Infiniti has announced the launch of the 2015 Infiniti Performance Engineering Academy, a program that aims to find the most promising next generation of engineers.
Now in its second year, the one-of-a-kind global search for the world’s best up-and-coming engineering undergraduates offers the unique opportunity to work with four-time Formula 1 World Championship-winning team Infiniti Red Bull Racing, as well as for Infiniti itself.
“Last year’s pilot program uncovered three outstanding candidates,” said Francois Goupil De Bouille, vice president, Infiniti EMEA. “This year, we are taking it a step further by increasing the number of global places to five and guaranteeing at least one place goes to a student from Europe. In an industry that is notoriously difficult to get into, this is an unprecedented chance for talented young engineers.”
After a comprehensive assessment to identify the best applications, a series of regional finals will recruit winners not only from Europe but also Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and the United States, with each receiving a 12-month internship split between Infiniti’s European Technical Centre and Infiniti Red Bull Racing, both in the UK, complete with full salary. This will see them working on both road car projects for, and for the race team in various areas of engineering.
The five available roles will cover vehicle dynamics, vehicle design, aerodynamics and electronics, with those applying expected to have relevant academic backgrounds. Infiniti state that the chosen finalists will be ‘exposed to the close technical crossover between Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Infiniti’.
“We’re looking for engineers who are technically very strong, but they need to excel in other areas too,” added Adrian Newey, chief technical officer, Infiniti Red Bull Racing. “Whether you’re designing and building road cars, or working in Formula One, the ability to think laterally, creatively and operate seamlessly within a team are crucial. It will be tough and they will be expected to work, but the rewards are high.”
Candidates will go through a three-stage process, starting by submitting their CVs and a video answering the question ‘Why do I deserve this opportunity?’ This will be followed by a Skype interview and then an in-depth profile analysis by Infiniti and Infiniti Red Bull Racing senior management. Ten will then be selected in each market to attend their regional finals to complete a series of engineering and teamwork tasks, judged by a panel from Infiniti and Infiniti Red Bull Racing. One winner from each region will go on to secure the 12-month placement.
