Manager, Systems Engineer: We are seeking a Manager, Systems Engineering to join our team.  This position will report to the Vice President of Technology & Product Development.  An experienced engineer and dynamic leader is sought to drive innovation and lead a group of eight engineers at the center of the company’s product development initiatives.  The Systems Engineering Group is engaged in a wide spectrum of activities, including:   product requirements definition, verification unit prototyping, system simulation and analysis, test program design and execution, control logic creation, reliability monitoring and forecasting, troubleshooting, and sustaining engineering.   This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented, team-oriented engineer with keen analytical abilities and passions for challenge, leadership, and clean energy technology.

Manager, Product Engineering: Nuvera is seeking a Manager, Product Engineering to lead a team of 5-8 professionals with specialties in mechanical and electrical engineering, and drive commercialization initiatives within the company.  The successful applicant will manage the allocation of direct reports across product lines, actively contribute to product development initiatives, and continually refine company infrastructure and processes.   This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced, team-oriented leader with a passion for converting innovative technologies into commercial products.

Fuel Cell Test Engineer: We are seeking a Fuel Cell Test Engineer to join our team.  An experimentally-oriented engineer is sought to join Nuvera’s  Electrochemical Technology Group, focused on the design and development of advanced industrial and automotive fuel cell stacks in accord with commercial requirements of high performance, long life, and low cost.

Service Technician: Nuvera is seeking a Service Engineering Field Technician to join our team based out of its Billerica, MA USA headquarters.  The Service Engineering Group plays a vital role in ensuring that our hydrogen and fuel cell systems meet the performance and reliability required of the end-use Customer.  They impact new product introductions by ensuring that design for serviceability criteria are met and maintaining product documentation to support the Customer Care organization. They are responsible for creating training material and developing certification programs for our independent regional service agent network.  The Service Engineering team performs failure reporting, data analysis and corrective-action duties crucial to improving product designs as they are introduced into emerging markets.  The group also supports Marketing, Sales & Application Engineering activities by conducting field demonstrations and performance trials at OEM suppliers and prospective customers/partners.

Service Engineer: Nuvera is seeking a Service Engineer to join our team.  The Service Engineering Group plays a vital role in ensuring that our hydrogen and fuel cell systems meet the performance, reliability, durability, and operational characteristics required of the end-use Customer.  Additionally, they impact new product introductions by ensuring that design for serviceability criteria are met, developing troubleshooting, diagnostic and repair procedures for service providers, and maintaining product documentation to support the Customer Care organization. They are responsible for creating operator & service partner training material and developing certification programs for independent service agents.  The Service Engineering team performs data analysis, failure reporting and corrective-action duties which are crucial to improving product designs as they are introduced into emerging markets, and the group also supports Marketing, Sales & Application Engineering activities by conducting field demonstrations and performance trials at OEM suppliers and prospective customers/partners.

Systems Engineer: We are seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team.  An experimentally-oriented engineer is sought to join Nuvera’s  Electrochemical Technology Group, focused on the design and development of advanced industrial and automotive fuel cell stacks in accord with commercial requirements of high performance, long life, and low cost.  The eligible candidate will have a key role ensuring Nuvera’s fuel cell testing capabilities represent the state of the art.

To learn more about these open positions, please visit the careers section of our website.

By Eden Paul, HR Manager
Nuvera Fuel Cells

60 miles, 3 days, 1 goal - to end breast cancer. I had the honor and privilege of walking the 60 miles of the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure walk in Boston from July 23-25, 2010.
I have personally had my life touched by breast cancer and know many survivors, those fallen and some currently struggling.

The Susan G. Komen organization is the largest contributor to breast cancer research and is supported by so many incredible people . During this weekend alone, the event raised over 4.3 million dollars. I personally raised $2,850 and was supported by many of my Nuvera colleagues . They donated to the cause, kept me motivated and on track and many even came down to cheer me on during the last day in Boston. I wore my Nuvera hat proudly along the way and even had a few conversations about fuel cells and alternative energy in general.

The experience was amazing and life changing. I was so inspired that I have already signed up for the 2011 Boston event taking place from July 22-24, 2011. I have also started a team for 2011 - “Inner Strength” and am currently recruiting new members of all types. If I could do it, anyone can. For more information or to support me or my team in this fight, please visit : http://www.the3day.org/goto/eden

My feet are still recovering but luckily for me, everyone at Nuvera is cool with seeing me walk around in slippers for a few days and putting my feet up every chance I get.
I am proud to be doing my part to end breast cancer because Everyone Deserves a Lifetime.

Thank you Nuvera for supporting me on my journey!

Fuel cells as a replacement for lead acid batteries in forklifts is a hot topic (excuse the pun) for the cold storage and refrigerated warehousing communities.

Our Chief Engineer, Chris Ainscough, explains, “Traditional lead acid batteries have a difficulty providing power in colder environments.  Fuel cells are not constricted by the effects of the environment, and will provide full power as long as their is fuel available.”

Nuvera has been testing fuel cells in sub-freezing temperatures for years, starting with the PowerFlow system in 2006.  The photo at the right was taken at our former headquarters in Cambridge, MA, and shows a system that operated outside continuously throughout the winter months.

They hydrogen refueling infrastructure will be integrated into an existing gasoline station, already in use in Oslo.  The 17 cars that will participate in the program are as follows:

10 Ten Mercedes-Benz B-class F-Cell Cars, with 71 mpg

2 Alfa Romeo MiTO Fiat Cars, featuring Nuvera’s fuel cell technology, with 74 mpg

5 H2 Logic electric city cars with fuel cell range extenders

I will post pictures of the MiTO as soon as I have them.

In Erika’s own words: I grew up on a farm in the Catskills where we had beef cattle, chickens and later horses. We bring in our own hay every summer. I still try to make it home to help out for at least one haying. If you ever want to lose 5 lbs in one afternoon feel free to join me - we can always use the help. Growing up on a farm gave me a great appreciation for nature that I carry with me today.

I moved to Boston for school and decided to stay in the general area afterwards, although I have moved back to the country. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University and am currently working towards my Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from WPI at night.

1. What do at Nuvera? I am a Systems Engineer on Nuvera’s PowerEdge product platform but consider myself a consultant to the other platforms when they wish to perform reliability analysis.  The majority of my work is on field data analysis. I work with almost every department within the platform to correct any failures that might occur in the field, as well as avoid new ones.  I really enjoy working with so many different people and departments regularly.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job? I love that my job is constantly solving problems - I love puzzles, crosswords, number games and riddles. I love figuring out how to design the most cost effective, robust, efficient, high performing system possible.

3. What do you enjoy least about your job? Inefficiency. It is the one thing I just can’t stand at work or at home. I like to have everything happen as efficiently as possible.

4. If you weren’t an engineer, you would be a _____________. A horse trainer.

5. What made you want to work with fuel cells/hydrogen? It was more that I wanted to work for Nuvera than specifically on fuel cells or with hydrogen. After I met the team here during my interview I was completely confident that this is where I wanted to work. I could tell immediately that there is a strong team environment and the company is full of people who love their jobs. It really creates a great company culture and I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

6.  What do you like to do outside of work? I love anything outdoors, however anyone who has spoken to me for 5 minutes knows my first passion is riding my mare Gabby. Her registered name is “I’m a Little Shootist” and it suits her quite well.

7. What is your favorite afternoon snack? Depends on the afternoon. I am not much of one for routines or repetition.

8. What inspired you to become an engineer? My Father and older brother are engineers; yet I never ever thought I would be one growing up. I went to college for biology originally. I wanted to be a doctor or a human virologist. After my first semester I switched into engineering because I enjoyed physics and mathematics so much more than biology.

9. What is your computer background? I have experience with many different software packages, however, the three main types I use are statistical, analytical, and theoretical analysis programs. For statistical analysis I have used JMP, Stat Graphic, and Minitab; for data analysis I mainly use MATLAB; and for theoretical analysis I use MathCad but am familiar with Maple as well.

10. What is your favorite summertime activity? Horseback riding bareback down to a swimming hole and taking my girl out for a swim! Swimming with a horse is an amazing feeling. She likes to play and splash in the water just like a little kid.

Thanks to Erika for taking the time to answer these questions. Leave your comments for Erika below!

By Eric James
Process Test Engineer, Nuvera Fuel Cells

On Friday June 11th, I had the privilege of meeting with Billerica High School teacher Larry Cohen’s Junior-level AP Chemistry class. I couldn’t have been more impressed with the intelligence and participation level of Mr. Cohen’s class. Our discussion started with an introduction to different engineering specialties and industries, but the class took the discussion to areas of career development and how engineering was different than other scientific professions such as lab chemistry and biology. I was particularly impressed by the students’ forward-looking mindset. Although their knowledge of engineering was limited, they processed the information I presented quickly and formulated questions beyond what I expected of their experience level.

The discussion then shifted to topics in green energy, including, but not limited to, fuel cells. We talked about the challenges facing new green technologies, and I was particularly impressed by several students’ grasp on the “well to wheels” concept, even if they weren’t familiar with that particular term. I tried to challenge the students with chemistry questions related to fuel cells, hydrogen reforming, and combustion, but they answered all my questions easily and the proceeded to teach me a thing or two about Red-Ox reactions.

We “closed” our class period with an interesting discussion on business ethics. Not something I had expected to talk about going into the class period, the topic of environmentally responsible energy (and certain recent events) naturally led to ethical questions. I stressed the importance of making ethical decisions, and we discussed why this isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with the caliber of Mr. Cohen’s students. I was happy to see the students’ interest in engineering and science (especially green energy), and I hope that they found the discussion as provocative as I did. I’m looking forward to continuing a service relationship with Billerica High School, and hopefully doing this again next year. This was a fantastic experience.

If you are interested in having a green jobs talk at your school, please send us an email at inquiries@nuvera.com

To read the full release, click here.

Controller: Nuvera is seeking a Controller to join our team. Under the general direction of the Vice President, Finance & Treasurer, the Controller is responsible for the company’s accounting policies and procedures, accounting practices, the conduct of relationships with other institutions and departments within Nuvera, the maintenance of its fiscal records, financial systems and the preparation of financial reports. The ideal candidate will be a motivated, self starter.

Systems Engineer: We are seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team.  An experimentally-oriented engineer is sought to join Nuvera’s  Electrochemical Technology Group, focused on the design and development of advanced industrial and automotive fuel cell stacks in accord with commercial requirements of high performance, long life, and low cost.  The eligible candidate will have a key role ensuring Nuvera’s fuel cell testing capabilities represent the state of the art.

Manager, Design and Documentation: We are seeking a Manager, Design and Documentation to join our team.  The Manager, Design and Documentation will provide leadership, supervision and talent development for a team of 5-8 professionals with specialties in the area of computer aided design and documentation control. He or she will manage staff allocation across multiple product lines in support of engineering, manufacturing and customer service activities. This individual will assume responsibility for chairing and coordinating the company’s product Change Control Board. In addition to management responsibilities, this individual will contribute directly to the engineering development, design and documentation of Nuvera’s PowerTap™ product line.

To learn more about these open positions, please visit the careers section of our website.

I posed 10 questions to Rob Dross, Lead Fuel Cell Development Engineer, who has been at Nuvera since 2009.  Rob grew up in Syracuse, NY and went to Clarkson University. He started his career at GE Power Systems before moving on to Plug Power where he worked for 8 1/2 years on fuel cells and hydrogen generation equipment as a Mechanical Engineer, Systems Engineer, Lead Module Engineer, and Senior Electrochemical Engineer.

1.  What do you do at Nuvera? I’m working on the development of our next generation fuel cell stack. My focus over the past year or so has been on subfreezing start stop testing for the automotive application.

2.  What do you enjoy most about your job? Working in such an exciting, fast paced, and dynamic environment with the goal of achieving sustainable energy production.

3.  What do you like least? Being stuck in an office all day (I’m still waiting for the first outdoor fuel cell laboratory).

4.  If you weren’t an engineer, what would you be? A small scale organic farmer.

5.  What made you want to work on fuel cells? Working on fuel cells allows me to combine my passion for environmentalism with my desire to work in an exciting high-tech field.  It’s really a perfect fit.

6. What is your favorite element? Hydrogen of course, so simple yet so powerful.

7.  What is your homepage? google.com Boring but efficient (fitting for an engineer)

8. If we can’t find you at your desk, you must be __________. Definitely back in the labs working on some new test or technique.

9. What do you like to do outside of work? When I’m not at work you could find me listening to avant-garde jazz, playing upright bass with local country/folk/bluegrass band Acousticana, or doing just about anything active outside including road and mt. biking, hiking, sailing, running, skiing, snowshoeing, etc…

10.  What is your ringtone? I’m gonna have to go with vibrate for this one, my ringer is almost never on to avoid those annoying cell phone interruption.

Thanks to Rob for taking the time to answer these questions.  Leave your own answers in the comments section!

Speaking at the event was Sal Lupoli of Sal’s Pizza and Lupoli Companies, who gave a rousing speech on the merits of giving back to your community, nurturing small businesses and hard work (and football!).  Representative Bill Greene was the final speaker of the breakfast, who was given Special Recognition for his 9 terms that he has served as Billerica’s representative in the House of Representatives.  Representative Greene is retiring this year, and it was evident by the mood in the room that he will be missed. 

When we left Cambridge for Billerica in 2007, we didn’t know what to expect from our new home.  What we’ve realized is that Billerica is a tight knit community, that is committed to growing and bettering the town and its residents.  In participating in the Clean Up/Green Up event, Nuvera was able to see these beliefs in action, and to feel truly integrated as a member of this great town.   We are proud to have our headquarters in Billerica, Massachusetts.

To see more photos from the event, please visit our Facebook page.