Details Report for:
17-2141.01 - Fuel Cell Engineers
Design, evaluate, modify, and construct fuel cell components and systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Education | Wages & Employment
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Design fuel cell systems, subsystems, stacks, assemblies, or components, such as electric traction motors and power electronics.
- Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
- Calculate the efficiency and power output of a fuel cell system or process.
- Characterize component and fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.
- Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and hydrogen pumps.
- Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles and procedures.
- Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.
- Develop fuel cell materials and fuel cell test equipment.
- Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems.
- Identify and define the vehicle and system integration challenges for fuel cell vehicles.
- Integrate electric drive subsystems with other vehicle systems to optimize performance or mitigate faults.
- Manage hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components such as fuel cells, energy storage units, and electric drives, for fuel cell battery hybrids.
- Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.
- Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.
- Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system design.
- Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information using simulation software programs.
- Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
- Authorize the release of parts or subsystems for production.
- Coordinate engineering or test schedules with departments outside engineering, such as manufacturing.
- Plan or implement cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
- Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests.
- Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, and talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology and competitive products.
- Write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects.
Education
Education data collected from Mechanical Engineers.
 Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Attained |
|---|---|
78   |
Bachelor's degree or higher |
| 18 |
Some college |
| 4 |
High school or less |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
survey of employees aged 25-44.
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Mechanical Engineers.
Employment data collected from Mechanical Engineers.
| Category | Occupation Information |
|---|---|
| Median wages (2008) | $36.02 hourly, $74,920 annual |
| Employment (2006) | 226,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 58,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.