Mission
We are offering a position as mechanical engineer in the Group of Energy Materials at EPFL, Sion. Our highly interdisciplinary Lab (20 FTE, 1/3rd PhD students, 1/3rd postdocs, 1/3rd engineers) is part of the EPFL Mechanical Engineering Institute and specialised since 30 years in fuel cell and electrolysers, especially for high temperature (>600°C, solid oxide ceramics) and more recently also for low temperature (<100 °C, protonic and anionic exchange membrane polymers). Our fully equipped diagnostics lab mounts and investigates fuel cells / electrolysers, from components and single cells up to stacks and small systems (10 – 50 kW), testing durability/performance and identifying degradation phenomena. Experimental work is assisted by modeling and simulation on different levels.
We look to complement our engineer team. We design and build stacks, and different customized test benches to characterize our fuel cells, electrolysers, and more complex integrated systems including heat exchangers, chemical reactors, gas recirculation, safety sensors etc.
We are specifically looking for an additional mechanical engineer with a solid experience in computational fluid dynamics and structural mechanics. These competences will be applied during the design of low and high temperature fuel cells and electrolysers, including their balance of plants, under pressurized conditions.
Main duties and responsibilities
As a project mechanical engineer, you will be expected to:
1. take a lead and responsibility for your tasks
2. participate in conception, design and execution
3. research in close collaboration with industrial and academic partners
4. participate in supervising student projects, if time allows
More specifically, within our ongoing projects, you will:
5. simulate flow fields of cells and stack designed in the lab
6. design and simulate the structural integrity of low temperature stack end plates under pressurized conditions
7. design and simulate an injector to recirculate fuel flow of a high temperature solid-oxide stack
8. simulate the scaled-up 100-kW version of a methanation reactor (30 kW version exists)
9. support the design of new test benches (up to 30-50 kW / 50 bar) with CFD and structural mechanics simulations of key components
Profile
10. MSc degree in Mechanical Engineering
11. Prior professional experience in CFD and/or FEA analysis
12. Prior experience using COMSOL and/or ANSYS.
13. Prior familiarity with fuel cells, electrolysers, chemical reactors is a plus but not a must.
14. Good communication skills and working as part of a team
15. Enthusiasm, curiosity, motivation, reactivity, organizational skills, rigor in experimental work
16. At least good command of English and preferably also of French (though not mandatory for French)
We offer
17. Employment at a renowned institution ranked among the leaders in engineering and technology
18. Support for professional development through training and continuous learning opportunities
19. Supportive and flexible work environment promoting work-life balance
20. Language courses relevant to your role
21. International multilingual working environment
22. Discounts on public transport
Informations
Your application should contain:
• A motivation Letter
• Your detailed CV
• Contact information
• Names and contact information of 2 or more references willing to write a recommendation letter
Application deadline: Apr 15th 2026
Contract Start Date: June 1st 2026 or as per mutual agreement
Activity Rate Min: 80%
Activity Rate Max: 100%
Contract Type: yearly renewed
Duration: up to 5 years
For more information, please contact:, ,, .