Combustion Development Engineer – Predictive CFD Simulation

About the team

Since the 2026 FIA Formula 1 season, Audi has been represented in the championship with a three-site setup. The Motorsport Competence Center in Neuburg, Germany, is one of Europe’s most advanced facilities. The Formula 1 factory in Hinwil, Switzerland, is recognized for its advanced technologies and racing spirit, while the Audi Motorsport Technology Center in the UK is currently being launched and continues to expand. The power unit is developed in Neuburg, and the Hinwil site focuses on chassis development and race operations.

The role is based at Audi Formula Racing GmbH in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany.

The team is looking for people with the mentality of an athlete: someone who sees limits as challenges and is driven to keep pushing forward. This is a chance to contribute to a highly ambitious Formula 1 project and be part of motorsport history.

Role overview

As a development engineer specializing in 3D CFD combustion, you will help shape and improve the combustion process of the Audi Formula 1 power unit. Using advanced 3D CFD techniques, you will build predictive simulation approaches that support the design of future hardware and combustion concepts, while aiming to extract maximum performance from the internal combustion engine under extreme motorsport conditions.

You will operate at the junction of simulation, testing, fuel development, and data analysis. The position involves creating robust simulation methods, aligning virtual results with experimental data, and using modern high-performance computing, automation, and AI-based techniques to shorten development cycles and uncover additional combustion potential.

Responsibilities

• Use high-resolution 3D CFD to develop and refine combustion processes.
• Carry out thermodynamic studies of gas exchange, mixture formation, ignition, combustion, and heat transfer.
• Create and apply predictive simulation methods to assess future combustion process and hardware ideas.
• Plan, run, and evaluate 3D CFD simulations independently, then translate findings into development actions.
• Build and validate models for direct injection, turbulent combustion, knock behavior, ignition, and heat transfer.
• Maintain strong links between simulation results and data from single-cylinder, multicylinder, and component test rigs.
• Improve combustion strategies for sustainable and synthetic fuels.
• Study fuel properties and their influence on mixture formation, ignition behavior, flame propagation, knock limits, and efficiency.
• Work closely with fuel development partners to characterize and optimize future racing fuels.
• Advance simulation workflows, toolchains, and automation solutions.
• Run large-scale CFD workloads on modern HPC systems.
• Develop data-driven methods for design-space exploration, optimization, and model building.
• Use data analytics, machine learning, and AI to improve simulation quality and speed up development.
• Collaborate closely with testing, calibration, fuel development, and virtual engineering teams.

Requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Applied Thermodynamics, Automotive Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, or a similar discipline; Master’s, Diploma, or PhD required.
• Several years of professional experience in combustion development, particularly with 3D CFD simulation for high-performance combustion engines.
• Strong command of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, combustion, and mixture formation.
• Solid background in predictive simulation methods and their practical application.
• Hands-on experience with spray, combustion, ignition, knock, and heat-transfer modelling.
• Experience working with test-bench and experimental data, including CFD-to-measurement correlation.
• Exposure to combustion development for sustainable or synthetic fuels.
• Knowledge of modern sustainable racing fuels, eFuels, and advanced fuel characterization.
• Experience with automated optimization, DOE methods, and surrogate models.
• Genuine interest in motorsport and high-performance powertrain technology.
• Background in high-performance or motorsport combustion engine development.
• Experience from Formula 1, WEC, IndyCar, MotoGP, or similar top-tier motorsport programs is advantageous.
• Strong working knowledge of at least one commercial CFD platform, such as STAR-CCM+, CONVERGE, or STAR-CD.
• Excellent Linux skills and familiarity with HPC cluster environments.
• Programming and automation experience, ideally in Python.
• Experience in data analysis, statistical evaluation, and data-driven development methods.
• Knowledge of machine learning and AI applications for simulation and development workflows.
• Experience preparing CAD geometry.
• Structured, analytical, and self-directed working style.
• Strong collaboration and communication abilities.
• High commitment, responsibility, motivation, enthusiasm, and persuasive capability.
• Full professional fluency in German or English, plus willingness to learn basic skills in the other language.

Additional information

The employer is an equal opportunity organization and values diversity. Applications from people with disabilities are explicitly encouraged. The company seeks candidates who can contribute on a part-time or full-time basis in the pursuit of excellence in Formula 1.