What Do Fuel Cell Engineers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Fuel Cell Engineers design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications. They also conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.

Other tasks include:

• Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.
• Authorize release of fuel cell parts, components, or subsystems for production.
• Write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects.
• Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
• Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
• Define specifications for fuel cell materials.

We asked Fuel Cell Engineers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 60% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Fuel Cell Engineers conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy. They design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.

A typical day for a Fuel Cell Engineer will also include:

• Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.
• Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.
• Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
• Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology or competitive products.
• Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.

We asked some Fuel Cell Engineers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	26% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	29% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	50% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	13% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Fuel Cell Engineers also write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects. They may also conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Fuel Cell Engineers Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment. They might also Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.

In addition, they Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.

To some Fuel Cell Engineers, it is also their responsibility to Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Fuel Cell Engineer, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/architecture-and-engineering/mechanical-engineers.htm

http://www.asme.org/

http://www.asee.org/

http://www.nspe.org/index.html