Job in motorsports industry?

[jagato00]

Hello... everyone...
I'm the first time here... Nice to see you...

I'm a Korean mechanical engineer with great interests in high performance cars.
Since I'm finding a job in UK automotive or motorsports industry, I need some professional advices.

In August, I graduated from KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) with Ph. D. in Mechanical engineering, and a focus on the design with advanced composite materials. I'm highly interested in the carbon compostie monocoque chassis.

I already sent my CV to several well-known automotive and motorsports companies.
But there was no reply. I'm finding more effective contact method.

I want to get some professional advice from you.
Isn't it easy for me to get a job in UK automotive or motorsports industry with the above career?
Don't they like a foreign engineer?
Is it much better to conduct a Post. Doc. research in UK?
Which college is highly cooperative with automotive or motorsports industry?
(I've heard that the Composite Center in the Imperial College was well-known.)

I'll really appreciate if you give some sincere advice for me.
Thank you so much.

[Jersey Tom]

It is very hard to get a job in motorsport in the UK if you aren't already living there. If there is anyone local who has similar qualifications, they will go to them.

Plus, anyone who has previous motorsport experience under their belt is at a big advantage.

Why is it you are intent on motorsport? It is very, very fast paced, stressful, entry pay usually isn't good, and there is very little job security.

Best bet to get in the door would probably be to live in England, do some work there at a university that's connected. Cranfield is a big one. But all of that is a big move if you're not 110% sure you want to go the racing route.

[jagato00]

Thank you so much... Tom...
I didn't think anyone would reply to a newbie like me.

Well... Considering your advice, I think it's better to enter an automotive company. However, it's much better for me to find a job related to my knowledge and experience on composite structures.
I really want to involove in developing a light-weight chassis. But, any position is ok for me if the job is related to a development project.

What should I do now?

It is a great worry for me. I don't know whether it is a dream or a useless attachment. Getting a job related to developing fuel cells is the best to earn much money and improve my career right now. But, I don't think it would make me happy.

Thank you again.

[donskar]

If your interest is in race car design, England would be the best but NOT the only place.

There is significant race car design/manufacturing activity in France, Italy, Germany, and the US (among others). Not at the highest level, but you might need to work your way up from a level well below F1. And you might start working at the component level rather than with the overall chassis.

The key, as always, is hard work, focus, dedication -- and the willingness to start at or near the bottom. You might also need to unlearn some of the theory you got in academe

Good luck!

[Jersey Tom]

I'd dig around and put your resume out to ANY and ALL companies you would potentially be interested in working for.

There's certainly applications for composite structures in automotive. You never know, you might get a bite on something in racing. Check autosport.com, they have a lot of postings. Worth a shot.

Aerospace also has tremendous composites applications. Check there as well.

Unfortunately the air and auto industries aren't exactly doing great these days...

[KeiB]

anyone can shed some light on automotive in Italy? Since Italy is the home of all of those exotic and powerful cars. Is it very hard to break into the job market there?

[Belatti]

Thank you so much... Tom...
I didn't think anyone would reply to a newbie like me.

Jagato, we all were newbies once so don´t hesitate to ask anyone

I´m in the same condition as you: last month I got my Mech Eng degree and since I´m done with Uni (till now, who knows? ) my scenario is this: I´m working in the boring dull chemical industry, with perspectives of a good charge and wage, but seeking to do a job that would make me happy, like in racing engineering.

Last week I found out there is a summer intensive course in "Race Cars" near the place I studied for the past 6 years. The technical content is not very impressive because it is an open course anyone can do just after High School. The reason I´m doing it (while literally eating the Milliken book this summer ) is because the team formed by apprentices and teachers is going to rebuilt, engineer and maintain a TOP RACE TEAM (TOP RACE Argentinian racing serie, similar to DTM but way less popular than TC and TC2000) with 2 cars: a Chevrolet Vectra and a Ford Mondeo.

As here in Argentina there are not "race car engineering" Unis, the teams search for engineers and mechanics in these kind of courses, where different persons takes their first contact with racing cars, drivers, tracks and workshops. I think its a very good showcase for me to demonstrate what my capabilities are and get in contact with the racing enviroment.

Hopefully in the future I can be a fraction of what Berta means here.

NOTE: Berta was the Argentinian "engineer" (honorific title) who rejected a blank check from FORD in 2004 to be in charge of Jaguar F1.

[Scuderia_Russ]

Why is it you are intent on motorsport? It is very, very fast paced, stressful, entry pay usually isn't good, and there is very little job security.

+1. I wish I had paid more attention at school and studied business and investments.

[jagato00]

WOW...
Thank you all for being interested in me and saying your experience or opinion to me.
Well... I don't know if God helps me. [-o<
I wish many people with the same dream as mine share their experience and advices here.

I think there are so many kind people here...

[jagato00]

anyone can shed some light on automotive in Italy? Since Italy is the home of all of those exotic and powerful cars. Is it very hard to break into the job market there?

Nice to meet you KeiB...
Thank you for sending a message asking about automotive market in Korea.
Because I thought just few people are interested in Korean automotive.

Well... Korea is so bad place for car engineer or motorsports engineer.
Some race games are being held in Yong-In around Seoul. But it's not popular actually.
Also, there is just one company which has its own R&D center... Hyundai...
Kia is just a subsidiary company of Hyundai.
Hyundai is not intereted in motorsports at all... even in rally.
I think it's because Hyundai was founded by a businessman... not by an engineer.
The engineers in Hyundai may want to build a great sportscar or participate in motorsports. But, their boss just want to earn much money and get more market in the world. It's hard to expect such a heritage.

Have you ever heard about SPIRA or Oulim motors in Korea?
Actually, there is a sportscar builder in Korea.
It was Protomotors which was bought by Oulim motors.
SPIRA is the first and real sportscar made in Korea.
However, people don't like that it has an engine made by Hyundai though it is tunded with a turbo charger. And some people say that it is too expensive and they will buy a porsche or BMW with such a big money.
I've sent a job query to Protomotors. But, they said that they did not want an engineer with high degree...
... little bit exclusive..

I believe you can know why I want to go to the UK now.

If you have any question about Korean automotive, ask me anytime.

[Belatti]

Why is it you are intent on motorsport? It is very, very fast paced, stressful, entry pay usually isn't good, and there is very little job security.

+1. I wish I had paid more attention at school and studied business and investments.

For us that our passion is racing, Niccolò Machiavelli would have said exactly what Russ is saying. Good point: concentrate on the money, the racing will come!

Signs: another who concentrated in racing...

[Scotracer]

I'm adamant to work in the motorsport industry. It may be stressful, it may not have the best pay but it's my #1 passion so that's where I'm going!

I graduate in May so I better start pestering teams for jobs.

[Jersey Tom]

I'd say sure give some of it a shot, but it is in your best interests to have BROAD options.

Easiest ways in the door are probably DAQ and aero. If you've got any experience there, leverage it. May be able to slot in with a low-level team and get a taste.

[twoshots]

Whilst someone has brought it up....what is the pay like in motorsport?

I know how things work where I am, I know the job risks, pay and forward progression chances etc. But motorsport is a whole new unknown. All I hear is about crazy hours and job insecurity. Obviously the job is extremely exciting but is the rest really that insecure?

Best of luck to anyone searching for there dream job. Never sell yourself short, you probably know more than you give yourself credit for. Especially some of you guys knocking about on this forum.

(I don't ask this purely out of noseyness but rather I'm going for a chat at a major F1 manufacturer soon, after a chance meeting and a few beers. Ever get that OMG! and WTF have I got myself into feeling at the same time? I know people that would sell their grannies for a chat with these guys but with a baby on the way I'm feeling unsure and doubting my own sanity at the same time.)

[West]

When I emailed Renault F1 years ago they told me that I would have to work in automotive guilds in the UK (don't even know what that is), then move up to a smaller race series (F3000 back in the days). Once you have lots of experience, then you will probably have a better shot than somebody local.

... or you have a hookup. My old boss at Rohr (now Goodrich) said his best friend long ago now works at McLaren... so I'm still waiting for that call...