FEA Analyst

The Opportunity

Own the planning, coordinating, analysis, and reporting for a complete project of moderate scope or a significant portion or sub-system of a major and and diverse project with timely completion of scheduled tests, improved test cycle times and reduced design iterations for forestry attachments .

What you will be responsible for

•    Approaches all tasks in a safe manor. Engaging with key stakeholders, documenting   risk assessments, and developing mitigation plans to support goals. 
•    Develops and delivers robust PV&V plans/schedules and executes to meet projects following technology delivery process (TDP) and Integrated System Development Process (ISDP) in support of the Enterprise Product Delivery Process (EPDP) and Continuous Improvement program commitments including milestone and gate reviews.
•    Evaluates design solutions to improve durability, cost, quality, and performance based on specialized knowledge of engineering simulation software applications to perform finite element analysis. This may include possible involvement of other functional engineers, and/or subject matter experts.
•    Compiles and documents necessary information (Engineering decisions and reports of pertinent design analyses data) to document the optimum design solution required for building of our structures and adoption of the design with possible involvement of other functional engineers.
•    Uses fundamental engineering calculations and data analysis on critical components to ensure quality of design and to reduce risk.
•    Delivers continuous improvements in PV&V analysis processes used at Waratah NZ.
•    Engages with other John Deere Forestry PV&V groups in order to leverage analysis and test capabilities that are not core within the Waratah facility, supporting development and strategy alignment. 

What will make you successful in the role

Solid Understanding of Mechanics and Materials

• Knowledge of strength of materials, stress-strain relationships, and failure theories.
• Ability to interpret material properties like yield strength, fatigue limits, and fracture toughness.

Proficiency in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Tools

• Expertise in software such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or ABAQUS.
• Skills in creating accurate models, applying boundary conditions, and validating results.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

• Ability to interpret complex loading conditions and simplify them into solvable models.
• Strong mathematical foundation for stress calculations and optimization.

Attention to Detail and Quality Assurance

• Capability to spot anomalies in results and ensure compliance with design standards.
• Understanding of industry codes and regulations (e.g., ASME, ISO).