Fuel Cell Engineers

Architecture and Engineering Occupations

O*NET-SOC code: 17-2141.01

Design, evaluate, modify, or construct fuel cell components or systems for transportation, stationary, or portable applications.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.081
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.32
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Exposed tasks only

26 rated tasks · 19 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (73.1%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects. O*NET Task ID 16398	1.0
Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs. O*NET Task ID 16405	1.0
Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs. O*NET Task ID 16415	1.0
Calculate the efficiency or power output of a fuel cell system or process. O*NET Task ID 16418	1.0
Design fuel cell systems, subsystems, stacks, assemblies, or components, such as electric traction motors or power electronics. O*NET Task ID 16420	1.0
Authorize release of fuel cell parts, components, or subsystems for production. O*NET Task ID 19948	1.0
Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology or competitive products. O*NET Task ID 16399	0.5
Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs. O*NET Task ID 16406	0.5
Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems. O*NET Task ID 16407	0.5
Identify or define vehicle and system integration challenges for fuel cell vehicles. O*NET Task ID 16411	0.5
Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures. O*NET Task ID 16414	0.5
Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments. O*NET Task ID 16417	0.5
Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software. O*NET Task ID 16419	0.5
Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers. O*NET Task ID 19946	0.5
Coordinate fuel cell engineering or test schedules with departments outside engineering, such as manufacturing. O*NET Task ID 19947	0.5
Manage fuel cell battery hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components, such as fuel cells, energy storage units, or electric drives. O*NET Task ID 19949	0.5
Define specifications for fuel cell materials. O*NET Task ID 19951	0.5
Develop or evaluate systems or methods of hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications. O*NET Task ID 19952	0.5
Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs. O*NET Task ID 19953	0.5
Show 9 more tasks ▾Show less ▴
Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems. O*NET Task ID 16403	0.0
Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance. O*NET Task ID 16408	0.0
Integrate electric drive subsystems with other vehicle systems to optimize performance or mitigate faults. O*NET Task ID 16410	0.0
Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems. O*NET Task ID 16412	0.0
Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment. O*NET Task ID 16413	0.0
Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems. O*NET Task ID 19945	0.0
Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy. O*NET Task ID 19950	0.0

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (26)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Write technical reports or proposals related to engineering projects.	Core
Read current literature, attend meetings or conferences, or talk with colleagues to stay abreast of new technology or competitive products.	Core
Validate design of fuel cells, fuel cell components, or fuel cell systems.	Core
Simulate or model fuel cell, motor, or other system information, using simulation software programs.	Core
Recommend or implement changes to fuel cell system designs.	Core
Provide technical consultation or direction related to the development or production of fuel cell systems.	Core
Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.	Core
Integrate electric drive subsystems with other vehicle systems to optimize performance or mitigate faults.	Core
Identify or define vehicle and system integration challenges for fuel cell vehicles.	Core
Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems.	Core
Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment.	Core
Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.	Core
Design or implement fuel cell testing or development programs.	Core
Characterize component or fuel cell performances by generating operating maps, defining operating conditions, identifying design refinements, or executing durability assessments.	Core
Calculate the efficiency or power output of a fuel cell system or process.	Core
Analyze fuel cell or related test data, using statistical software.	Core
Design fuel cell systems, subsystems, stacks, assemblies, or components, such as electric traction motors or power electronics.	Core
Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.	Core
Plan or implement fuel cell cost reduction or product improvement projects in collaboration with other engineers, suppliers, support personnel, or customers.	Core
Coordinate fuel cell engineering or test schedules with departments outside engineering, such as manufacturing.	Core
Authorize release of fuel cell parts, components, or subsystems for production.	Core
Manage fuel cell battery hybrid system architecture, including sizing of components, such as fuel cells, energy storage units, or electric drives.	Core
Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.	Core
Define specifications for fuel cell materials.	Core
Evaluate the power output, system cost, or environmental impact of new hydrogen or non-hydrogen fuel cell system designs.	Core
Develop or evaluate systems or methods of hydrogen storage for fuel cell applications.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

0.25/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Plan or conduct experiments to validate new materials, optimize startup protocols, reduce conditioning time, or examine contaminant tolerance.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Fabricate prototypes of fuel cell components, assemblies, stacks, or systems.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Develop fuel cell materials or fuel cell test equipment.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Conduct post-service or failure analyses, using electromechanical diagnostic principles or procedures.	E0 none
Prepare test stations, instrumentation, or data acquisition systems for use in specific tests of fuel cell components or systems.	E1 purpose-built robot settings
Conduct fuel cell testing projects, using fuel cell test stations, analytical instruments, or electrochemical diagnostics, such as cyclic voltammetry or impedance spectroscopy.	E1 purpose-built robot settings

Employment outlook (BLS)

Values for the whole SOC 17-2141 group (Mechanical engineers), not for this O*NET occupation alone.

Employment, 2025: 299K
Projected employment, 2035: 332K
Change (2025–35): +11.2%
Median annual wage, 2025: $104,110
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree

lowest $30,890median wage across 825 detailed occupations, BLS EP 2025–35highest $559,030

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
23720	신재생에너지 기술자 및 연구원	This occupation is narrower	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 2144Mechanical Engineers

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Mechanical engineers conduct research; advise on, design and direct production of machines, aircraft, ships, machinery and industrial plant, equipment and systems; advise on and direct their functioning, maintenance and repair; or study and advise on mechanical aspects of particular materials, products or processes.

Tasks

(a) advising on and designing machinery and tools for manufacturing, mining, construction, agricultural, and other industrial purposes;
(b) advising on and designing steam, internal combustion and other non-electric motors and engines used for propulsion of railway locomotives, road vehicles or aircraft, or for driving industrial or other machinery;
(c) advising on and designing: hulls, superstructures and propulsion systems of ships; mechanical plant and equipment for the release, control and utilization of energy; heating, ventilation and refrigeration systems, steering gear, pumps and other mechanical equipment;
(d) advising on and designing airframes, undercarriages and other equipment for aircraft as well as suspension systems, brakes, vehicle bodies and other components of road vehicles;
(e) advising on and designing non-electrical parts of apparatus or products such as word processors, computers, precision instruments, cameras and projectors;
(f) establishing control standards and procedures to ensure efficient functioning and safety of machines, machinery, tools, motors, engines, industrial plant, equipment, or systems;
(g) ensuring that equipment, operation and maintenance comply with design specifications and safety standards.

Example occupations

Aeronautical engineer · Engine designer · Marine architect · Marine engineer · Mechanical engineer

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

renewable energy engineerESCO 2149.7.3Overlapping, not the same
Renewable energy engineers research alternative sources of energy in order to design systems for renewable energy production. They strive to optimise energy production from renewable sources, and reduce production expenses and environmental strain. They design systems which focus on energy sustainability and efficiency.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
H1241	Architecte système hydrogène	Overlapping, not the sameprovisional
H1206	Ingénieur / Ingénieure R&D en industrie	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
2433	Ingenieros mecánicos	Related, not a match
2435	Ingenieros químicos	Related, not a match
2439	Ingenieros no clasificados bajo otros epígrafes	Related, not a match

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
27104	Berufe in der technischen Forschung und Entwicklung (ohne Spezialisierung) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	Related, not a match
26234	Berufe in der Energie- und Kraftwerkstechnik - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
072	電気・電子・電気通信技術者（通信ネットワーク技術者を除く）（開発）	Related, not a match
077	化学技術者（開発）	Related, not a match

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources