R&D Test Engineer at FirstElement Fuel – Livermore, California

Come join our team at FirstElement Fuel and be a part of impacting the world in positive ways!

WHO WE ARE:

FirstElement Fuel along with its True Zero brand is the leader in the deployment of retail hydrogen refueling stations. We are a California-based company established in 2013 to provide safe, reliable, retail fuel to customers of fuel cell electric vehicles. The True Zero retail hydrogen network is the largest in the world today and is critical to California global energy transformation.

Our mission is to foster the widespread adoption of hydrogen vehicles and reduce the impact of driving on our planet. FirstElement Fuel is continuously growing the refueling infrastructure and we believe hydrogen will change the world in a positive way.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

We are looking for a highly skilled R&D Test Engineer to own and manage the day-to-day testing activities for our Livermore and Port of Oakland sites. This individual will assist with the design, installation, maintenance and integration of our current and future Cryogenic Hydrogen Pump Systems and other components. This position will require close collaboration and engagement with cross-functional engineering groups at FirstElement Fuel, including external partners to achieve the most competitive cost of dispensed hydrogen for our network is the ultimate goal.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Delivery and execution of all testing for new products/technology that will allow for repeatable and predictable results on current and future systems. The Test Engineer will work in conjunction with the program management office on new product development ensuring timely completion of various tests on high/low pressure gaseous and liquid hydrogen systems. The successful candidate will set up and execute the approved scheduled test plans in accordance with approved safety plans and be responsible for test site/system development and readiness in accordance with the agreed test roadmap. This entails working with the FEF operations group at the test sites to coordinate installation and commissioning of test system equipment and prototype units.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Initial Focus will be on Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel Pump and related systems.
• Creation of test plans and data acquisition.
• Creation of test incident failure reports, root cause and failure analysis investigations.
• Analyze large datasets to extract systems efficiency results and provide correlation studies on physics-based models to diagnose discrepancies between simulation and real-world results.
• Review of Fluid Flow Calculations.
• Gas handling and compression systems comprehension.
• Change Management Controls and As Built Design Data Collection.
• Creating SOPs for testing.
• Creation of Acceptance Test Procedures.
• Continuous Improvement.
• Work closely with operations to coordinate all testing activities, minimizing impact to day-to-day operations.
• Contribute with concepts for cryogenic hydrogen pump improvement.

BROAD UNDERSTANDING OF:

• Entrance and Exit Criteria for Test Readiness.
• Thermocouples, voltage/current measurements, and other instrumentation to ensure high-fidelity data acquisition for integrity and traceability.
• Thermal integration and temperature management systems.
• Automation, controls, piping and instrumentation diagrams and systems.
• Feasibility studies, site assessments, or hands-on commissioning of hydrogen systems.

REQUIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

• 5-7 years real world testing experience in similar industries (Aerospace, Energy Systems Preferred).
• Chemical, mechanical, electrical, or process engineering background.
• Data Collection and creation of Dashboards, analytics.
• Entry level project management experience.
• Familiarity with Hydrogen Safety or refueling systems or training.
• SolidWorks 3D or similar CAD 3D software.
• Ansys, COMSOL, or similar FEM software.
• MATLAB or similar simulation software.

EDUCATION:

• B.S./M.S. Mechanical Engineering degree or related.

SCHEDULE + BENEFITS:

• Travel time: It is anticipated to be approximately 30% between various sites in Oakland/Livermore, CA area.
• Benefits, to include full premium coverage for Medical, Dental and Vision, 401(k) Plan (with 6% company match), Personal Time Off (PTO), and committed work environment.

The base salary range for this full-time position is $100,000 to $130,000 + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for this position. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work locations and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed reflect the base salary only and do not include any bonus or benefits.

FirstElement Fuel is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not discriminate in recruiting, hiring, training or promoting, on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, medical condition, age, U.S. military or protected veteran status or political affiliation or any other protected characteristic covered by applicable federal, state, or local law. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing. We also perform employment background checks.