What are the responsibilities and job description for the IndyCar Trackside Engineer position at ILMOR ENGINEERING, INC.?
TRACKSIDE ENGINEER (INDYCAR)
The IndyCar Trackside Support Engineer is a high-performance engineering role responsible for the full lifecycle of Ilmor powertrains, including build, calibration, testing, and real-time race support. This position serves as a critical connector between race teams and internal engineering, ensuring optimal performance through diagnostics, data management, and rapid problem-solving in high-pressure environments. Beyond the track, the role contributes to continuous innovation through engineering projects and comprehensive preparation to support global racing operations..
Note: This position will not begin until July 2026 at the earliest.
Essential Job Functions (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities)
At the Racetrack: (approximately 120-130 days of travel per year)
- Be responsible for the correct procedure when starting an engine and hybrid unit, the running of the system on track, fault-finding and failure diagnosis of a powertrain problem.
- Supervise the removal of a damaged or end-of-life units, working closely with the race team.
- Maintain ECU data, team data, calibrations and reports on the servers
- Support the specified race engines and hybrid units at the race track
- Produce calibrations for races and tests
- Produce race/test and engineering reports as required
- Troubleshoot, diagnose and repair engines, hybrids and parts.
- Determine system fitness through bore scoping or other inspection measures.
- Manage trackside spare parts inventory, tools and equipment including the sale and distribution of spare parts to the race teams.
- Customer and supplier liaison on mechanical issues.
- Provide trackside engineering support for up to two cars as needed.
Trackside Preparation
- Preparation is required prior to the powertrain running on the circuit and must be done ahead of each event.
- Participate in trackside planning and engineering meetings
- Work closely with engineering leaders for engineering program requirements.
- Manage transportation of spare parts inventory, tools and equipment to race events, especially international events.
- Work closely with inventory team for parts and component requirements.
Dynamometer Area
- Develop a complete understanding of the initial testing, durability, calibration, care and handling of the powertrain. Generate the knowledge needed to troubleshoot in the dynamometer area and understand how the same techniques can be applied to the race track.
- Powertrain build and disassembly area – Understand all components of the race engine, their function and the care and attention required during assembling and dissembling of the engine
- Away from the track – Between track events, the trackside engineer may be assigned engineering projects as needed by Ilmor. Projects include but are not limited to calibration development, software development, drafting, design, dynamometer and tools development and are generally in an area of expertise for the individual trackside engineer. Projects may be related to but are not limited to the assigned race engine program.
Supplemental Job Functions:
- This trackside position will require a minimum of 120 days of travel per year. Additional tasks as requested by company and management and/or supervisors
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or similar is required
- Participation on collegiate racing teams is highly desired (e.g. FSAE Powertrain Subteam, Baja, etc.)
- Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite
- Excellent communication skills
- Experience in a racing or performance automotive environment with control systems, calibration and data acquisition is highly desired
Physical Requirements/Work Environment
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit or stand. The employee is frequently required to use their hands and fingers to handle, feel objects, use tools or controls and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, kneel crouch, crawl and talk or hear.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electric shock and explosives.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. However, some instances of this job may require work in areas where ear protection is necessary.