Structural Analysis Engineer – FEA / ABAQUS

ARi; Peoria (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ARi, a fast-growing global engineering firm headquartered in East Peoria, IL, seeks a Structural Analysis Engineer to perform advanced structural analysis and simulation for cooling and aftertreatment components. You will collaborate with design and validation teams to evaluate integrity, life, and performance, providing actionable recommendations.

The role focuses on NPI/CPI programs, leveraging ABAQUS/HyperMesh and nonlinear analysis to improve durability and reliability of engine systems.

Qualifications

• Industrial experience performing structural analysis/FEA.
• Experience with static and/or dynamic structural analysis.
• Ability to develop FE models and translate results into engineering recommendations.
• Experience correlating FEA with physical testing.

Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis and simulation to evaluate integrity, response, and durability of cooling and aftertreatment components.
• Execute FEA including static, modal, transient, and nonlinear analyses.
• Interpret results and communicate conclusions to design teams.
• Support NPI and CPI activities and collaborate with design engineers.

Skills

Structural mechanics

Dynamics

Fatigue & durability

FEA experience

Loads & boundary conditions

Troubleshooting models

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ABAQUS

HyperMesh

Job description

ARi is a fast-growing global engineering firm headquartered in East Peoria, IL, USA. Our power of I represents the innovation, intelligence, ingenuity, and insight that differentiates us from our competition. With 1,500+ engineering talent worldwide, representing multiple nationalities and countries, we are well-positioned to deliver sophisticated and custom solutions to our clients.

Engine Components and Thermal Systems (ECTS) Structural Analysis Team within the Large Power Systems Division (LPSD) is seeking an experienced Structural Analysis Engineer to support New Product Introduction (NPI) and Current Product Improvement (CPI) programs.

This position will perform advanced structural analysis and simulation for cooling and aftertreatment components and systems. The work involves technically challenging structural problems, including engine and machine vibration, forced response, nonlinear material behavior, complex geometries, fatigue, and structural durability.

The Structural Analysis Engineer will work closely with design and validation teams to evaluate structural integrity, predict component performance and service life, and provide actionable recommendations that influence product design.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform structural analysis and simulation to evaluate structural integrity, response, performance, durability, and service life of cooling and aftertreatment components and systems.
• Perform FEA involving:
  • Static structural analysis
  • Vibration and modal/dynamic analysis
  • Transient dynamic analysis
  • Boundary nonlinearities
  • Material nonlinearities
  • Fracture analysis
  • Fatigue and fatigue-life prediction
  • Bolted-joint analysis
  • Welded-structure analysis
• Analyze complex structural behavior associated with engine and machine vibration and forced response.
• Interpret simulation results and provide design and development teams with clear technical conclusions and actionable recommendations.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and Current Product Improvement (CPI) activities.
• Collaborate closely with Cooling and Aftertreatment Design Engineering teams.
• Partner with test and validation teams to correlate analytical predictions with physical test results.
• Investigate structural failures and performance concerns and recommend appropriate design improvements.
• Continuously improve structural analysis methods, processes, modeling techniques, and simulation accuracy.
• Prepare and communicate technical analysis results, conclusions, and recommendations to engineering stakeholders.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with approximately 57 years of relevant experience, OR
• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with approximately 24 years of relevant experience, OR
• PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with approximately 12 years of relevant experience.
• Industrial experience performing structural analysis/FEA, preferably involving static and/or dynamic structural analysis.

Required Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of structural mechanics and dynamics.
• Strong understanding of material properties and material behavior.
• Knowledge of fatigue and durability fundamentals.
• Hands-on structural simulation experience involving several of the following:
  • Static analysis
  • Modal/vibration analysis
  • Transient dynamics
  • Nonlinear analysis
  • Material nonlinearities
  • Contact/boundary nonlinearities
  • Fracture
  • Fatigue-life analysis
  • Bolted joints
  • Welded structures
• Strong hands-on experience with ABAQUS.
• Strong hands-on experience with HyperMesh.
• Ability to develop FE models, define appropriate loads and boundary conditions, evaluate results, and translate findings into engineering recommendations.
• Ability to understand complex structural behavior and troubleshoot simulation/modeling issues.

Preferred Technical Skills

• Experience with machine dynamic simulation.
• Experience analyzing engine, heavy-equipment, automotive, off-highway, or other mechanically dynamic systems.
• Experience with nonmetallic structural simulation.
• Experience developing or implementing user-defined material behavior/models.
• Experience with component interaction and contact modeling.
• Experience with machine and structural design and validation.
• Experience correlating FEA results with physical testing.
• Working knowledge of Pro/ENGINEER (Pro/E) or Creo sufficient to prepare and modify geometry for finite-element modeling.
• Experience analyzing complex geometries and specialized or advanced engineering materials.

The Engineer Will Work Extensively With

• Cooling System Design Engineers
• Aftertreatment Design Engineers
• Structural Analysis/Simulation Engineers
• Test and Validation Engineers
• Product Design and Development teams

The role requires the ability to clearly explain simulation results and translate complex analytical findings into practical recommendations for design teams.