YASA, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, is partnering with Formula Student 2025 as part of its ambition to inspire the next generation of automotive engineers.
Launched in 1998, Formula Student is Europe’s most established educational engineering competition, having inspired thousands of students to take up a career in engineering. With more than 100 university teams taking part every year, the Formula Student competition provides real-world experience combining practical engineering skills with broader business competencies, such as logistical planning, budgeting and project management.
Simon Odling, YASA’s Chief of New Technology, said, “Formula Student holds a special place in my heart – it’s a competition that has shaped the careers of so many engineers, myself included, in the automotive and motorsport industries. At YASA, we’re thrilled to be involved with next year’s event, and we can’t wait to meet the talented young engineers who could be the future of YASA, joining our exceptional engineering placement programmes in 2025.”
In celebration of this new partnership, YASA has launched its latest campaign to recruit students to take part in its highly sought after engineering placement programmes at its sites in Yarnton near Oxford and Bicester.
Founded in 2009, YASA is redefining the future of electric vehicle performance. It designs and manufactures high performance electric motors and power electronics for the premium automotive sector, with current high profile customers including Ferrari and McLaren. YASA’s revolutionary axial-flux electric powertrain technology brings the highest power and torque densities in its class for the smallest size and weight dimensions.
The world-leading axial flux electric motor innovator is looking for up to 10 university students who have a clear passion for engineering and innovative technology to take part in its placement programmes. Starting in July 2025, the three- and 12-month placements offer students real-world, hands-on experience within YASA’s fast-paced and high-tech design, development and manufacturing environment.
The placements are available across the company’s engineering functions including development, design, testing, manufacturing, and innovation. Students will be given the opportunity to work on current and future electric motor and e-propulsion projects as well as work on current tech and engineering challenges.
Chris Jeffcock, Recruitment Manager, said, “Being a University of Oxford start-up success story, we have tried to consistently support many placement students across our engineering functions, and several of them have subsequently returned to work for us as graduates.
“As a lean, agile company, we can offer students an unrivalled level of hands-on experience working on some of the most innovative projects in today’s automotive industry.”
Danae Topi, former Industrial Placement Student at YASA, commented, “With the support of my manager, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the Innovation Team on a year-long project involving electromagnetic design, simulations, and motor control software development. Throughout my placement, I have developed my practical engineering skills through component testing alongside learning more about materials, manufacturing, failure analysis, and microscopy amongst others”
For more information about YASA’s placement programmes, please visit www.yasa.com/careers
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