Principal Electrical Engineer – Fuel Cell Systems

The Principal Electrical Engineer – Fuel Cell Systems role at Plug Power Inc. serves as the electrical technical authority for hydrogen fuel cell power systems. The position sets electrical design direction across the full development lifecycle, from concept through production release, and leads execution across power electronics, embedded controls, system architecture, and verification.

Location and Reporting

• Location: Slingerlands, NY (onsite)
• Reports to: Manager of Electrical Engineering – Fuel Cell Platforms

Salary and Pay

• Annual salary: USD 114,000 - 185,250

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and validate DC/DC power converters (LLC, phase-shift full bridge, interleaved boost, buck-boost) for fuel cell stack and BOP interfaces; define electrical specifications for voltage and current profiles, efficiency, ripple, and EMI/EMC across operating conditions.
• Drive EMI/EMC mitigation from schematic through PCB layout and full system validation; design high-frequency magnetics for efficiency and manufacturability; own protection architecture and SiC/GaN device selection.
• Oversee schematic capture and PCB layout review (Altium preferred), component selection, and DFM; lead hardware design reviews (PDR, CDR) and resolve design issues using structured root cause and corrective action.
• Lead architecture, design, and validation of embedded control systems on DSP/MCU/FPGA platforms, including definition of hardware-software interface requirements.
• Own the top-level electrical architecture for the fuel cell power system, including power distribution, harness design, sensor integration, grounding strategy, and isolation/protection schemes.
• Define BOP electrical requirements for pumps, fans, valves, heaters, and auxiliary loads; specify thermal subsystem electrical requirements, partnering with Mechanical and Thermal teams on integrated packaging and thermal management.
• Lead compliance and certification activities for UL, CE, NFPA 2, SAE, and applicable ISO hydrogen and fuel cell standards; support regulatory approvals; establish and own electrical FMEA and functional safety analyses.
• Define and own the electrical DVP&R; lead DV and PV test execution covering environmental and safety qualification (shock, vibration, thermal cycling, freeze-thaw, cold-start) plus accelerated stress and durability testing to identify failure modes and predict system lifespan.
• Lead structured root cause and corrective action processes (8D, DMAIC) to resolve verification failures and field reliability issues; maintain and update DFMEA throughout product development to mitigate risks before production release.
• Partner with Supply Chain early in design for component selection and sourcing, including preferred suppliers, lead time, cost targets, and second-source availability; support supplier qualification and technical reviews.
• Drive DFM/DFT practices with Operations and Manufacturing Engineering to resolve assembly, test, and yield issues during pilot builds and production launch.
• Close the field reliability loop by translating warranty and field failure data into design improvements.
• Execute electrical development within Plug Power’s stage-gate process, owning milestones from Concept Freeze through Production Release; lead NPI programs and platform upgrades with TRL and risk tracking.
• Represent electrical engineering status and trade-off analysis at cross-functional program reviews, gate reviews, and executive briefings, prioritizing engineering investments to balance performance, cost, and time-to-market.
• Mentor junior and mid-level electrical engineers, cultivate engineering excellence, and drive continuous improvement in design and verification processes.
• Represent Plug Power professionally in all interactions and perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field; Master’s degree preferred
• 10+ years of power electronics development experience in regulated or high-reliability industries (energy, industrial, automotive, or aerospace)
• Demonstrated expertise in DC/DC power converter design and validation, including topology selection, magnetics design, thermal analysis, and EMC
• Hands-on embedded controls hardware experience on DSP/MCU/FPGA platforms and digital control implementation
• Strong system-level electrical architecture experience across power distribution, protection, grounding, harness, and sensor integration; proficiency in PCB ECAD tools (Altium preferred) and circuit simulation tools (SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink, or equivalent)
• Experience developing and executing electrical DVP&R, formal DFMEA, DV/PV testing methodologies, and gate review processes
• Experience with electrical compliance and certification (UL, CE, ISO, SAE, NFPA 2) and structured product development frameworks (Stage-Gate, DFSS, or equivalent); familiarity with functional safety standards (ISO 26262, IEC 61508), model-based development (MBD), and HIL testing environments
• Direct experience with PEM fuel cell systems, hydrogen energy systems, or electrochemical power systems; wide-bandgap (SiC/GaN) power device design and application experience is a strong plus
• Experience working with Supply Chain on component sourcing, supplier qualification, DFM, and end-of-line test strategy development to support production launches
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting complex electrical trade-offs to cross-functional, executive, and customer audiences; ability to travel up to 10%
• Exempt employees are expected to work as many hours as necessary to complete responsibilities, which may require working more than eight hours a day and more than five days or 40 hours per week

Technologies and Tools

• LLC, phase-shift full bridge, interleaved boost, buck-boost
• Altium, DSP, MCU, FPGA
• SiC, GaN
• SPICE, MATLAB/Simulink
• 8D, DMAIC, PDR, CDR
• DVP&R, DFMEA
• DFSS, Stage-Gate
• ISO 26262, IEC 61508
• MBD, HIL testing

Benefits

• 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 Program

Position Overview

Plug Power is seeking a Principal Electrical Engineer to act as the electrical technical authority for hydrogen fuel cell power systems. This role focuses on the intersection of power electronics, embedded controls, system architecture, and structured product development, spanning the full design lifecycle from concept through production release. The position is located onsite in Slingerlands, NY, and reports to the Manager of Electrical Engineering – Fuel Cell Platforms.