Hi mate, i got your pm, but it seems more appropriate to reply here, for any other potential reader's benefit.
So, i guess the big question is, what qualifications do you have and exactly what experience are you getting in your current job?
See, i'm doing a motorsport engineering degree, that is how i am pursuing this route. I don't specifically want to work in F1 though, in fact i'm more interested in several other categories first. But i can maybe still offer some useful advice, the principles are pretty similar i guess.
What exactly would you want to do in F1? 'Engineer' is too broad a term.
Cheers for getting back to me.
Qualification wise I have a NVQ Level 3 in Aeronautical Engineering, which, I know, stands for pretty much sod all in F1 it seems, but I was hoping they would see the experience and perhaps over look that. There just hasn't been an ideal time for me to go back to 'school' and bump up the on paper qualifications, unfortunately. Something of a distance learning course may be more suitable, however the Open University, for example, offers nothing that specific it seems, unlike Cranfield University but I don't think these guys do distance learning courses.
Experience in my current job could be described as carrying out in depth electrical modifications and functional testing on the RAF Tornado GR-4 aircraft. Responsible for the serviceability of the electrical system on the Tornado aircraft by carrying out scheduled and unscheduled maintenance in accordance with authorised instructions. Frequently liaising with other trades to ensure work is carried out with minimal delays to the servicing schedule. Using various fault finding techniques to identify and diagnose faults within the electrical system and carry out corrective maintenance efficiently. Operating state of the art test equipment to successfully prove the integrity of the aircraft’s critical systems such as air instrumentation, control surface scheduling, environmental control, hydraulics, pneumatics, fuel management and engine performance parameters. Indication and gauging is a very common interaction as an electrician both in analogue and digital forms from various hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Heavily involved with fuel management, control, transfer and indication during extensive testing, ensuring the electrically driven fuel pumps operate correctly, and fuel flow is at sustained levels and fuel indication and calibration was accurate. Regularly involved with aircraft flight test activities which consisted of ‘before flight’ and ‘after flight’ servicing. This involved data downloading, analysing fatigue meter readings and ensuring external lighting operated correctly. Working with composite materials is an everyday occurrence as a vast amount of electrical wiring would pass through such areas. Having extensive knowledge on the theory of aerodynamics and how the electrical system and the tests carried out influence the controls surfaces in flight conditions. Maintaining and testing the stores management and weapons system, this responsibility is only given to the very competent and incurred its own separate authorisation. Interpretation of schematic, engineering and wiring diagrams is essential for planning effective fault finding techniques and understanding how various systems and components interlink and influence one another. Working in a bay environment enabled a deeper understanding of how each electrical control panel operated when fitted to the aircraft. Bay maintenance involved loom/harness construction using Raychem products and full serviceability testing of various control panels and fault finding when necessary. Certain maintenance activities required the use of ‘special to type’ tools to ensure the task was carried out correctly, efficiently and without compromising serviceability of aircraft components.
That's the general gist really. The job itself is extremely diverse and constantly challenging.
What do I want to do in F1 - Electrical engineering would be a preference, working on the various systems and involved in testing and track day servicing, fault finding and repair. However, this would be the 'Hollywood' role, so I understand I would be starting a bit lower down the pecking order.
Thanks again Scotty.
I know they go on about Mil spec wiring, when I looked into it (as we come from a similar background) it is just normal wiring that you'll be used to.