Senior Systems Engineer – Fuel Cell Systems

PLUG POWER INC; Slingerlands (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) with 5% company match

Bonus eligibility

Paid time off

Holidays

Wellness Reimbursement Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Referral program

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Plug Power Inc. seeks a Senior Systems Engineer to serve as the technical authority for systems architecture in Hydrogen PEM fuel cell product development.

You will translate customer requirements into verifiable system and subsystem requirements, own traceability, and lead cross-functional teams through stage-gate development. The role requires deep systems engineering fundamentals, experience launching industrialized products in regulated environments, and ability to align mechanical,

Qualifications

• BS/MS in Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering; strong fundamentals in systems engineering.
• Experience bringing industrialized products from concept to production using stage-gate or similar frameworks.
• Proven ability to develop and manage requirements with full traceability to verification.
• Experience with thermal and fluid system integration in fuel cell or energy systems.
• FMEA/hazard analysis leadership across subsystems.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of fuel cell system and subsystem architectures to meet requirements.
• Own system-level requirements traceability through production release.
• Define energy management architecture for hybrid systems and size components.
• Lead cross-functional integration across mechanical, electrical, controls, thermal, and software.
• Ensure designs comply with NFPA 2, SAE, ISO, UL hydrogen/fuel cell standards.

Skills

Systems engineering

Stage-Gate

DFSS / V-model

Requirements management

FMEA / hazard analysis

MATLAB/Simulink

LabVIEW

3D CAD Creo

Hydrogen/fuel cell knowledge

Regulatory / approvals

Education

B.S./M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or Systems Engineering or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Jama/DOORS

Creo

MATLAB/Simulink

GT Suite

AMESim

AVL CRUISE

LabVIEW

Job description

Senior Systems Engineer – Fuel Cell SystemsStatus: Exempt (Salaried)Department: Fuel Cell Platforms - Systems EngineeringPosition SummaryPlug is building the global hydrogen ecosystem. We are the only company delivering a complete hydrogen platform, from production and liquefaction to storage, delivery, and power generation. They are integrated, end-to-end solutions designed to make hydrogen work at industrial scale across regions, industries, and applications.The Senior Systems Engineer serves as the technical authority for systems architecture within Plug’s Hydrogen PEM fuel cell product development — translating customer requirements into system and subsystem architecture, owning requirement traceability through production release, and leading cross-functional teams through structured stage-gate development. The ideal candidate brings deep systems engineering fundamentals, experience launching industrialized products in a regulated environment, and the ability to drive alignment across mechanical, electrical, controls, and software disciplines. Fuel cell experience is a plus; a track record of bringing complex power or energy systems from concept to production is the core requirement. This position reports to the Senior Manager of Systems Engineering – Fuel Cells Platforms and is located at our facility in Slingerlands, NY.Core Duties and ResponsibilitiesSystem Architecture & RequirementsLead development of fuel cell system and subsystem architectures that satisfy customer requirements and business objectives; translating customer needs into verifiable system, subsystem, and component-level requirementsOwn requirement traceability (MBSE or document-based) from customer input through verification closure; manage system-level risk register throughout the product development lifecycleDefine energy management architecture for hybrid fuel cell and battery systems based on customer load profiles, duty cycles, and application requirements; optimize power and energy sizing across fuel cell stack and batteryPerform engineering trade studies and system-level analyses to evaluate design options, quantify performance margins, and support architecture down-selection decisionsCross-Functional Integration & Standards ComplianceServe as the systems engineering integration lead across mechanical, electrical, controls, thermal, and software disciplines; identify and resolve interface risks and requirement conflicts early in the design cycleEnsure system designs comply with applicable codes and standards including NFPA 2, SAE, ISO, and UL hydrogen and fuel cell requirements; support regulatory approvals and certification activitiesLead cross-functional FMEA, hazard analysis, and risk mitigation efforts across fuel cell system and related subsystems; represent Systems Engineering at DFMEA and safety reviewsStage-Gate Program ExecutionExecute systems engineering activities within Plug Power’s stage-gate development framework, owning key milestones: Concept Freeze, Design Freeze, DV/PV, Pilot Build, and Production ReleaseLead root cause analysis and corrective action efforts for system-level issues; drive resolution across engineering, operations, and supply chain stakeholdersProduce and maintain clear engineering documentation including system specifications, test plans, verification matrices, and design review packages; present technical trade-offs at gate reviews and program milestonesTesting, Validation & Field FeedbackDefine and support system-level test plans and DVP&R aligned to customer use cases, duty cycles, and certification requirements; lead or support execution of system-level testing and data analysisClose the field reliability loop: analyze field performance data, warranty returns, and failure reports; translate findings into system-level requirements updates and design improvementsCollaborate with Operations and Manufacturing Engineering on DFM, pilot build readiness, and production launch; support end-of-line test strategy development to ensure system performance is verified at volumeEducation and ExperienceB.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related STEM discipline5+ years of systems engineering experience in complex products in power, energy, automotive, aerospace, industrial, or equivalent high-reliability industriesProven experience bringing industrialized products from concept through production using structured development frameworks (Stage-Gate, DFSS, V-model, or equivalent), familiarity with Lean product developmentDemonstrated ability to develop and manage requirements using formal requirement management tools (Jama, DOORS, or equivalent) with full traceability to verificationExperience with thermal and fluid system integration in fuel cell or power system productsExperience leading cross-functional FMEA and hazard analysis; strong analytical skills with the ability to quantify system trade-offs and present findings to mixed technical and non-technical audiencesProficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling and analysis; experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)Proficiency or experience with simulation tools such as GT Suite, AMESim, or AVL CRUISE is a big plusExperience with Creo or equivalent 3D CAD in a systems integration roleFamiliarity with hydrogen and fuel cell codes and standards (NFPA 2, SAE J2601, ISO 14687, UL 2267); experience supporting regulatory approvals and agency certification activitiesDirect experience with PEM fuel cell systems, hydrogen systems, or electrochemical energy systems; familiarity with hybrid energy management strategies is a big plusExperience with LabVIEW or equivalent test automation platforms for system-level test executionExcellent communication and organizational skills; ability to align diverse stakeholders around system architecture decisions; ability to travel up to 25%Pay Rate:$95,040.00 - $142,500.00We offer a fantastic total rewards package at Plug, and a brief summary is below:✓Base salary is determined on a number of factors including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. These factors are considered when making an offer of employment. If you are interested in this position, we’d ask that you apply.✓The above pay range, may not take into account local geographic pay variations. If there is an applicable geographic differential, a member of the HR team can discuss that with you.✓Health, Dental & Vision Insurance eligibility starting from the first day of hire✓401(k) with 5% company match✓Bonus eligibility✓Paid time off including vacation, personal and sick time✓Paid Holidays✓Wellness Reimbursement Program✓Potential to apply for Tuition Reimbursement✓Employee Referral program✓Employee Assistance ProgramPlug Power Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.