Systems Engineering Intern – Architecture & Trade Studies (PEM Fuel Cell Systems)

2026 Summer Systems Engineering Intern – Architecture & Trade Studies (PEM Fuel Cell Systems)Status: Non-Exempt (hourly)Department: Systems Engineering - 283Term: Summer 2026Position SummaryPlug Power Inc. is seeking a highly motivated Systems Engineering Intern to support early- to mid-stage system design activities for PEM fuel cell products during Summer 2026. This role is focused on system architecture development, design studies, and trade-off analysis, aligned with the left-hand side of the systems engineering V-model.The intern will work with the engineering team and system-level models to explore architectural decisions, evaluate sensitivities, and assess design robustness across varying customer applications. Emphasis will be placed on probabilistic methods, including sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo–type simulations..Learning Objectives In this role, the intern will:Gain hands-on experience applying systems engineering principles to system architecture and concept developmentLearn how architectural decisions are evaluated using structured trade studies and quantitative analysisDevelop familiarity with system-level modeling tools used to explore performance, constraints, and sensitivitiesUnderstand the use of probabilistic and statistical approaches to requirement satisfaction and design robustnessLearn how customer applications and usage profiles influence system design decisionsBuild technical communication skills by documenting and presenting trade study results and recommendationsCore Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe Systems Engineering Intern will:Support development and refinement of system architecture concepts for PEM fuel cell systemsBuild, modify, or execute system-level models to explore design sensitivities and performance trade-offsPerform parametric and sensitivity analyses to understand the impact of key design variablesSupport development and execution of Monte Carlo or probabilistic simulations to assess requirement satisfaction across distributions of inputs and operating conditionsAssist in evaluating how different customer application profiles affect system performance and marginsDocument assumptions, methods, results, and conclusions from trade studies in a clear and traceable mannerSupport preparation of technical presentations and design review materials to communicate findings and recommendationsEducation and QualificationPursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related disciplineStrong interest in system modeling, simulation, and quantitative analysisFamiliarity with statistics, probability, or numerical methods is a plusExperience or coursework involving MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or similar modeling tools is desirableStrong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detailComfortable working with ambiguity and exploring multiple solution pathsExcellent written and verbal communication skillsSelf-motivated with a strong sense of curiosity and follow-throughMust have reliable transportation to the officeEstimated Base Salary Range:$21.00 - $25.00