R&D Test Engineer

Pay Grade: 32E Context of Job: The University of Delaware, in close collaboration with industry, academic, and national laboratory partners including Chemours, Plug Power, West Virginia University, and the National Laboratory of Rockies (NLR), has established the Center for Clean Hydrogen (CCH). The Center’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy through advanced research and development in green hydrogen production, fuel cells, and carbon capture technologies. CCH operates state-of-the-art research facilities and large-scale test infrastructure to support both fundamental research and industry-facing development.
The Center is seeking a highly motivated and versatile Engineer to support cutting-edge hydrogen technology programs in a fast-paced, adaptive research environment. The Engineer will play a critical role in the design, setup, commissioning, and operation of hydrogen research infrastructure at CCH. This is a hands-on position requiring strong technical breadth, rapid learning ability, and the capacity to manage multiple projects independently with minimal supervision. The successful candidate will work closely with faculty, research staff, students, and external partners to deliver high-impact research outcomes on aggressive timelines. Major Responsibilities:

• Support the setup, commissioning, and operation of large-scale electrolyzer test stands, including a 150 kW PEM electrolyzer test stand and a 300 kW AEM electrolyzer test stand.
• Support the design, assembly, and operation of segmented electrolyzer cells and stacks with integrated inline diagnostics.
• Establish and operate advanced analytical and diagnostic equipment in support of inline degradation and performance analysis of electrolyzer, including ICP-MS, XRF, Ion Chromatography (IC), SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR.
• Operate and support research activities using spark-ablation based nanoparticle deposition equipment (VS Particle P1 nanoprinter).
• Design and build new laboratory-scale electrolyzer and electrochemical test stands.
• Contribute to system troubleshooting, performance optimization, and operational efficiency improvements.
• Assist with procurement, installation, and commissioning of new laboratory equipment.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards, with particular emphasis on hydrogen safety practices.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, or a closely related discipline and six years of relevant industrial experience.
• Experience with hydrogen-related research or industrial systems; experience with industrial-scale fuel cell or electrolyzer plants is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of electrolyzer systems, including cell architecture, materials, stack design, and balance-of-plant (BoP) components such as pumps, heat exchangers, valves, and sensors.
• Solid skills in 3D CAD modeling for electrolyzer cell and stack design, with basic understanding of CNC machining and component fabrication. Hands-on machine shop experience is a plus.
• Working knowledge of electrical engineering and control systems, including the ability to read and create basic electrical diagrams.
• Mechatronics engineering background and experience on PLC-based control systems are highly desirable.
• Experience operating or working with analytical and characterization equipment commonly used in electrochemical and materials research.
• Good coding skills, with proficiency in Python for data analysis and visualization; demonstrated ability to utilize AI coding tools effectively.
• Strong understanding of laboratory safety practices, particularly those related to hydrogen systems.
• Experience with hydrogen-related codes, standards, and certification processes (e.g., UL, NFPA) is a plus.
• Rapid learner with a genuine interest in acquiring new technical skills preferred.
• Highly self-motivated self-starter capable of working independently with minimal direct supervision preferred.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results on short timelines preferred.
• Strong focus on operational efficiency, reliability, and continuous improvement preferred.
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills in a dynamic, collaborative environment preferred.