of applications for grad schemes. Im just in my final year on Mechanical Engineering Masters and looking for grad schemes in motorsport.

Thought it might be worth asking if anyone knows of anything?

Been working in motorsport since 2005 from mechanicing in formula renault to an internship at mercedes-benz high performance engines, and also technical director on our formula student team!

I've applied to the F1 teams of course, but if anyone knows anywhere that could be good, let me know please! pretty open to any type of engineering but ideally in motorsport!

cheers

Will

[Fat Audi 80]

Good luck, I wish I had done something similar when I finished my Mech Eng course in 1996. Instead I spent 2 years building chicken killing machines and have been designing X-ray Machines for Airports for the last 12 years! It's not all bad, but motorsport would have been more fun!

I can't help you with any contacts etc, but wish you all the best of luck finding the right job/scheme out there at the moment!

Cheers,

Steve.

[avants2turbo]

How about prodrive?

[quattro84]

Enough opportunities in the UK if you ask me. I was thinking about the same after finishing my Bachelor in Automotive engineering but that sector doesn't exist in here The Netherlands.
Source your contacts for possibilities, Prodrive would be one of my favs. As is Ilmor, Cosworth, the lot from Woking...
I suggest you keep a look at certain magazines such as PMW and Racecar Engineering for job aquiries.

I am still thinking about making the step into professional motorsports as well, although i can't find a way in from here. Good luck and keep us informed!

[knobstar]

How about Ricardo? Not motorsport but have fingers in many automotive pies - a friend of mine went from a job there to RBR so they must provide suitable experience.

Hth,

Matt

[willg54]

Thanks for your replies!

I've sent.emails to most f1 teams now and have good contacts at Mercedes gp and hpe, Renault, mclaren, lotus and cosworth.
Ricardo application is already done. Jlr closed a while back but I know theres plenty of contract jobs there.

Ap racing, Lola, Caterham and transx are on my application to do list.
Triumph is a good shout!
My mind is set on motorsport, has been since I was 5!

Thanks again

Will

[bikerjim]

Hi will

I am currently studying BSc Motorsport Technology at Huddersfield university. At the moment i am looking for a 12 month industry placement. I would be greatfull of any advice or information you could give me on this process. Or perhaps even a couple of contacts you could put me in touch with would be fantastic.

I, like you, really want to specify in Motorsport or if not, definitely automotive.

Im a little older than most of the lads on my course, im 25 and have quite a good bit of industry experiance.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Jim

[willg54]

Don't worry, age won't hurt. I'm older than most undergrads too.

There's lots of internships in motorsport. But I know quite a few have closed.

Mercedes gp have lots advertised on their website, worth taking a lot. Cosworth engines have them. Best bet is to try and contact the teams and ask.

Experience will go along way when applying for internships so make sure they know what you've done!

You doing formula student?

Hope that helps.

Will

[bikerjim]

Don't worry, age won't hurt. I'm older than most undergrads too.

There's lots of internships in motorsport. But I know quite a few have closed.

Mercedes gp have lots advertised on their website, worth taking a lot. Cosworth engines have them. Best bet is to try and contact the teams and ask.

Experience will go along way when applying for internships so make sure they know what you've done!

You doing formula student?

Hope that helps.

Will

Thats a great reply, thanks. Im defo applying for the Mec one, thanks for the heads up.

I have loads of relevant experience but its trying to get it across without waffling on too much.

Not involved with formula student yet,Ii should be but I got so much on at the mo I just dont have time. That will be something i will get involved in in my 4th year for sure.

Thanks again

Jim

[quattro84]

Anyone on here did the MSc on Motorsport engineering at the Cranfield University?

Where do you look for internships and jobs related to Motorsport? Certain websites to keep an eye on?

[re2500]

I Graduated from Loughborough Uni with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, i really wanted to get into the automotive sector, but i found myself in a sea of other grads and pay can sometimes be on the low side. I now work for an engineering company call Renishaw plc in Gloucestershire, i found their Grad scheme really good, ive always been well looked after and quite enjoy my job here. Obviously were not a Motorsport/Automotive company but in the job i do i work quite closely with them on some projects. Remember experience rules in engineering. A few years experience in a good company can really stand out on your CV when applying to companies that are a little harder to get into. Just my 2p as an Engineering Grad. Hope that Helps?

[terrybullwon]

Worth talking to Puglife he's working at M-sport after a degree.

[agent_audi]

I recently also graduated from the university of Hertfordshire with a masters degree in automotive engineering with motor-sport.

Fortunately i had already found a job when i graduated and they wanted to employ me full time, its working for a new company doing design and systems engineering on zero emission vehicles. Although this wasn't my ideal job at the time, i look back now and am glad i stuck with it with it as im getting to work on new and interesting projects.

My advice is that although you are passionate about working in the motor-sport industry, there's an awful lot of other engineers that want too, making competition fierce and i wouldnt recommend putting all your eggs into one basket.

If you want to do anything to get into the industry then i would suggest working for free and building up some experience to help bolster your chances over other graduates.

[Dpicariello]

I agree with RE500 here.

I graduated from Birmingham in 2005 and got on a graduate training scheme at a company in Plymouth. The training and development that they invested in me was fantastic and it was very structured and varied which kept me interested.
I was then thrown in the deep end in a production environment in a ship yard which was the best thing that ever happened to my career as it is a real a world environment as you're ever gonna get and you learn the implications of bad design, bad decisions but also that there's a practical solution for almost anything.

Anyway, after that I applied to my current role at AP Racing where I am involved in design but love the production side of things.

Engineering is a vast industry and although you may be passionate about motorsport there are plenty of roles out there that will be equally interesting and challenging.

A Grad scheme would be my advice and then worry about specialising later.