Apprentice Fuel Cell Engineer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

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In this position...
As a Research Engineer in Fuel Cell Stack Modeling, you will play a pivotal role in advancing Ford's clean energy vehicle technologies. You will design and execute high-fidelity simulations that capture the complex physics of automotive fuel cell stack operations. Working at the intersection of virtual simulation and physical testing, you will collaborate closely with hardware engineers, control systems teams, and external research partners. Your work will directly influence system-level design decisions, helping to mitigate stack stress factors, extend fuel cell lifetimes, and deliver scalable, production-ready green energy solutions.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...
Model Development & Optimization: Develop and improve physical and electrochemical models to predict fuel cell stack performance, degradation, and internal operational states.
Engineering Analysis: Conduct model-based engineering analysis to mitigate stack stress factors and improve lifetime durability, supporting key design decisions for fuel cell stacks, systems, and controls.
Advanced Simulation: Create advanced simulations incorporating the physics of automotive fuel cell stack operation to develop and verify current and future system designs.
Tool & Software Creation: Develop software toolsets for simulated fuel cell stacks to test against physical constraints and safe operational requirements.
Automation: Implement automation processes for the analysis and testing of modeled fuel cell stacks.
Scalability: Develop standardized processes, methods, and tools to make simulation models sharable and scalable across departments.
Data Validation: Analyze and review simulation test data using real-time and post-processing tools to ensure tight correlation between virtual models and physical testing.
Model Integration: Integrate fuel cell stack simulation models with other Ford models, including controls, larger powertrain systems, and full-vehicle simulations.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Work closely with hardware test engineers to design physical experiments, parameterize physics-based models, and troubleshoot complex system-level issues.
Collaborate closely with other department teams, internal modelers, and external partners (such as universities and automotive suppliers).
Documentation & Reporting: Create and maintain comprehensive simulation documentation (including requirements, procedures, plans, and reports), document simulation code, and publish technical papers or reports.
Qualifications
You'll have...
B.S. or M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
Two or more years of experience with open-loop and closed-loop fuel cell stack simulation
Demonstrated foundational knowledge of fuel cell technology, electrochemistry principles, and fuel cell system operations (academic or industry-based).
Experience working with data from fuel cell testing (e.g. electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, etc.)
Three or more years of experience using MATLAB and Simulink for component and system modeling.
One or more years of experience formulating transfer functions and developing complex simulations.
Proven experience in troubleshooting and solving complex simulation model errors.
Demonstrated systems engineering mindset.
Strong oral, visual, and written communication skills with a proven ability to document processes and simulation designs clearly.
Even better, you may have...
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
Specialized experience in modeling and methods for evaluating Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell degradation.
Experience with high-fidelity simulation software such as Fluent, COMSOL, AVL Fire M, or other multiphysics CFD programs.
Familiarity interfacing models with system simulation software such as AVL Cruise M, Simulink, or similar platforms.
High level of expertise in programming and software development for model creation (e.g., MATLAB, C, Python, LabVIEW).
Experience using distributed version control software such as Git / GitHub.
You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is a salary grade 8 and ranges from $99,100-$166,200.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/GSR
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
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