Engineering alumnus joins McLaren Formula 1 team

A University of New Mexico alumnus sped into a new job in August as an aerodynamics design engineer with the McLaren Formula 1 team in Woking, England.

Tiger Lee, who graduated from UNM in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, has long dreamt of working in motorsports. In his position with McLaren Racing, he will be working on the wind tunnel models and CAD surface modeling of the team's F1 race cars. With 186 grand prix wins, it isn't only the F1 drivers racing to victory. The environment at the McLaren factory is fast-paced and new design iterations are tested every day, sometimes multiple times.

"I'm thrilled at the opportunity to contribute to a bigger team with a common goal and a passion for continuously improving," Lee said. "Getting to design and build F1 race cars is also pretty cool."

Selection for the position at McLaren followed a comprehensive hiring process. After an extensive online application with hundreds of applicants followed by virtual assessments, a dozen candidates, including Lee, were brought into the McLaren Technology Center. There he participated in two human resources interviews, two technical interviews, and a 20-minute poster design followed by a technical presentation. He was one of two candidates hired. He moved to London just two weeks later.

"My goal when moving to England was to get a job in F1. I would have been happy to get into any of the teams with the competition for the limited openings available but McLaren was always the one I dreamed about working for. I remember watching Lewis Hamilton winning the world championship back in 2008. Working with such a dedicated and passionate team is an opportunity not many get to enjoy. It is such a privilege to be part of the heritage."

Lee will wrap up his master's degree in Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University this fall. While his graduate studies have focused entirely on motorsports-related topics, he built his foundational skills in UNM's Formula SAE (FSAE) program, LoboMotorsports, which challenges students to design, build, and compete in a small version of a formula-style race car. Lee got involved with the program, which is typically completed as a senior capstone, as a sophomore.

John Russell, Mechanical Engineering professor and UNM's FSAE Program director, was thrilled to hear his former student had made it to the big leagues on one of the best teams in F1 racing.

"I was excited and very proud when Tiger told me he had been selected for a position on the McLaren F1 team - the pinnacle of racing. This is not only a fantastic personal accomplishment but also one that reflects the quality of the UNM Formula SAE program. He is the third team member to receive this honor, Russell said. "Being selected for a position on any F1 team is very difficult - especially for an American and on one of the top teams. Often applicants must essentially serve as voluntary interns first. That Tiger was selected directly for a position through a highly competitive process truly speaks to his preparation here and Oxford Brookes."

LoboMotorsports was a major part of Lee's decision to attend UNM. As a student-athlete who competed on the university's golf team, it was important he found a school where he could play sports while earning an Engineering degree focused on race car design. As a sophomore, Lee was able to shadow the team and learn the theory and software that informed the design. He became the aerodynamics and composites lead the next school year, but the project was put on hold after the pandemic hit. Having gotten involved with the program early, he was able to stay on and eventually finish the car with a brand new set of students.

As a senior, Lee took on an advising role with the LoboMotorsports team, mentoring students in aerodynamics and composites and providing design input. The team took two cars to the 2021 FSAE competition in Las Vegas - an internal combustion engine vehicle and UNM's first electric vehicle. Though they didn't win, the team performed well overall. It was an exciting finish to Lee's undergraduate years.

Years later, Lee's aerodynamics work continues to play a role in UNM FSAE's success, Russell said.

"Tiger was an amazing team member primarily responsible for our aerodynamic design. He was always making the design better," Russell said. "Due to Tiger's work our aero design and build is still recognized at competition as one of the best. Without a doubt, he is one of the best students I have had in the program."

After moving to England for graduate school, Lee participated in Formula Student, Europe's version of FSAE. While participating in student motorsports isn't necessarily a requirement to become an engineer for an F1 team, he said the experience certainly provides an advantage. He credits lessons from Russell, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Mike Arnold, FSAE senior machinist, for teaching him the theory and practical skills that helped him get the job.

As Lee races into his dream motorsports career, faculty and staff at the University are cheering him on.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.