Occupation Summary

Fuel Cell Engineers

O*NET 17-2141.01

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$119,348.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 20.80%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
STEM

  1. Write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects.
  2. Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology or competitive products.
  3. Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
  4. Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs.
  5. Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.
  6. Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.
  7. Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.
  8. Integrate electric drive subsystems with other vehicle systems to optimize performance or mitigate faults.
  9. Identify or define vehicle and system integration challenges for fuel cell vehicles.
  10. Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems.
  11. Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment.
  12. Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.
  13. Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.
  14. Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.
  15. Calculate the efficiency or power output of a fuel cell system or process.
  16. Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
  17. Design fuel cell systems, subsystems, stacks, assemblies, or components, such as electric traction motors or power electronics.
  18. Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.
  19. Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
  20. Coordinate fuel cell engineering or test schedules with departments outside engineering, such as manufacturing.
  21. Authorize release of fuel cell parts, components, or subsystems for production.
  22. Manage fuel cell battery hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components, such as fuel cells, energy storage units, or electric drives.
  23. Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.
  24. Define specifications for fuel cell materials.
  25. Develop or evaluate systems or methods of hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications.
  26. Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Fuel Cell Engineers employed Annual Growth Rate
Architectural, engineering, and related services 19.5 0.59
Scientific research and development services 8 1.39
Aerospace product and parts manufacturing 4.2 1.27
Electronic instrument manufacturing 4.2 0.87
Employment services 2.6 0.90
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 2.5 -0.85
Machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers 2.3 0.44
Metalworking machinery manufacturing 2 0.68


Labor Market Information


2024 Statewide average hourly wage $57.38
2024 National average hourly wage $52.92
2022 National employment 286,100
2022 Texas employment 18,036
Texas projected employment by 2032 21,787
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,455




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
92.80%
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
79.00%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
77.20%
Design
Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
77.20%
Physics
Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
72.80%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
69.60%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
69.00%
Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
65.80%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
62.80%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
56.40%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
80.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
75.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
75.00%
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
75.00%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
72.40%
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
72.40%
Systems Evaluation
Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
72.40%
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.
72.40%
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
72.40%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
80.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
80.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
80.00%
Mathematical Reasoning
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
77.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
75.00%
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
75.00%


  • Analyzing Data or Information
    -- Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Getting Information
    -- Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Processing Information
    -- Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Working Conditions
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.



Tools

Calorimeters: Differential scanning calorimeters;

Chemical absorption gas analyzers: Surface area analyzers;

Chemiluminescence or bioluminescence analyzers: Fluorescence detectors;

Crucible furnaces: Induction furnaces;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Engine or component test stands: Fuel cell test stands;

Flame ionization analyzers: Flame ionization detectors FID;

Forming machine: Molding presses;

Frequency analyzers: Frequency response analyzers;

Gas chromatographs: Gas chromatography equipment;

High pressure liquid chromatograph chromatography: High pressure liquid chromatographs HPLC;

Homogenizers: Ultrasonic blenders; Digital sonifiers;

Infrared spectrometers: Infrared IR spectrophotometers; Fourier transfer infrared FTIR spectrometers;

Isolation glove boxes: Laboratory glove boxes;

Laboratory balances: Microbalances;

Laboratory mechanical convection ovens: Gravity convection ovens;

Laboratory mills: Laboratory ball mills;

Mass spectrometers: Mass spectrometers;

Microcontrollers: Programmable logic controllers PLC;

Multi gas monitors: Portable emissions analyzers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Power meters: Power analyzers; Load boxes;

Reactors or fermenters or digesters: Flow reactors;

Scanning electron microscopes: Scanning electron microscopes SEM;

Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters: X ray fluorescence XRF spectrometers;

Spectrometers: X ray photoelectric spectroscopes;

Spectrophotometers: Scanning spectrophotometers;

Thermal differential analyzers: Thermovolumetric analyzers TVA;

Thermo gravimetry analyzers: Thermal gravimetric analyzers;

Transmission electron microscopes: Transmission electron microscopes TEM;

Tube furnaces: High temperature tube furnaces;

Vacuum ovens: Laboratory vacuum ovens;

Volumeters: Dilatometers;

X ray diffraction equipment: X ray crystallography equipment;


Technology

Analytical or scientific software: Ansoft Simplorer; Ansys Fluent; ASPEN PLUS; FactSage; Failure mode and effects analysis FMEA software; Gaussian GaussView; Gaussian software; GE Energy GateCycle; Maplesoft Maple; MathWorks Simulink; Minitab; Statistical software; Wolfram Research Mathematica;

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD;

Data base user interface and query software: IBM Cloud; Oracle Database;

Development environment software: Wind River Systems C/C++ Compiler Suite; National Instruments LabVIEW; C;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Enterprise resource planning ERP software;

Industrial control software: Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software;

Object or component oriented development software: C++;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Microsoft Windows;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Fuel Cell Engineers include:
  • 17-2011.00 Aerospace Engineers
  • 17-2141.02 Automotive Engineers
  • 11-9041.01 Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
  • 17-2041.00 Chemical Engineers
  • 17-2071.00 Electrical Engineers
  • 17-2072.00 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
  • 19-2032.00 Materials Scientists
  • 17-2141.00 Mechanical Engineers
  • 17-2199.06 Microsystems Engineers
  • 17-2161.00 Nuclear Engineers


Sources of Additional Information
  • For more information about general engineering education and mechanical engineering career resources, visit: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • American Society for Engineering Education
  • Technology Student Association
  • For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit: ABET
  • For more information about licensure as a mechanical engineer, visit: National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • For information about certification, visit: American Society of Mechanical Engineers
  • Occupational Requirements Survey

  • For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
  • Mechanical engineers (PDF)
  • Automotive Engineers
  • Fuel Cell Engineers
  • Mechanical Engineers

  • Contact Texas Workforce Commission
    Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
    Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

    ** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.