At Atlassian Williams F1 Team, operations analysts help our teams understand where things are working and where better decisions can unlock the extra performance we need to succeed.
To dig deeper into life in ops, we hear from Ben Knights, Operations Performance Analyst, who shares some insights into the realities of the role.
What do operations analysts do in F1?
Operations analysts turn information into fuel for improvement. They explore data from every angle and look for patterns that tell a bigger story about how the team is performing. Once they have that information, whether that comes from tracking lead times, spotting blockers, or analysing output, they can support better planning decisions, and help different functions understand where gains can be made.
Being successful in operations takes curiosity, and an understanding of how small changes can make real impact.
Ben Knights sums that up:
“We're all about making improvements. We’re there to help the people who deliver the parts to deliver them quicker. If we can take some pain away or identify a blocker that they aren’t seeing or don’t have the time to fix, that’s where we can drive performance.”
Read more: An inside look at our operations jobs in F1
How operations analysts have a direct impact on the car
Operations analyst jobs might sit away from the track, but their impact on performance is clear to see. In Formula 1, getting the right part to the right place in a timely manner is important. When analysts reduce delays and support better decision-making, they help the whole system move faster and more effectively.
As Ben explains:
“My job helps the car go faster on the track as it revolves around trying to get parts to the car as quickly as possible. Everything we do tries to reduce the lead time, through design into operations. It’s about trying to squeeze as many upgrades through to the factory as we can to get more performance out of the car.”
Why ops analyst jobs are built on communication
Operations analyst jobs depend on communication because insight only creates value when other people can use it. Finding an issue in the data is one thing, but you need to explain it clearly in order to help people understand what action needs to follow.
Ben talks about learning that side of the job:
“Williams has been such a great starting base to work with people across different functions. People in finance are very different to those on the shop floor and those who are higher up in operations. Working out how to communicate with people and find what works best for them has been a challenge that’s been rewarding to tackle.”
“My advice to a student wanting to follow in my footsteps would be to learn to communicate in the best way you can to people who are not familiar with your area of expertise. Learn how to break something down into smaller steps to get someone on the journey with you.”
The importance of teamwork to the role
In Formula 1, where every function is connected, teamwork is what drives action. Operations analysts live that every day because the role depends on building relationships across the business and helping different teams pull in the same direction.
Good operations analysts involve the right people early and avoid silos. They offer support proactively and help teammates succeed. In practice, that might mean spotting an issue another team has not had time to tackle, then stepping in to help solve it before it slows delivery.
Ben shares his perspective on teamwork at Williams:
“Of our values, ‘teamwork’ is the one that resonates the most to me. In fact I have the word engraved in my water bottle that people see me with around here. There’s a great team philosophy here where we work together and chip in to find ways to shape the future as we move forward.”
Make real impact in operations in F1
If you want to help add performance to the car and be a part of our journey back up the grid, explore our current operations analyst jobs and wider operations jobs today to find your place.
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