Company Overview

114 race victories in Formula 1, nine times Formula 1 Constructors’ Champion, seven times Formula 1 World Drivers Champions and the only team to have won in F1, 24h Le Mans and British Touring Cars. A proven track record that sets Williams Racing apart from the competition. Our unique character, combined with a deep passion for racing and future-oriented thinking, has created the very essence of our company.

Our mission is to win races and, in doing so, establish an authentic racing and lifestyle brand. Pure efficiency and the determination to win are key components of our company’s DNA and its overriding purpose. And it’s not only about being victorious on the racetrack. It is the essential mindset to remain competitive and to achieve success in everything we do.

It follows therefore that Williams' world class people are its most important asset. Our team operates at a high standard to ensure success.

Our commitment to support the next generation of innovators and winners, gives us the opportunity to be ready for every challenge we face. Together we are successful. Together we win. We are Williams.

Role Purpose (Job Profile):     

The Head of Vehicle Performance Software will lead the charge in building the software that powers our Vehicle Performance teams. You'll work closely with Race, Strategy and Performance engineers to build software systems that support the full life cycle of racing F1 cars. 

Our team and tech stack: The Vehicle Performance Software team works on a diverse range of technologies and solves problems around realtime data processing, simulation, coordination, planning, analysis and strategy. Some of the technologies we use are: 

• typescript , python, C++, C#, Python, Matlab 

• Desktop and Web UIs using Qt, React 

• Development and deployment using Azure DevOps, Git, Docker, K8s, Terraform 

• Kafka, Big data platforms, HPC 

Main Duties: 

• Work closely with a variety of users across the Vehicle Performance group, helping to hone, evolve and reinvent our suite of trackside applications. 

• Support the rapid delivery of Vehicle Performance software projects, balanced alongside transformational technology projects, and day-to-day team responsibilities. 

• Strategically and proactively manage a complex software estate, ensuring knowledge sharing and identifying opportunities to simplify and improve our processes. 

• Empower and lead a team of talented software developers, fostering a culture of autonomy and high performance. 

• Ensure the team has the right resources to support our future Championship ambitions 

• Foster collaboration with other tech teams at Williams Racing, including Software Engineering, Data & AI, Infrastructure, Enterprise Systems, and Architecture. 

• Guide the team to use the best tools for the job, balancing rapid delivery with innovative solutions. 

• Champion cloud-native development where appropriate and lead cloud migration projects. 

• Uphold high standards for DevOps and development best practices. 

• Mentor and develop software engineers, helping them reach their full potential. 

Key Accountabilities:   

Fulfil all organisational expectations, including but not limited to the following:  

• Role model Williams Values & Behaviours, supporting and holding others accountable to do the same. 

• Always ensure compliance with health and safety obligations, supporting managers to uphold expected standards.   

• Ensure high standards of behaviour and conduct are upheld across the organisation, including the wellbeing of team members.  

• Carry out effective team member performance management, making sure suitable measures are agreed and taken to close any identified gaps in skills or knowledge. 

• Ensure you adhere to brand rules and maintain high standards of department presentation. 

• Comply with quality standards and identify and contribute ways to continuously improve department and personal performance. 

• Ensure understanding of cost cap requirements and identify opportunities to improve optimisation.   

Qualifications and Experience Level: 

• An experienced Software Engineer with previous proven experience of team leadership. 

• Well-versed in agile methodologies and customer-focused development. 

• A strong communicator who can bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders. 

• A strategic thinker who can see the big picture while still paying attention to the details. 

• A passionate leader who inspires and motivates others. 

• Ability to align team objectives with those of the organisation.  

• Ability to specify and plan large projects and track progress.  

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.  

• Effective written and verbal communication.  

• Proactive and adaptable attitude.   

• Ability to work collaboratively across teams.  

Desirable: 

• Experience in motorsport or related industries. 

• Familiarity with our tech stack or equivalent technologies. 
 

This job description is not exhaustive, and the job holder will be required to carry out from time-to-time tasks in addition to the above that will be both reasonable and within their capabilities. 

Additional Information

Williams is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We are happy to discuss reasonable job adjustments.