Fuel Cell Engineer

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

About Our Company:
At Heven AeroTech, we engineer autonomous ecosystems that defy the limitations of traditional flight. We are a U.S.-headquartered unmanned air systems (UAS) solution innovator dedicated to solving the greatest challenges in the skies: endurance, mission capabilities, and intelligent autonomy. Hydrogen fuel cells are an ideal fuel for UASs, providing both stealth and long endurance. By merging hydrogen fuel cell propulsion with artificial intelligence and quantum computing innovation, we are creating UAS platform solutions that stay airborne longer and operate smarter than anything else in the industry. Heven also provides turnkey hydrogen solutions to deliver fuel on-site, anywhere.

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 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 concepts into working hardware—building, integrating, and controlling stacks across balance-of-plant components. Your technical knowledge of electrochemical systems will be critical to delivering next-generation performance.

You will work closely with vendors to evaluate and integrate commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, while also contributing to the development of new solutions where needed. Your work will directly influence how our systems are deployed across defense, public safety, and commercial sectors.

Success in this role goes beyond technical execution. We are looking for someone who:

• Brings a hungry mindset—takes initiative, follows through, and actively seeks out ways to improve systems and accelerate progress.
• Acts with humility—shares credit, remains open to feedback, and prioritizes team success over individual recognition.
• Is smart in how they work with others—communicates clearly, collaborates across disciplines, and builds strong, trust-based relationships.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Evaluate membrane electrode assemblies, bipolar plates, gas diffusion layers, and sealing
• Build and test laboratory single cells and short stacks.
• Maintain the development laboratory and equipment to produce reliable and quality test data.
• Develop and maintain data acquisition systems for fuel cell systems data.
• Evaluate COTS systems components.
• Support manufacturing efforts in factory acceptance testing and quality.
• Analytical analysis, including optical and scanning electron microscopy.

Qualifications & Experience:

Required:

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Electrochemical or Chemical Engineering, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-on experience working with electrochemical systems (e.g., fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, or similar)
• Proven accomplishments in the development of electrochemical systems.
• Understanding of how to use design, modeling and control strategies to translate the attributes of electrochemical materials to system level performance.
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly with a range of engineering, controls, and manufacturing disciplines.
• Ability to travel between sites in Virginia and to vendor sites in the US and abroad, as required.
• Ability to obtain a DOD Secret clearance. Must be a "U.S. Person" (citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual) per ITAR/EAR requirements.

Preferred:

• Working knowledge of electrochemical methods, such as impedance spectroscopy, and analytical tools, such as scanning electron microscopy.
• Use of machine learning for the analysis of test results.
• Experience with lithium ion batteries and/or water electrolyzers.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work safely in laboratory and light manufacturing environments, including around pressurized gases (e.g., hydrogen), electrical systems, and test equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout lab and production areas for extended periods during testing, assembly, and troubleshooting activities.
• Ability to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and reach to assemble, inspect, and maintain fuel cell stacks and related components.
• Ability to lift, carry, and position materials and equipment up to 40 lbs, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Sufficient manual dexterity to handle small components, tubing, fittings, wiring, and instrumentation with precision.
• Ability to operate standard laboratory and shop tools, including hand tools, measurement devices, and diagnostic equipment.
• Visual acuity to read instrumentation, monitors, and schematics, and to identify defects or irregularities in components and assemblies.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, gloves, lab coats, and other protective gear as required.
• Ability to work in environments with variable noise levels, temperatures, and proximity to operating machinery and ventilation systems.
• Ability to climb ladders or use step stools as needed to access equipment or test setups.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: 
Heven AeroTech is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.