Research Engineer- Fuel Cell Stack Modeling

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.

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.

We are seeking a highly skilled Research Engineer - Fuel Cell Stack Modeling to develop, improve, and integrate advanced physical and electrochemical models. In this role, you will drive the design, simulation, and verification of Ford's next-generation automotive fuel cell systems to optimize performance, efficiency, and durability.

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.

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.