A system and method for assembling and compressing a fuel cell stack. The system and method include a fuel cell stack housing with a plurality of side walls that create an enclosure that is open on two opposing ends, at least one channel formed on an inner side wall surface, and a first end structural frame that is affixed to one of the open ends of the housing, the first end structural frame including at least one tooling opening through a planar surface. The system and method further include tooling that passes through the at least one tooling opening of the first end structural frame and that extends up through the housing to the open end of the housing, the tooling capable of moving down incrementally while fuel cell stack components are being loaded into the housing through the open end that is opposite to the first end structural frame.