Get a jump start on what you want do in college or test your interest before you get there by taking a class in engineering! Explore the different focus areas and opportunities. 

Take a class in engineering.

Becoming a certified professional engineer signals to clients that you are trustworthy and to employers that you are capable of higher responsibility. Take your engineering career to the next level and get certified!

Get certified as a professional engineer (PE). 

Search for conferences in your area or online that you could attend to learn more about green products and technologies. Network, discover career opportunities, and get inspired!

Attend a conference for green products and technologies.

Prepare to take on that leadership role by gaining valuable management tools and techniques that help improve processes within an organization.

Get Lean Six Sigma certified.

CAD (computer-aided design) technology is essential for a variety of engineering specialties. Download a free trial and watch some tutorials to start expanding your technical skill set!

Familiarize yourself with CAD technology.

Try your hand at making a microbial fuel cell by following this DIY experiment. While you work, think about any ideas that come up about the future of energy.

Build your own microbial fuel cell.

Technical drawing knowledge will help you in any career that involves projects that exist in three-dimensional space. Check out these tips to improve your skills. 

Stretch your technical drawing skills.

Check out these TED Talks on engineering. Choose one or two that interest you most to watch. Could you see yourself working on these kinds of projects and ideas?

Watch videos from the cutting edge of engineering.

Fuel Cell Engineers

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

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed

Mechanical Engineers

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

Engineers

Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.

Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.

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.

Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.

Calculate the efficiency or power output of a fuel cell system or process.

Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.

Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology or competitive products.

Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.

Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment.

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

Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.

Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems.

Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.

Design fuel cell systems, subsystems, stacks, assemblies, or components, such as electric traction motors or power electronics.

Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.

Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.

Develop or evaluate systems or methods of hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications.

Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs.

Authorize release of fuel cell parts, components, or subsystems for production.

Coordinate fuel cell engineering or test schedules with departments outside engineering, such as manufacturing.

Identify or define vehicle and system integration challenges for fuel cell vehicles.

Manage fuel cell battery hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components, such as fuel cells, energy storage units, or electric drives.

Integrate electric drive subsystems with other vehicle systems to optimize performance or mitigate faults.

Fuel Cell Engineers

Overview

Career

What Fuel Cell Engineers Do

Other Job Titles Fuel Cell Engineers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Fuel Cell Engineers

Overview

Career

What Fuel Cell Engineers Do

Other Job Titles Fuel Cell Engineers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Fuel Cell Engineers

Majors Related to Career