Life of a Ferrari engineer at Maranello?

Linked In has a pile of jobs they've posted. Learn CatiaV5.

sjd

 

Minardi (now Toro Rosso) are based in Faenza, about an hour from Maranello. I worked there in the Paul Stoddart era, so never met Badoer. If you are interested in the Ferrari F1 team, you should definitely pursue your next-level engineering degree in Italy, as you have already understood. That would increase the chances of landing a job in the Italian racing industry. Working at Ferrari satellites/affiliates such as Michelotto (production of customer race cars) or AF Corse (giant Ferrari race team covering GTE, GT3, and Ferrari Challenge) might help get you in the door at Ferrari, and Ferrari also recruit a lot of people from Toro Rosso down the road.

 

Your biggest impediment is going to be the language barrier. Ferrari wants fluency in English and a good understanding of Italian, I'd go as far as saying they really want fluency in both. Your English certainly needs work, and it sounds like you ahven't started learning Italian yet. The best way to fix that is to immerse yourself in an English or Italian speaking location as soon as possible. It sounds like you're pretty young, if you are still young enough to learn a language without an accent that'd be ideal. At a bare minimum try and find a study abroad program, or someway to do a summer or some other internship in an english speaking or italian country. If that's not possible for financial reasons, find an immersive english language group in your area, or heck just find a good english language discord channel and spend as much time there as possible.

If you can manage that part, then you'll just need a degree in Mechanical engineering from a good school. Going for a masters in italy would be a great idea, although by that time you'll likely be stuck with an accent for life.

The last thing is probably the easiest and most interesting bit. Find things to do that shows you have an interest in cars, specifically in engine design if that's what you want to do. Join a professional society for cars (something like SAE in the US). Get a job working at a engine rebuild shop, even if its just cleaning up. There is plenty of engine design information online, learn everything you can. MIT has their engines course online, go learn that. When I look at resumes/CVs thats what I'm looking for. Not just academic qualifications but things that indicate the applicant is passionate about the industry.

 

First let me say I commend you for being proactive. I wished more people had the kind of passion you have. I don't know much, but I would certainly submit my resume to their corporate site and perhaps dealerships as well. Anything to get your foot in the door.

I hope to one day see you working at Ferrari and am rooting for you sir!

 

He needs to work on his English?? His English is better than mine.

 

Ferrari salaries are the lowest (if you are at your first application) here, so you won't do it for money. Better becoming someone where you live and then offer them your services as a specialist.
English language is ok, but if you know some Italian is better.

The only good thing you will find in Maranello is Ferrari. And good people (expecially outside the factory…)

ciao

 

Always listen to the locals, they know the place, the customs, the way people live: they are there...

Rgds

 

Alberto (= "Albert-LP") is a dear friend. I visited him in september 2017 in Modena and Maranello. Not only was he kind enough to take care of me for a whole day, but I can state that he knows very well what he is saying about the environement here.
Besides, he is an graduate engineer, so whatever he is saying are words of wisdom...take my word.

Rgds

 

His English sounds and looks more than fine for Italian standards, that's the least of his worries, but a good understanding of Italian and technical jargon in the local language is a must. An accent should not be an issue either, as long as you are understood well.

 

Keep in mind that most Ferrari engineering postings indicate English is more important: "Fluency in English and ideally a solid of level of Italian are recommend for your best local integration."

Applying to Ferrari you will be competing with a ton of people who are technically very skilled and are also native Italian speakers and fluent in English. While I'm sure its not PC to say so, those people are going to have significant leg up if your language skills are not equivalent (or better).

 

1) As a kid, my immediate thought and strategy to get close to Ferrari was to try to build a career at Ferrari. Dealer or Factory.
I was immediately hit by how hard it was to get in for an internship or a real job, and that they were not paying that well.
2) Then I realized I'd better build me to a position which would "pay" for a Ferrari. Ultimately this is what the actual dream was about.
I'm not an engineer, and I understand specific careers make more sense in their galaxy.
But I'm now glad I went with two.