Life As a Fuel Cell Engineer
Position Description Design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.
Daily Life Of a Fuel Cell Engineer
- Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.
- Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
- Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
- Manage fuel cell battery hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components, such as fuel cells, energy storage units, or electric drives.
- Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs.
- Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment.
Things a Fuel Cell Engineer Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Fuel Cell Engineers say are important on the job.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Fuel Cell Systems Engineer
- Design Cell Engineer
- Fuel Cell Battery Technician
- Mobile Battery Technician
- Fuel Cell Designer
Are There Job Opportunities for Fuel Cell Engineers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 288,800 jobs in the United States for Fuel Cell Engineer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 25,300 new jobs for Fuel Cell Engineer by 2026. The BLS estimates 21,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Fuel Cell Engineer are Nevada, Utah, and North Dakota. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Fuel Cell Engineer
Fuel Cell Engineers make between $56,270 and $136,550 a year.
Fuel Cell Engineers who work in District of Columbia, New Mexico, or Alaska, make the highest salaries.
How much do Fuel Cell Engineers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $90,030 |
Alaska | $128,690 |
Arizona | $98,390 |
Arkansas | $71,730 |
California | $107,370 |
Colorado | $104,220 |
Connecticut | $94,270 |
Delaware | $106,220 |
District of Columbia | $112,780 |
Florida | $87,770 |
Georgia | $84,870 |
Hawaii | $81,730 |
Idaho | $86,010 |
Illinois | $92,030 |
Indiana | $82,510 |
Iowa | $80,530 |
Kansas | $82,210 |
Kentucky | $84,380 |
Louisiana | $101,810 |
Maine | $93,310 |
Maryland | $109,960 |
Massachusetts | $98,190 |
Michigan | $91,100 |
Minnesota | $87,030 |
Mississippi | $85,570 |
Missouri | $85,450 |
Montana | $77,140 |
Nebraska | $80,650 |
Nevada | $88,950 |
New Hampshire | $97,270 |
New Jersey | $95,680 |
New Mexico | $110,210 |
New York | $91,820 |
North Carolina | $87,470 |
North Dakota | $75,770 |
Ohio | $81,020 |
Oklahoma | $88,190 |
Oregon | $85,890 |
Pennsylvania | $85,740 |
Rhode Island | $94,520 |
South Carolina | $93,730 |
South Dakota | $76,220 |
Tennessee | $87,990 |
Texas | $105,570 |
Utah | $88,150 |
Vermont | $94,580 |
Virginia | $100,540 |
Washington | $96,860 |
West Virginia | $84,070 |
Wisconsin | $79,360 |
Wyoming | $84,200 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Fuel Cell Engineers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Fuel Cell Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Minitab
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Statistical software
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Maplesoft Maple
- The MathWorks Simulink
- ANSYS FLUENT
- Failure mode and effects analysis FMEA software
- C++
- Gaussian software
- GE Energy GateCycle
- Ansoft Simplorer
How to Become a Fuel Cell Engineer
What education or degrees do I need to become a Fuel Cell Engineer?
What work experience do I need to become a Fuel Cell Engineer?
Where Fuel Cell Engineers Are Employed
Fuel Cell Engineers work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Michel Villeneuve via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.