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Fuel Cell Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Standard Cell Design Lead

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $275K/yr

We are a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and technical experts building technology for the United States. Summary As a Standard Cell Design Lead, you will develop and optimize standard ...

We are seeking a Principal Engineer - Cell Design & Mechanical Architecture to lead the design and development of our next-generation microbattery cells. This is a highly hands-on technical ...

Site Layout Design for Fuel Cell Systems: Develop and design site layouts for the installation of ... Engineer water/DI water, cooling water or dry-cooler interfaces, drains/blowdown/neutralization ...

Site Layout Design for Fuel Cell Systems: Develop and design site layouts for the installation of ... Engineer water/DI water, cooling water or dry-cooler interfaces, drains/blowdown/neutralization ...

Site Layout Design for Fuel Cell Systems: Develop and design site layouts for the installation of ... Engineer water/DI water, cooling water or dry-cooler interfaces, drains/blowdown/neutralization ...

JR2014331We are now hiring for a Circuit Design Engineer for Standard Cell and/or ROM. NVIDIA has ... It's a unique legacy of innovation that's fueled by great technology--and amazing people. NVIDIA ...

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Fuel Cell Design Engineer information

See salary details

$11K

$96.7K

$118K

How much do fuel cell design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for fuel cell design engineer in the United States is $96,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $80,000.00 and $109,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a fuel cell design engineer?

Fuel Cell Design Engineers are professionals who specialize in designing, developing, and optimizing fuel cell systems used for energy conversion. They work on creating efficient, reliable, and cost-effective fuel cells for applications such as vehicles, power plants, and portable devices. Their responsibilities include selecting appropriate materials, modeling fuel cell performance, conducting tests, and solving engineering challenges related to fuel cell integration. These engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to advance clean energy technologies and improve fuel cell efficiency and lifespan.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a fuel cell design engineer?

To thrive as a Fuel Cell Design Engineer, you need a strong background in electrochemistry, thermodynamics, and mechanical or chemical engineering, typically supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, simulation tools like ANSYS or COMSOL, and knowledge of fuel cell systems and industry standards are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork make candidates stand out in this role. These competencies are crucial for designing efficient, reliable fuel cell systems that meet performance and safety standards in a rapidly evolving energy sector.

What are some common challenges faced by fuel cell design engineers when integrating new materials or technologies into existing systems?

Fuel Cell Design Engineers often encounter challenges when introducing new materials or technologies, such as ensuring compatibility with current system components, maintaining system reliability, and meeting stringent safety standards. Balancing innovation with manufacturability and cost-effectiveness can also be difficult, as any changes must not compromise the performance or durability of the fuel cell. Close collaboration with materials scientists, manufacturing teams, and testing engineers is essential to address these challenges and ensure seamless integration.

What is the difference between Fuel Cell Design Engineer vs Fuel Cell Test Engineer?

AspectFuel Cell Design EngineerFuel Cell Test Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical Engineering
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, R&D facilities, engineering officesTesting labs, quality assurance facilities, R&D labs
Industry UsageDevelops and optimizes fuel cell designsPerforms testing and validation of fuel cell prototypes

Fuel Cell Design Engineers focus on creating and improving fuel cell systems, while Fuel Cell Test Engineers specialize in testing and validating these systems. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often work in related environments within the renewable energy and automotive industries.

What are popular job titles related to Fuel Cell Design Engineer jobs?

For Fuel Cell Design Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Fuel Cell Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $96,666 per year, or $46.5 per hour.

Standard Cell Design Lead

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Substrate
1 - 10 employees

$150K - $275K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Standard Cell Design Lead
Substrate is addressing one of the most important technological problems facing the United States. At the intersection of advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge physics, we are developing technologies that will reshape the semiconductor industry and strengthen America's technological leadership. We are a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and technical experts building technology for the United States.
Summary
As a Standard Cell Design Lead, you will develop and optimize standard cell libraries while leading cell characterization and library validation efforts. This role requires deep expertise in digital cell design, layout, and timing characterization combined with strong understanding of library requirements for digital design flows. You will work across multiple locations including external fabrication facilities. This is a full-time, onsite position.
Responsibilities
  • Lead standard cell library development including logic gates, flip-flops, and complex cells
  • Optimize cell layouts for power, performance and area across Vth's and drive strengths
  • Characterize cell library including timing, power, and noise analysis for library models
  • Develop Liberty (.lib) timing files and LEF physical abstractions for EDA tool integration
  • Collaborate with PDK and process teams to ensure cell performance meets targets
  • Implement DFM techniques and validate cells against DRC/LVS rules
  • Support all DFT fault models including cell aware, physical aware, stuck-at and transition
  • Optimize cell architectural requirements including multi-Vt and multi-channel options
  • Lead library validation and qualification across distributed design and fabrication teams

Required Qualifications
  • 10+ years experience in standard cell design, library development and characterization
  • Deep understanding of standard cell architecture, layout, and optimization strategies
  • Strong background in cell characterization and Liberty timing model generation
  • Experience with layout tools (Cadence Virtuoso, Synopsys Custom Compiler, or similar)
  • Proficiency with characterization tools and SPICE simulation for timing/power analysis
  • Proven ability to balance area, performance, and power trade-offs in cell design

Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or related field
  • Experience with advanced node standard cells or FinFET/GAA library development
  • Background in low-power design techniques and multi-threshold voltage libraries
  • Familiarity with EDA flows and library integration requirements
  • Experience in research-driven or startup semiconductor environments

Salary Range
$150,000-$275,000 USD
Substrate is an equal opportunity employer. It provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender, age, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
Substrate will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the hiring process, please let your recruiter know.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.