Siddharaj Sodha

Mechanical Engineer (E.I.T.) with 8+ years of professional engineering experience in mechanical design, technical analysis, failure investigation, engineering standards development, and cross-functional stakeholder coordination. Demonstrated commitment to safety-first engineering — including halting production operations upon identifying safety-critical issues, applying APEGS Code of Ethics in engineering decisions, and implementing engineered safety controls deployed across hundreds of units with zero incidents. Strong background in hydraulic systems, asset reliability improvement, and technical program ownership aligned with a consistent record of prioritizing public safety and operational reliability in engineering decisions.

R&D Design Engineer - Väderstad Industries Inc. - Saskatchewan, Canada

(2023-01)

• Demonstrated safety-first engineering judgment by halting hydraulic brake installation upon discovering a safety-critical caliper-axle box fitment issue. Performed liability assessment, developed an interim rework procedure, redesigned mounting geometry, briefed senior management, and implemented permanent QC verification for every subsequent unit with zero incidents post-implementation.
• Conducted formal hazard identification and risk assessments, implementing engineered safety controls compliant with ISO 4254-1, CSA Z259, and OHS regulations. Engineered fall protection systems deployed across 300 units with zero incidents. Applied APEGS Code of Ethics by halting a pre-production build when fall protection standards were not met, redesigning before any unit reached customers.
• Led multiple failure analyses and incident investigations. Investigated recurring packer wheel hub loosening using contact marking film analysis, identifying insufficient clamp load distribution as root cause. Implemented a dual-path solution increasing contact surface area by 38% at equivalent cost, saving customers approximately 8 hours per week in maintenance and eliminating the failure mode.
• Participated in and led technical design reviews, reviewing and approving engineering drawings and specifications before production release. Supported compliance with engineering specifications, quality standards, and regulatory requirements across product platforms. Collaborated with project teams and operations to resolve technical issues and ensure design intent was maintained through production.
• Redesigned a hydraulic system using flow control orifices and upgraded bushings to eliminate unpredictable motion and operator safety risk, achieving 100% incident reduction across 450 deployed units. Investigated brake thermal expansion issue designing a self-relieving 10 psi pressure release valve and developed a disc brake system with electric actuator isolation, applying thermal and hydraulic engineering principles throughout.
• Led a full VA/VE redesign replacing a welded fabrication with a cast assembly, generating over $700,000 in annual cost savings, 8.1 hours less assembly time per machine, and approximately 20% improved field performance. Built the full cost-benefit, ROI, and capital investment justification presented to the Director of R&D before sanction. Co-authored SR&ED documentation with KPMG LLP.
• Managed ECR/ECO engineering change processes, deviation reviews, and NCR documentation through Windchill PLM from initial concern through implementation. Led Creo/Windchill PLM migration covering approximately 735 models across 15 engineers, reducing future drawing workload by approximately 30%.
• Engaged directly with customers and field service teams during seeding season to investigate field performance issues in real operating conditions and develop engineering solutions improving safety, reliability, and ease of operation. Redesigned meter housing assembly extending service life from under 5,000 acres to over 50,000 acres for only a 3% cost increase.
• Led AirGuard fan system Version 3 development identifying back pressure as root cause of fan performance degradation and impeller failures, integrating check valve and accumulator to resolve the issue. Collaborated with CFD specialist in Sweden to model particle flow paths in conveying systems, identifying flow path geometry changes that eliminated premature hose failure.

R&D Design Engineer (Co-op) - Väderstad Industries Inc. - Saskatchewan, Canada

(2022-05 - 2022-12)

• Delivered mechanical design, technical analysis, and documentation work on agricultural equipment platforms using Creo and Windchill PLM.
• Supported ECR/ECO change management, BOM maintenance, and engineering documentation; performed hydraulic simulations and structural evaluations.

Mechanical Engineering Instructor - TFT Education Pvt. Ltd. - Gujarat, India

(2019-02 - 2021-05)

• Delivered undergraduate instruction in core mechanical engineering subjects including Machine Design, Kinematics of Machines, Automobile Engines, and Engineering Drawing & Drafting.
• Delivered technical instruction on thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid systems building strong ability to communicate complex engineering concepts clearly to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

Graduate Engineering Trainee - Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) - India

(2018-01 - 2019-02)

• Supported manufacturing-side product engineering and lifecycle activities for high-volume two-wheeler components in a structured OEM environment.
• Maintained BOM accuracy and coordinated engineering changes; analyzed production and material flow data to identify efficiency and manufacturability improvements.

Mechanical Design Lead - SAE BAJA University Project

(2016-03 - 2018-05)

Led structural analysis using ANSYS across frontal, side, torsional, and rollover load cases informing design decisions on geometry, wall thickness, and joint configurations. Achieved 43rd place out of 150 teams internationally.

M.Eng. (Co-op) - Industrial Systems Engineering - University of Regina, Canada (2021-05 - 2022-09)

B.Eng. - Automobile Engineering - Gujarat Technological University, India (2014-08 - 2018-05)