Fuel cell engineers

Earnings (Yearly Median): $95,560 (Recruiter.com, 2023)

Employment and Outlook: Slower than average (2% to 3%) (O*NET Online, 2023)

O*NET-SOC Code: 17-2141.01

Related Career Clusters: Manufacturing; Health Science; Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Scope of Work

Fuel cell engineers work in research institutions, private engineering companies, small businesses, and the federal government. Fuel cell engineers design fuel cells: energy conversion mechanisms that generate power with chemical reactions using hydrogen and oxygen. By means of this chemical reaction, a fuel cell produces an electric current that can be harnessed as a source of electric power.

Fuel cell engineers oversee the complex process of developing and testing fuel cells. In addition to designing fuel cell systems—the motors, chemicals, and components of the cell—they are responsible for analyzing data gathered from testing cells and accessing progress and setbacks. Engineers implement experiments to develop new and more efficient fuel cell designs and technology. Writing reports evaluating experiments, as well as reading the literature of new advancements in fuel cell technology, is an important aspect of this occupation.

Education and Coursework

Fuel cell engineers need at least a bachelor’s degree in an engineering specialty—chemical, electrical, mechanical, or civil—or a degree in materials science, a field that applies the study of matter and atomic particles to engineering. There are also master's and PhD programs in engineering. An engineer’s four-year education consists of not only engineering classes, but courses in physical science, mathematics, the humanities, and social sciences. Most programs require specialized design classes in a computer lab.

Admission into an engineering program is competitive, and a candidate should have a strong interest and aptitude for math and science to succeed in this field. It is not uncommon for an engineering school to offer a five-year joint bachelor’s and master’s program. A master’s degree will potentially lead to an increase in salary and augment an applicant’s marketability in the competitive engineering industry.

In the United States, a master’s in engineering (MEng) is often a two-year degree consisting of specialized engineering and laboratory courses. A comprehensive research project (a graduate thesis) is required at the end of the second year. Classes related to business and management may also be required to prepare graduates for managerial positions within the engineering industry. There is a networking advantage to a master’s degree—it improves contacts within the field and may lead to internships and co-ops with engineering companies.

Joining a professional engineering society or organization is effective in creating valuable connections with other professionals and learning more about the engineering industry. The National Society of Professional Engineers, for example, is an organization for working professionals that offers full-time engineering students a unique membership package, which is a great opportunity for students to make connections and learn more about their profession. The American Association for Fuel Cell Engineers is an organization devoted to promoting further education and networking opportunities for fuel cell engineers. Both of these organizations aim to educate the public on the benefits of fuel cells.

Career Enhancement and Training

Engineers are required to have a license in the United States if they offer services to the public, but the requirement for licensure varies depending on each individual state’s regulations. To receive an engineering license, a candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree, pass a comprehensive eight-hour exam, and complete four years of professional engineering experience. A college graduate from an accredited engineering program is eligible to take the initial Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE), and, if they pass, they can move on to the Principles and Practice of Engineering (or PE) exam. The PE examination will test engineers’ knowledge and skills in their concentration, such as chemical or electrical engineering. Upon successful completion of this exam, an individual will have earned his or her license and be officially considered a professional engineer, also known as a PE.

“Engineers in training,” or EIT, is the term the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) uses to refer to college graduates who have passed the eight-hour FE exam. An EIT completes his or her training under the direct supervision of a professional engineer. The training is complete after four years of supervision and upon passing the comprehensive PE exam.

An engineer must be a US citizen in order to work for the federal government. In addition to obtaining a license, a high-security clearance may be required by the federal government, but this mainly applies to nuclear and aerospace engineers or those involved in confidential defense system technology.

Daily Tasks and Technology

In addition to designing the various mechanisms and technology that compose a fuel cell, the daily tasks of a fuel cell engineer include constantly evaluating the results of experiments and keeping track of progress and failures. Problem-solving skills are exercised on a daily basis. Engineers seek to develop new and more efficient fuel cell components, and they are constantly making changes to designs and experimenting with new technology. They research and develop new and more efficient testing procedures for evaluating a fuel cell’s performance. Discovering new applications for fuel cells—such as in electric vehicles—is something engineers are constantly exploring.

Fuel cell engineers are obligated to keep up with the growth of the fuel cell industry. This means reading the current literature, taking additional courses, and contributing to the field logging information gathered from experiments and writing reports on experiments. Unlike fossil fuels, fuel cells are a form of renewable energy, a naturally rejuvenated and environmentally safe source of power. The green nature of fuel cells is an appealing aspect of this energy source, and engineers are perpetually exploring new ways to make the cells more green, sustainable, and cost-effective.

The daily tasks for fuel cell engineers vary depending on their level of experience. More experienced PEs, for example, coordinate schedules, validate designs for cells, and authorize the release and implementation of fuel cell parts for production. Less experienced engineers—especially EITs—assist PEs in research, testing, and the development of new technology for the cells. EITs are not authorized to approve a product for production.

Fuel cell engineers use a variety of technologies to develop and test a fuel cell. A piece of equipment called a homogenizer, for example, is used to create compounds by combining chemicals. The fuel cell itself is a technological innovation. Similar to a battery, a fuel cell uses a chemical reaction to produce energy. Unlike a battery, however, a fuel cell produces energy with the supply of hydrogen, thus continuously producing power.

A fuel cell strips hydrogen and oxygen of their electrons and uses this positive charge to generate energy as it passes through a converter. There are a few different types of fuel cells. Alkaline cells use a more expensive form of technology that, in addition to generating electricity, can provide drinking water—for example, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has used these to provide astronauts with water. Molten carbonate fuel cells use sodium and magnesium at high temperatures, and other cells use phosphoric acid, a type of inorganic acid.

Earnings and Employment Outlook

The demand for fuel cell engineers is expected to grow at an average rate (approximately 5 to 9 percent) through 2026. The energy generated from fuel cells is both cost-effective and environmentally sound; this lack of a carbon footprint makes fuel cells an appealing form of green energy in a world threatened by global warming.

As the momentum of the green movement increases, green energy, including fuel cells, may become a more prevalent source of energy. The number of fuel cell engineers, therefore, is expected to increase with the greater demand for environmentally safe energy. There is considerable competition in the green industry, however, including cost-effective wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear power. These other forms of power may take precedence over fuel cells, as they are capable of producing affordable power on a larger scale.

According to information accessed from Recruiter.com in 2023-2024, the average salary for fuel cell engineers ranges from $58,410 to $141,060. Annual salaries also vary by the employer, with engineers working in the private sector and for the federal government earning the most, with salaries in the Finance and Insurance trade averaging $115,800

Related Occupations

• Nuclear Engineers:Nuclear engineers develop the instruments and systems needed to produce nuclear energy.

• Chemical Engineers:Chemical engineers design manufacturing plants and oversee the chemicals used in production.

• Physicists and Astronomers:Physicists and astronomers develop technology and conduct research by studying space and matter.

• Electrical Engineers:Electrical engineers oversee the design and production of electrical technology, including computer hardware and circuit boards.

• Chemists and Materials Scientists:Chemists and materials scientists study the properties of chemical substances and develop new technology.

Future Applications

Fuel cells are expected to come into higher demand and become an important source of energy. Hydrogen, the chemical used in fuel cells, is the most prevalent element in the universe, and it is ideal for producing energy due to its abundance and green nature—releasing no environmentally detrimental fumes. The sustainability of hydrogen fuel cells will also help decrease the dependence on expensive foreign oil.

In the near future, fuel cells may be used to power and heat buildings and homes. They may also be used to power many portable electronic devices and electric automobiles. The US Army’s Engineer and Research and Development Center (ERDC) is exploring ways to use fuel cells in the military. Fuel cells, for instance, are lighter and easier for troops to transport than large batteries. Fuel cells may also be used to power military vehicles.

Fuel cells may also play an important role in health care. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), for example, has recently experimented with fuel cells that generate power with glucose (sugar). Scientists at MIT have used these sugar-powered fuel cells to power brain implants in mice. In the future, this neural technology could be used in paraplegics to help them regain control of their body and walk.

The green energy component of fuel cells is an appealing aspect of this technology, and engineers are continually exploring new ways to make the cells more green and cost-effective. Hydrogen fuel cells may also become a more efficient source of energy than wind and solar due to the abundance of hydrogen and its sustainability.

Bibliography

"17-2141.01 – Fuel Cell Engineers." O*NET Online, 9 Aug. 2024, www.onetonline.org/link/summary/17-2141.01. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

"Salary for Fuel Cell Engineers." Recruiter.com, 2024, www.recruiter.com/salaries/fuel-cell-engineers-salary/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.