Title: Senior Fuel Cell Engineer
Company: Heven AeroTech
Location: Winchester, Virginia
FLSA: Exempt

As we scale our domestic footprint in Winchester, Virginia, we are seeking an energetic, hands-on Fuel Cell Engineer (2) who is not only technically excellent, but also driven, collaborative, and emotionally intelligent-someone who embodies a balance of ambition, humility, and strong interpersonal awareness. This is a rare opportunity to build and innovate at the leading edge of energy, engineering, and UAS technology.

Role Summary:
As a founding Senior Fuel Cell Engineer, you will be a key member of a team developing hydrogen fuel cell stacks and systems with high power-to-weight ratios and high efficiency. You will help translate conceptual designs into real-world products, integrating cells into stacks and controlling system performance across balance-of-plant components.

Beyond technical excellence, success in this role requires:

• A hungry mindset-taking initiative, seeking out challenges, and pushing work forward without waiting to be asked.
• A humble approach-sharing credit, being open to feedback, and prioritizing team success over individual recognition.
• Being smart in collaboration-understanding team dynamics, communicating effectively, and navigating complex cross-functional environments.

Your work will directly influence how our systems integrate into defense, public safety, and commercial sectors, ensuring Heven AeroTech remains the gold standard for rugged, high-performance autonomous systems.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the performance of fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, bipolar plates, gas diffusion layers, and sealing components in single cells up to 10 kW stacks.
• Use modeling tools to optimize components and thermal strategies for the fuel cell system.
• Maintain development laboratory equipment to ensure reliable, high-quality test data.
• Deploy analytical tools to rapidly interpret and act on fuel cell data.
• Evaluate and model COTS system components integrated with fuel cell stacks.
• Support manufacturing through supply chain evaluation, factory acceptance testing, and quality processes.
• Lead and mentor technicians as needed-providing guidance with respect and clarity.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• Master's or Ph.D. in Mechanical, Electrochemical, or Chemical Engineering (or equivalent).
• Minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience working with electrochemical systems (e.g., fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, or similar)
• Demonstrated success developing low-temperature hydrogen fuel cell systems for transportation or aerospace applications (or similar).
• Ability to translate electrochemical material performance into system-level design through modeling, controls, and engineering insight.
• Proactively identifies problems, takes ownership of outcomes, and consistently looks for ways to improve systems, processes, and team performance.
• Open to feedback, willing to learn from others regardless of title, and committed to collective success over personal recognition.
• Communicates clearly, collaborates effectively across disciplines, and builds strong working relationships in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
• Ability to work flexibly across engineering, controls, and manufacturing teams.
• Willingness to travel between Virginia sites and to vendors in the U.S. and abroad.
• Ability to obtain a DoD Secret clearance; must qualify as a U.S. Person under ITAR/EAR.

Preferred:

• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, GT-SUITE, or Ansys for stack optimization and balance-of-plant design.
• Experience with electrochemical methods (e.g., impedance spectroscopy) and analytical tools (e.g., SEM).
• Familiarity with machine learning techniques for analyzing test results.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work safely and effectively in both laboratory and light manufacturing environments, including around hydrogen systems and test equipment.
• Capability to stand, walk, and move throughout facilities for extended periods during testing, assembly, and troubleshooting activities.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to inspect, assemble, and maintain fuel cell stacks and UAS components.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment, components, or test articles up to 40 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Sufficient manual dexterity to handle small components, instrumentation, and electrical/mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to use standard laboratory and manufacturing tools, including hand tools and diagnostic equipment.
• Visual acuity to inspect components, read instrumentation, and identify defects or irregularities.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, gloves, and other protective gear as needed.
• Ability to work in environments with variable noise levels, temperatures, and proximity to operating machinery.

Benefits Overview:
Heven AeroTech offers a competitive benefits package designed to support the health, financial security, and overall well-being of our employees and their families. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement plans, paid time off/sick, and additional protections such as critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident coverage, and short- and long-term disability.