2024-2025: Open Positions

MA THESIS
Aerodynamics Design Engineer

Last year we started with the implementation of multiple aerodynamic devices on our race car. Your job will be to improve these to extract more performance out of them. You will design the devices in CAD software, then test and analyse them using CFD software.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Fluid dynamics, CFD, Post-processing of simulations

MA/BA THESIS
Cooling Design Engineer

As we are pushing the performance of our car each year the thermal loads generated increase accordingly. Your job will be to optimize the cooling lay-out made last year. Additionally, you will analyse the possibility of implementing aerodynamic devices with the goal of generating downforce around the central area of the car.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Fluid dynamics, Thermodynamics, Post-processing of simulations

This project is also available as a general project.

BACHELOR THESIS
Aero Production Engineer

You will be leading the production of the aerodynamic devices designed by the master theses. By researching various production methods, you will also be responsible for the optimalisation of the weight and strength of the newly made parts.

Skills: Planning, Composites Manufacturing, Material Science, Static Physics

This project is also available as a general project.

GENERAL PROJECT
Computer Vision Software Engineer
You will help our current team implement driverless software in our autonomous driving test platform. This video gives a broad idea of a complete driverless vehicle.

You will work on one the following components: Perception, Mapping, Path Finding, Control Software and Vehicle Dynamics.

Experience with AI is a massive plus but not required. We’re mainly interested in students studying Computer Sciences this is not a requirement.

Skills: Programming, Python, Linux, C/C++

GENERAL PROJECT
Control Robotics
You will develop the hardware/software bridge for controlling an autonomous go-kart. You would be responsible for electrifying our autonomous testing platform. This includes the steering and e-braking of the vehicle. Further more, you would be planning out a roadmap to include these inside our larger vehicle.

Your work will be assisted by the electronics sub-team to find solutions for your embedded problems.

Skills: C/C++, KiCad, PCB testing & manufacturing, Mechatronics

GENERAL PROJECT
Emergency Brake System
This complicated mechatronic marvel is the one of the main reasons why Driverless Formula Student vehicle are so hard to make. We need a person confident in their abilities to think outside the box to create a custom normally on-braking system.
The device that needs to be designed is something similar to an ABS system. It is specifically designed to brake in case of an emergency while an autonomous car is riding on its own. The system is actuated from a distance with a military grade wireless shutdown switch.

Skills: Mechatronics, Pneumatics, Hydraulics

All of these projects can be scaled to Bachelor or Master Thesis.

GENERAL PROJECT
Public Relations Manager

As the team is growing and innovating each year, we want to show this to the outside world. Your goal will be to provide a platform for this and coordinate its working. The focus will be on the organization of STEM and partner events but we are open to other ideas. You will be responsible for the marketing strategy that will be implemented over the coming years within the team.

Having prior experience organizing events is a big plus but not required.

Skills: Planning, Networking, Marketing, Project management, Event Planning

GENERAL PROJECT
Business Relations Manager

Without our partners building a race car wouldn’t be possible. Your goal will be to maintain and improve current partner relations as well as expand our ever-growing network of partners. You will be at the forefront of the team and introducing our ambitions to the professional world.

Skills: Networking, Sales, Marketing, Finance

GENERAL PROJECT
Social Media Manager

As our social media platforms are currently our main way to showcase our innovations we want to grow them as much as possible. Your focus will be on growing these while establishing a uniform house style that will be used within the team for the coming years. You will also be responsible for making the needed banners, flyers and other promotional material for the team.

A prior knowledge of the Adobe Suite is advised but not mandatory.

Skills: Graphic design, Photography, Videography, Creativity

GENERAL PROJECT
Business plan

Part of the competition requires us to build an innovative business plan around our race car. You will receive an overview of previous plans with the comments received after presenting them. Your job will be to incorporate this feedback into a new plan that you will present at the races.

Skills: Marketing, Finances, Creativity, Sales

It is possible to do this as a Master Thesis in the Solvay Business School.

GENERAL PROJECT
High Voltage Engineer

Batteries, motors and inverters, the core of our vehicle always needs dedicated members that ensure our car has the ability to power itself forwards. Depending on your profile we will assign you to a fitting high voltage component.

From innovative research projects to crucial maintenance work, you will play a vital role in propelling our team forward during various track sessions, whether it be during competitions or private testing sessions.

Skills: Strong Electrical & Mechanical knowledge, personal mechatronical projects, Autodesk Inventor or KiCad (depending on the project)

GENERAL PROJECT
PCB Designer

After a few weeks of guided workshops and lessons. You will be responsible for designing and building the low voltage electronics for our next race car. These can be digital PCB’s implementing microcontrollers and interacting with the CAN-Bus. Or analog safety electronics to ensure our driver’s safety from the high voltage section on our car.

Skills: KiCad, C/C++, Arduino or similar, basic CAD knowledge

GENERAL PROJECT
Telemetry System

Our racing vehicle is in need of a wireless solution to communicate with the team while it is driving. You will be responsible for the development of this new system. You will first have to decide on a network protocol and use our existing electronics standards to co-create a suitable solution for our racing vehicle.

Skills: KiCad, C/C++, PCB testing & manufacturing

All of these projects are also possible as a MA/BA thesis.

MASTER THESIS
Vehicle dynamics engineer

To improve the handling of the car, one of our goals is downsizing. Your task will be to analyse how this can be done while maintaining optimal dynamic properties for the car. The big focus will be on the reduction on the size of the suspension assembly to be able to move everything in-board.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Vehicle dynamics, Machining

MASTER THESIS
Gearbox development

To improve the handling of the car, one of our goals is downsizing. Your task will be to design a gearbox that will in a first time be used to get rid of the current chain transmission. This will allow the team to make the back of the car way smaller and improve its performance. In a second phase your design will be adapted to move to in-wheel motors. For this thorough documentation within your thesis will be needed to be able to implement your work in future developments of VUB Racing.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Vehicle dynamics, Machining

BACHELOR THESIS
Optimalisation of the chassis

Together with the mechanical subteam you will work on the design & build of our next chassis where the focus will be on maintaining the strength while reducing the weight. You will have to prove this through strength calculations as well as simulations. The thesis consists of sourcing, cutting and welding metal tubes to complete a space-frame chassis.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Planning, Material Science, Static Physics, Welding, Machining Skills

This is a 2-person thesis.

BACHELOR THESIS
Tractive system accumulator container design

The accumulator is the heart of our electric race car. Your job will be to design the container that will house the batteries. As this is a safety critical part, we expect you to have an analytic mindset to find the optimal solution to our problem. Your main goal will be to produce a container that will be capable of withstanding the forces dictated by the competition as well as working closely with the aerodynamics subteam on how to implement cooling.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor, Material Science, Static Physics, Thermodynamics, Machining Skills

This is a 2-person thesis in collaboration with a powertrain member.

GENERAL PROJECT
Shop mechanic

After learning how to use our machines you will be producing various components for our race car. We will teach you to use our waterjet, CNC-machines, and manual lathes/mills. Depending on the given component you will also be (re)designing some parts in CAD software to optimize the production process.

We will teach you the required skills for these projects but prior knowledge on manufacturing is a massive plus.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor CAM, Material Science, Machining

GENERAL PROJECT
Autonomous test platform mechanic

Your main goal will be to maintain and expand the mechanical aspect of our autonomous test platform. You will combine mechanical and electrical knowledge to implement future upgrades as well as improve the current hardware. As you will have a foot in the door in production it is possible you will assist the mechanical subteam to produce parts for the full-scale race car such as the chassis or suspension.

We will teach you the required skills for these projects but prior knowledge on manufacturing is a massive plus.

Skills: Autodesk Inventor (CAM), Machining, Basic electronics knowledge