Structural Design
Engineering durability at scale — then optimising for what matters
Structural design is where I spent the bulk of my career, and where I helped cement the reputation of leading off‑highway and construction equipment manufacturers for durability, reliability, and real‑world performance.
This was not incremental engineering. It was delivered alongside significant global growth in product range and new product introductions, under demanding commercial timelines, in one of the most challenging structural environments in engineering: welded steel structures for mobile machinery.
From “build it, test it, break it” to digital‑first engineering
A defining shift during this period was moving the organisation away from a predominantly physical, iterative test‑and‑break approach to a digital‑first, simulation‑driven development model.
By establishing and nurturing a highly capable structural engineering team in India, I helped create a scalable engineering capability that could:
support a rapidly expanding product portfolio
reduce dependency on late‑stage physical testing
accelerate design cycles without compromising durability
embed simulation and judgement into everyday engineering decisions
This transition was not about replacing experience with software. It was about amplifying engineering judgement with the right tools, processes, and data — and using simulation to make better decisions earlier, when they matter most.
Durability first — but no longer “just good enough”
Designing robust structures remains a core skill. But the dial has moved.
Modern off‑highway equipment can no longer afford structures that are merely “strong enough”. The requirement now is optimised structures — balancing:
durability and fatigue life
weight and material efficiency
cost and manufacturability
performance across diverse duty cycles
My experience sits squarely in this space: ensuring structures survive the real world, while being intelligently optimised for the business realities of cost, mass, and production.
Proudly grounded in excavators — and beyond
The imagery on this page alludes to excavators for a reason. I am particularly proud of my previous work in this sector.
Off-Highway machinery and excavators represent one of the most demanding structural design challenges:
wide variation in machine size (from compact to heavy)
highly diverse customer applications
complex, multi‑axial load cases
aggressive duty cycles
extreme expectations of reliability
unforgiving delivery timescales
Designing welded steel structures in this environment requires not only analytical capability, but judgement, pragmatism, and a deep understanding of how machines are actually used in the field.
Beyond excavators, I have significant structural design and oversight experience across:
Telescopic Handlers
Backhoe Loaders
Skid Steer Loaders
Wheeled Loading Shovels
Tractors
Compactors
Loading Shovels
This breadth matters. It brings perspective, pattern recognition, and the ability to transfer learning between platforms and sectors.
This experience informs how I approach complex structural decision‑making across engineering‑led industries, rather than representing a focus on any specific product or market.
What I bring to structural engineering programmes
System‑level thinking
I don’t design structures in isolation. I understand how structures interact with hydraulics, powertrain, controls, manufacturing constraints, and service realities.
Simulation with judgement
I have overseen the use of FEA and digital simulation not as an academic exercise, but as a decision‑making tool — understanding where fidelity matters, and where engineering judgement is more important than mesh density.
Scalable teams and capability
Building and leading distributed teams that deliver consistent engineering outcomes has been central to my work — particularly in high‑growth environments.
Engineering under pressure
Short timescales, aggressive targets, evolving requirements — these are the norm in this industry. I’m comfortable operating in that space while maintaining engineering integrity.
How this fits with Tacitura
Structural design excellence does not stand apart from the rest of the business. It depends on:
capturing and reusing engineering knowledge
making good decisions repeatable
transferring learning across programmes and generations of product
This is where my structural background and the Tacitura approach naturally intersect: making hard‑won engineering knowledge visible, usable, and durable, rather than locked in individuals or lost between programmes.
When this capability is most valuable
Scaling a product portfolio without scaling risk
Transitioning to simulation‑led development
Improving durability while reducing weight and cost
Supporting teams facing demanding delivery schedules
Providing experienced oversight on complex structural programmes
Structural design is not just about analysis or strength. It is about judgement, trade‑offs, and understanding how machines live in the real world.
That perspective — built over years in one of the most demanding sectors in engineering — is what I bring.