Before a new aero package reaches the car or a race engineer changes a run plan, plenty of questions can be explored in simulation. At Atlassian Williams F1 Team, that gives us the chance to learn earlier and test ideas before we arrive at the circuit.
Michaela Budge, Delivery Lead of Simulation-Led Development, coordinates development work across the simulation space. We spoke to her about how Formula 1 simulation supports performance, the core skills required, and why bringing the right people together is essential to making it work.
What does Formula 1 simulation development involve?
Formula 1 simulation gives engineers a controlled environment to explore how the car may behave. A modern Driver-in-the-Loop (DIL) simulator combines a virtual car and circuit with a real driver, helping teams build useful evidence before a race weekend.
At Williams, simulation jobs stretch beyond the virtual cockpit. Simulation-led development connects software, physical models, engineering tools, and the people who need to use them. The aim is to answer useful questions earlier and give teams better information to work with.
As Michaela explains:
“In my role, I’m essentially a programme manager of all the development and R&D work that happens in the simulation space. That includes everything from working with our Driver-in-the-Loop simulator, which is the digital twin of the car, to software packages, new tooling, and new model development. In non-technical terms, it comes down to using simulations to find innovative ways to make the car go faster.”
How Formula 1 simulation helps make the car faster
A simulation is useful when it helps somebody make a better decision. Teams can explore development routes before committing time and resources, test ideas away from the circuit, and prepare race weekend plans with more evidence behind them.
That’s where simulation teams can make real impact. They seek information, question what the data is telling them, and change direction when a stronger solution emerges. The technology may be complex, but its simple purpose is to learn what can help improve the car.
Michaela says:
“My role helps the car go faster in a number of ways. We can use simulation to test different strategy elements on a race weekend. We can also use it to experiment with different areas of car development, aero packages, or tooling upgrades before the actual development takes place. This allows us to figure out what to invest time, money and research into, which benefits the car further down the line.”
For that work to be trusted, the results need to be repeatable, and the tools need to solve the problems engineers and drivers actually have. Clear ownership and accountability matter too. When the evidence points towards a better route, the team has to be ready to act on the simulation output.
What skills do Formula 1 simulation development jobs need?
F1 simulation development jobs are built on engineering, mathematics, and software expertise. The balance changes from role to role, but technical opportunities can require knowledge of vehicle dynamics, physical-system modelling, numerical methods, and real-time simulation.
Depending on the position, useful experience might include:
- Building reusable models with Modelica or comparable tools
- Coding in C/C++ and Python
- Working with MATLAB/Simulink, telemetry or hardware-in-the-loop systems
Technical ability is only part of the picture. Simulation development works across disciplines, with drivers, aerodynamicists, race engineers, and software specialists all bringing different perspectives to the problem.
That makes collaborating with purpose important. Getting the right people involved early can uncover an issue faster or lead to an idea that would not have emerged within one team alone.
For Michaela, the human side of the work is essential:
“Cross-team management and people management are two of the most important skills needed to do my job. Trying to get the best out of people because they want to do it, rather than because I’ve given them a deadline, is the way to go. Working with people is definitely one of the key skills you need.”
What is working in Formula 1 simulation really like?
Formula 1 moves quickly, and simulation development has to move with it. There are immediate engineering needs to support while the team is also building tools and processes that will matter further into the future.
That balance means being comfortable with change. Feedback can alter a project or a new requirement can shift priorities. Often, the best process is one the team still needs to create.
As Michaela found, working in F1 simulation was a more dynamic environment than she expected:
“Formula 1 is dynamic and relies on us developing our own process to support new tooling. It’s more reactive, but we’re trying to be much more proactive as we move forward.”
For people who enjoy learning as they go, that creates plenty of opportunity. Working across our teams means being surrounded by specialists with different ways of looking at the car, while helping to build tools that can improve how they work.
How can Formula 1 simulation jobs support your development?
The technology never stands still, so neither can the people developing it. Building expertise, asking for feedback, and stretching into unfamiliar areas are all part of raising the standard over time.
Development also comes through the people around you. Giving someone the confidence to take on more responsibility can be every bit as important as teaching a new technical skill.
We support lateral career moves and internal career growth, giving people opportunities to broaden their experience and take on new challenges.
For Michaela, the support of the people around her has been essential to her own development:
“The people have helped me build my confidence and develop at Williams. I’ve had some very good cheerleaders here, which has been amazing and isn’t something I’ve been used to previously. It’s been nice to feel recognised for the effort I’ve put in and to be rewarded based on that. Being given opportunities I would never have thought to apply for, but instead being asked to apply for, has also helped me build my confidence and feel recognised for being good at what I do.”
Ready to explore Formula 1 simulation jobs?
Simulation-led development gives teams the chance to ask difficult questions earlier and turn what they learn into better decisions for the car.
If that sounds like your kind of challenge, explore our latest F1 simulation jobs and wider technology roles. Find your place, help us shape the future, and bring your ideas to the team as we create the winning formula.
