Every part of a Formula 1 car has to earn its place. That’s where structural engineering makes real impact.
At Atlassian Williams F1 Team, structural engineers help create the winning formula by making sure performance-led ideas can become trusted parts on the car. Here’s a look into life as an F1 structural engineer, with insight from a member of our team.
What do F1 structural engineering jobs involve?
In F1 structural engineering jobs, the goal is to prove that components are fit for purpose before they reach the track. That means analysing metallic and composite parts, checking strength and stiffness, supporting design reviews, and using test data to improve the accuracy of models.
For a Formula 1 structural engineer, Finite Element Analysis predicts how a structure should respond under load, while hand calculations and physical tests then help engineers check that picture against reality.
Oriol Pons Puig, Senior Structural Engineer, explains how that looks in his role:
“I joined Williams in 2020 as an industrial placement and then came back in 2022 as a graduate. I’m currently working as a senior structural engineer, focusing on analysis of the chassis rear end. My job consists of doing the structure analysis, hand calculations and validating components to make sure that the chassis meets the FIA standards as well as our internal load cases.”
How a Formula 1 structural engineer adds performance
Structural engineering in F1 is about making parts strong enough and helping the car go faster. If a component can safely be made lighter or better suited to the demands of the car, that can feed directly into performance.
A promising design may need another route after analysis. A test can reveal something the model did not predict. Engineers seek out the missing information, work closely with design and testing colleagues, and carry that learning into the next version.
This is where innovation comes into the day-to-day work. Strong engineers seek information from every angle, ask better questions, and think flexibly when a first answer doesn’t land.
Oriol puts it simply:
“My role puts performance on the car as it consists of making sure the components work. If they don’t work, they’re not going to be able to add any kind of performance. I try to extract as much performance, either by optimising them or by taking as much mass as possible. If my team had a tagline, it would be keeping fast parts attached to the car.”
Skills needed for F1 structural engineer jobs
Technical knowledge is essential, although software alone will not carry an engineer through a difficult test result. The role needs people who can stay methodical, explain their reasoning, and keep standards high when the schedule is tight.
The core skills of a structural engineer include:
- Structural analysis of metallic and composite components
- FEA experience, often with tools such as Abaqus and ANSA or Hyperworks
- First-principles calculation methods
- Fatigue analysis and material behaviour knowledge
- Structural optimisation and mass reduction
- Clear reporting and communication
- The ability to prioritise work under tight deadlines
Oriol says calmness becomes especially important when a part has failed:
“The most important skills needed to do our job are being thorough on what you do and also very calm because we do face components breaking and we need to find a solution as quickly and methodically as possible.”
Routes into Formula 1 structural engineering jobs
There’s no single route into Formula 1 structural engineering jobs, but a strong engineering background is important.
Placements and graduate roles can be a strong way in because they give engineers exposure to live projects early. At Williams, that early responsibility was one of the reasons Oriol wanted to apply.
“Word of mouth attracted me to the Williams industrial placement opportunity. I had heard from a lot of previous industrial placements that they had an amazing experience. They all said that you get to work on the actual car and contribute to adding performance to the car. For me, that was important and the reason why I decided to apply to Williams.”
“As I keep learning, I’m really excited to start passing the knowledge I’ve gained to all the new starters and the new industrial placement. That’s something that was passed on to me during my time at Williams, and I want to start doing the same.”
Our culture of internal mobility also makes it easy to find your place. Oriol’s own path has given him breadth inside the department:
“I’ve had four internal moves during my time at Williams, all within the structure department. Internal moves have given me the chance to work on more complex projects and be able to work with more departments within the company, which has meant meeting great people with great minds.”
Making real impact in Formula 1 structural engineering jobs
One of the reasons Formula 1 structural engineering jobs are so rewarding is that the results are tangible. Engineers can watch a component go through testing and find out whether their understanding holds when the load is applied. A successful test gives the wider team confidence in the part. It also gives the structures group new evidence for future models.
That’s where accountability naturally becomes part of the role. Structural engineers need to explain risk and help keep momentum going as well as giving our teams the confidence to act.
Find your place in structural engineering at Atlassian Williams F1 Team
For anyone considering F1 structural engineering jobs, this is a chance to help shape the future of the car and make real impact on our journey back to the top. Oriol’s advice to future industrial placement applicants is simple:
“If someone who was considering applying to an industrial placement here asked for my advice, I’d tell them to go for it. It’s a great place to work and the people are amazing.”
Ready to take the next step? Explore our latest engineering jobs today or join our talent community to stay up to date
