Development Engineer II - Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Engineer

Make your mark at the world's largest HVAC company

Daikin Applied is seeking an FEA Development Engineer. The FEA Development Engineer will be responsible for developing and executing advanced structural and noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) simulations to support the design, validation, and optimization of commercial HVAC products. This role is critical to ensuring product robustness, reducing vibration and noise-related failures, and improving overall system quality and customer satisfaction.

As a key member of the Model-Based Engineering (MBE) department, the FEA Engineer will collaborate closely with design engineering, product development, and laboratory testing teams to deliver actionable simulation insights and support model validation efforts. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Plymouth, MN - Hybrid

What you will do:

• Develop and execute finite element models to analyze structural integrity, dynamic response, and NVH performance of HVAC systems and components
• Perform modal, harmonic, random vibration, acoustic, and transient dynamic analyses to assess and mitigate NVH issues
• Collaborate with product design and development teams to recommend design improvements based on simulation results and NVH targets
• Interpret and correlate simulation results with physical test data to validate models and improve predictive accuracy
• Generate detailed technical reports and presentations summarizing simulation results, design recommendations, and risk assessments
• Maintain and develop standardized modeling practices, templates, and libraries for structural and NVH simulations
• Assist in establishing NVH test plans and collaborate with internal test labs to support experimental data collection for model validation
• Stay current with emerging FEA and NVH methodologies, tools, and best practices to continuously improve simulation capabilities
• Ensure compliance with company safety policies and applicable regulatory standards in all analysis and design recommendations

What's in it for you:

• Medical/Dental/Vision coverage, PTO, 401K match, support for community involvement and much more
• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• 4+ years of experience in FEA, including at least 2 years specifically focused on NVH analysis
• Proficiency with leading FEA tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus, or Nastran for linear and nonlinear structural analysis
• Strong expertise in NVH simulation techniques, including modal analysis, frequency response, acoustic analysis, and vibration isolation
• Understanding of mechanical design principles, materials behavior, and fatigue analysis
• Experience correlating simulation results to physical testing data and refining models for accuracy
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of presenting technical content to both engineering and non-engineering audiences
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and report writing tools
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
• Experience in HVAC product development or other mechanical systems with significant vibration and acoustic performance requirements
• Familiarity with experimental NVH testing techniques and equipment (accelerometers, microphones, data acquisition systems)
• Knowledge of statistical analysis methods including DOE and Six Sigma principles
• Exposure to simulation governance frameworks and model lifecycle management
• Familiarity with AI/ML techniques as applied to FEA for surrogate modeling, design space exploration, and optimization
• Experience with Multi-Domain Optimization software (modeFrontier, optiSLang, etc.) and cross-physics simulation integratio
• Understanding of Multi-Body Dynamics (MBD) simulations and their integration with structural and NVH analyses

Benefits:

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage, and voluntary accident coverage
• Short-term and long-term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company-paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state, and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state, and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $74,200-$120,700 in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

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