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Fuel Cell Engineer

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What is a Fuel Cell Engineer?

Job Description: Design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.

Life As a Fuel Cell Engineer

  • Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs.
  • Calculate the efficiency or power output of a fuel cell system or process.
  • Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs.
  • Develop or evaluate systems or methods of hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications.
  • Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.
  • Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.

Fuel Cell Engineer Needed Skills

Fuel Cell Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

  • Engineering Professor
  • Battery Technician
  • Scientist/Engineer
  • Senior Engineer
  • Fuel Cell Designer

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.

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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.

Fuel Cell Engineer Average Salary

Fuel Cell Engineers make between $56,270 and $136,550 a year.

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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 different U.S. states?

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

What Tools do Fuel Cell Engineers Use?

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Fuel Cell Engineers may use on a daily basis:

  • 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

Becoming a Fuel Cell Engineer

Individuals working as a Fuel Cell Engineer have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Fuel Cell Engineer?

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Where Fuel Cell Engineers Work

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: Michel Villeneuve via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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