Fuel Cell MEA Testing Intern

Engineering Co-Op – Fuel Cell Material Testing 

Status: Non-Exempt (hourly) 

Department: 00389 

Position Summary 

Plug Power Inc. is actively seeking a highly motivated Engineering Co-op. The Co-op will be responsible for assisting the Fuel Cell Testing Center of Excellence in a wide variety of engineering initiatives and projects in support of the co-op’s academic studies. In this role, you will gain exposure to a fast-paced manufacturing and engineering environment which includes developing a detailed understanding of Plug Power’s products. The role will focus on the successful completion of technical projects, process improvement, documentation, and presentation of results at the end of the program.  

Learning Objectives  

• Understand the fuel cell industry, its trends and challenges 

• Gain hands-on experience in fuel cell testing, electrochemical research and development, and assist in executing fuel cell design verification testing and data analysis 

• Develop an understanding of fuel cell technology, how operating conditions interact with fuel cell performance, and other fuel cell hardware design considerations 

• Develop problem solving skills in an industrial approach 

• Professional development – teamwork, time management, networking, etc.   

Core Duties and Responsibilities 

• Ex-Situ Material Measurements: Perform ex-situ measurements such as compression and thickness on materials (gas diffusion layers (GDL) and gasket material) intended for future MEA designs. 

• Fuel Cell Testing and Qualification: Support fuel cell testing for single cell air-cooled products. Build single-cell air cooled stacks to qualify new materials as part of internal development programs. 

• Electrochemical Testing: Support development of current products and future products using electrochemical methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). 

• Data Documentation and Reporting: Document research activities, test results, and observations in detailed lab notes and assist with preparing reports that summarize findings, progress, and areas for improvement. 

• Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Writing: Document processes and procedures for experiments in concise documents that can be utilized for training purposes in the future as well as testing documentation. 

• Mechanical aptitude and ability to make minor repairs as necessary 

• Ability to independently set up experiments and monitor progress 

• Understand engineering concepts and how to appropriately apply them in day-to-day projects 

• Ability to critically analyze data in terms of stack performance and reliability 

• Represent Plug Power in a professional manner at all times and in all interactions 

• Perform all other duties as assigned 

Education and Qualification 

• Pursuing a Bachelor of Science or Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical or a related program 

• Strong motivation to learn and apply learning to produce better fuel cell stacks 

• Prior Internship or Co-op experience preferred but not  

• Must have reliable transportation to the office 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 

• Possess solid hands-on approach to problem-solving 

• Computer and software systems skills as applicable to position including but not limited to: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook 

• Demonstrated analytical abilities with strong attention to detail 

• Must be driven and self-motivated  

• Must possess the highest ethical standards and a commitment to work quality