Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2141.01

Fuel Cell Engineers

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

US jobs
296,810 (SOC 17-2141 group, "Mechanical Engineers")
Median wage
$104,110 a year
Job family
Architecture and engineering

Can agents do the work of fuel cell engineers?

We read the evidence at the level of the job family, Architecture and engineering:

  • Task levelUnexploredNo task-level benchmark in our collection tests architecture or engineering design work, such as CAD modeling or engineering calculations.
  • Project levelNot yetWhole projects are mostly out of reach. The Remote Labor Index includes 3D, CAD, and architecture projects; across all its projects, the best agent completed 15.8% to a standard a client would accept. GDPval includes mechanical engineers, and its deliverables score higher, but those tasks are one-shot and fully specified.

Benchmarks for the job family

These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.

  • GDPvalby OpenAIProject level · Wins plus ties against experts
    84.9%GPT-5.5 · Apr 2026
    Strong
  • GDPval-AAby Artificial AnalysisProject level · GDPval-AA Elo
    1846 EloClaude Opus 5.5 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort, Default Fallback) · 23 Sep 2026
    Unrated
  • Remote Labor Indexby CAIS and Scale AIProject level · Automation rate
    15.8%Claude Fable 5 · 1 Jul 2026
    Open

Typical tasks

From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.

  • 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.
  • Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.
  • Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.
  • Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.
  • Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.
  • Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.
  • Define specifications for fuel cell materials.
  • Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.
  • Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.
  • 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.
Other job titles for this occupation (10)

Engineer · Fuel Cell Engineer · Research Engineer · Stack Engineer · Design Cell Engineer · Fuel Cell Designer · Fuel Cell Systems Engineer · Fuel Cell Test Engineer · Space Battery Technician · Subsystems Engineer