Sports Scientist - Human Data Science

Job description

At McLaren Racing, we believe only by chasing performance in everything we do can we give ourselves the best chance of success. Performance on track and in the factory. Performance for our people, our business and our partners. It’s about more than winning. It’s about hitting the highest standards, and then raising the bar again.

Purpose of the Role:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Sports Scientist with a strong background in data science to join our Formula One Racing Team. In this role, you will spearhead our Human Data Science projects, utilizing advanced analytical techniques to optimize Team performance and minimise the impact of fatigue on the Team. You will work closely with engineers and medical staff to translate complex data into actionable insights that inform Team training, strategy, and well-being.

This is a stand-alone role with no direct reports. The role holder will need to collaborate with many stakeholders of all levels in the Team and be able to work self-sufficiently. Being a self-motivated individual with a proactive mindset, driven to set and pursue ambitious performance goals that elevate overall team success is key. There would be occasional travel required for this role, and it would be based at the Mclaren Technology Centre as a full-time position, with potential for some hybrid working.

Principal Accountabilities:

Primary Mission: Minimise the impact of fatigue on performance

To drive sustained human performance excellence across the F1 team by applying cutting-edge sports science, data analysis, and tailored interventions. Enhance the physical and cognitive readiness of our team, including across multiple races involving long haul flights, and disrupted sleep across multiple time zones in one of the world’s most demanding competitive environments.

Project Leadership Lead on an innovative human data science project, implementing an athlete management system for the McLaren F1 Team. The goal of this project is to diagnose and prevent fatigue within the team.

Data Collection Maintain the continuity of data collection into the athlete management system including developing interfaces for subjective data, conducting fatigue assessments, fitness testing and providing technical support for users, such as wearable connectivity. This remit includes proactively managing the risk of ‘surveillance fatigue’.

Data Analysis and Interpretation Analyse and interpret human performance data from various sources, including subjective and physiological biometrics to identify trends, areas for improvement, and proactively identify risk areas for fatigue.

Alignment Ensure alignment with team objectives and timelines while fostering collaboration within medical, human performance and team operations.

Performance Optimization Develop and implement data-driven strategies for preventing injury or loss of performance from fatigue, while integrating human factors across different groups within the F1 Team.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Travelling engineers, strategists and critical decision makers

Pitstop crew and mechanics

UK Based Mission Control group

Extension to other UK based McLaren staff, e.g. Shift workers

Drivers and driver development group

Technology Integration Evaluate and integrate cutting-edge technologies and methodologies for fatigue data collection and analysis

Communication and Reporting Clearly communicate findings and preventative recommendations through reports, presentations, and one-on-one sessions, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and contributing to positive information feedback loops. Educate team members in latest sport science best practices.

Research and Development Awareness of latest research and innovation to maintain competitive advantage in human performance. The role is focused on preventing the impact of fatigue in the real world and is not a research-based role.

Job requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

Master’s or Ph.D. in Sports Science, Exercise Physiology, Data Science, or a related field. BASES or equivalent accreditation.

Proven performance delivery in Sports Science, particularly multi-disciplinary team in high-performance environments such as elite or professional sport

Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data analysis tools and programming languages.

Experience analysing the physiological determinants of a different sports and alignment and monitoring of support accordingly

Expertise with human performance monitoring technologies, wearable data collection, athlete management systems, physiological testing and monitoring tools.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present complex data in an understandable manner across multidisciplinary teams

Experience of project management and system implementation.

Excellent presentation and communication skills with the ability to communicate complex data to different audiences in a clear and simple way

Personal Attributes:

Time commitment Within the role, available to support the travelling team as needed, included associated weekend work, occasionally time shifted, and with occasional travel.

Detail-oriented Obsessive about the finer points in data and human performance trends.

Excellent communicator Translates complex data into clear insights, actionable by team members with varying levels of relevant expertise.

Collaborative Works seamlessly across multidisciplinary teams.

Self-starter Able to succeed with limited direct supervision, including supporting a race team which is regularly in different time zones and continents.

Problem-solver Anticipates challenges and delivers practical solutions in both real-time and foresees opportunities for future focus.

Results-focused Pushing for actionable fatigue preventions, without diluting wider team objectives.

Integrity Maintains professional integrity when handling sensitive data and high-performance demands

Inquisitive learner Stays up to date with scientific advances in sports

What McLaren can offer?

We constantly strive to be better tomorrow than we are today. Our ambition is to be the most pioneering and exhilarating racing team in the world, and our collective task is to set the standards for high performance in sport. We show up every day with energy and enthusiasm, ready to play our part.

We encourage and support diversity, equity and inclusion. We will actively promote a culture that values difference and eliminates discrimination in our workplace.

McLaren Racing is based at the iconic McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) near Woking. Our state of the art, sustainable campus offers many facilities including a gym, restaurant and indoor and outdoor break-out areas, as well as direct access to park and common land. The MTC is connected to Woking mainline station via regular shuttle buses, from which London Waterloo is a 30 minute train ride.

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including private healthcare, car schemes, life insurance and generous pension contributions.