Senior Mechanical Engineer - Structural Design & Analysis

Wärtsilä Energy Storage & Optimization (ES&O) is the leading global energy storage optimizer. Our mission is to deliver integrated energy solutions that build a resilient, intelligent, and flexible energy infrastructure - unlocking the way to an optimized renewable future. By integrating renewables, energy management technology, and storage with traditional energy resources, we reinvent clean energy production from the largest and most complex grids to the most remote and essential microgrids. We play a key role in Wärtsilä’s vision towards a 100% renewable energy future through flexibility, reliability, and integration and a more sustainable world for us all.

 

Wärtsilä's Energy Business is looking for a Mechanical Engineer with a strong background in structural analysis to help develop new battery energy storage system (BESS) enclosures for the Energy Storage & Optimization business. The role will be part of the hardware engineering team.

 

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter that can work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team. The candidate must have extensive FEA experience including structural, thermal, and knowledge of seismic analysis and design concepts.  The individual should thrive in a fast paced, constantly changing environment while the industry and company go through substantial growth.

 

Preferred location(s) for this position is Wärtsilä's location in Herndon, VA 

 

Responsibilities:

• Help design mechanical enclosures/containers, racks, parts, and/or features intended to be used in the energy storage industry
• Become the in-house authority on structural design issues, and able to analyze all mechanical aspects of the product.
• Full capability to perform various linear and non-linear FEA simulations for component and system level designs, both static and dynamic (shipping and seismic).
• Perform hand calculations to validate design concepts.
• Understand manufacturing processes, materials, welding, and fabrication methods in order to suggest and/or implement cost effective and efficient structural designs
• Collaborate in a team environment and/or take charge of opportunities to develop optimal solutions for customers and development programs
• Present analysis and suggested design changes in an efficient manner.  Generate and present analysis reports when required.
• Efficiently utilize in-house CAD tools as needed to collaborate on mechanical designs.  Autodesk Inventor and PTC Creo experience preferred but not exclusively required.
• Review detailed build-to-print engineering drawings considering especially weld call-outs (ISO 2553), and understand weld processes to ensure drawings and analysis assumptions are consistent.
• Help with thermal FEA analysis to support in-house Thermal Engineers, as required.
• Be versatile with software and capable of doing hand calculations or using various FEA tools such as Autodesk Inventor Nastran, or other platforms, such as Ansys Mechanical.

 

Minimum Experience and Educational Requirements:

• 10+ years mechanical engineering experience, preferable in a commercial product development environment.
• Good proficiency with CAD software and expert proficiency with FEA software.
• Solid fundamental understanding and application of FEA meshing practices, boundary condition selection, and interpretation of pass/fail criteria to be applied in all case studies.
• Experience with outdoor enclosure/container design requirements, standards, manufacturing, and IP testing experience is beneficial.
• Strong understanding of welded, bolted, and riveted joints and ability to analyze them fully.  Ability to accurately apply weld callouts is required.
• Seismic experience:  Ability to analyze structures consistent to IEEE 693, but knowledge of building codes, design & construction standards such as ASCE 7, ASCE 41, ACI 318, AISC Steel Construction Manual will also be beneficial.
• Knowledge of manufacturing process and techniques (forming, machining, welding, and inspection/testing) used in the manufacture of fabricated metal parts a plus
• <