What are the responsibilities and job description for the Performance Engineer - Athletics position at Penske Racing South?
The Performance Engineer supports the Athletics department with technical projects and analysis. The Performance Engineer should have the ability to work independently, but ultimately function as part of a larger group, and is responsible for leveraging technical expertise to improve overall performance of the athletic department.
Responsibilities:
• Develop and manage a database of department performance, both of individual athletes and of team performance in practice and race events.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement new technologies that are applicable to motorsports athletics, primarily in pit stops and pit crew athletes.
• Educate team management regarding opportunities to improve athlete performance.
• Work with pit crew coaches, sports performance coaches, and athletic director to ensure all team members have access to appropriate data when making key decisions.
• Develop new data processing/visualization methods using various tools, including video reduction, AI modeling, GPS tracking, embedded sensors, biometric data, and racetrack data.
• Present regular reports detailing pit crew performance, for use by team management.
• Support athletic combine events and recruiting efforts from a technical perspective.
• Support race events from the “war room” at the race shop.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, computer science, human factors engineering, or related field of study
• Minimum two years of programming and analysis experience using any contemporary language and/or data structure (eg SQL, Python, R, PowerBI, etc)
• Minimum one year of video analysis or computer vision experience
• Basic skills in computer networking and management/troubleshooting of IT infrastructure equipment, including network switches, cameras, wireless intercoms, and video recording equipment
• Understanding of contemporary athletic performance evaluation tools (GPS, video/AI, timing systems, data logging)
• High-level motorsports experience is beneficial
• Self-motivated, proactive, solution-focused attitude
