Director Cell Engineering

QuantumScape; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

QuantumScape in California seeks a Director of Cell Development to lead solid-state battery cell development end-to-end, from concept through manufacturing readiness, focusing on yield, reliability, and scale-up.

You will build a high-performance, cross-functional team, drive multi-layer cell architectures, and partner with QA, Metrology, and Failure Analysis to translate learnings into a robust roadmap and scalable processes.

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical Engineering or equivalent with electrochemistry background.
• 10+ years in battery or electrochemical cell development.
• Proven track record from concept to manufacturing scale-up.
• Experience leading teams and communicating with executives.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical roadmap for solid-state lithium-metal cell development from feasibility to manufacturing readiness.
• Set direction on yield and reliability improvements for cell performance and failure rates.
• Lead cell design and scale-up for multi-layer architectures and pack integration.
• Partner with Failure Analysis, Metrology, and Quality to diagnose root causes and translate findings into improvements.
• Break down complex problems into structured workstreams and synthesize results into a clear plan.
• Build and lead a high-synergy, cross-functional team and develop talent.
• Drive cross-functional campaigns to qualify new processes and improve line performance.
• Communicate progress and risks clearly to stakeholders up to the executive team.

Skills

Cell development leadership

Battery technology

Solid-state / lithium-metal

Scale-up & manufacturing readiness

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Problem solving

Electrochemistry expertise

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

Job description

What we need: We are looking for a Director of Cell Development to lead our solid-state battery cell development efforts end to end — from early idea generation through maturation into a manufacturable, reliable product. This person will be the thought leader for yield and reliability improvements across our solid-state cells, and will drive cell design and scale-up from single-layer architectures to multi-layer cells and pack-level integration.

This role requires genuine comfort with open-ended, ambiguous problems in a fast-paced environment: the ability to break complex technical challenges into simpler, well-scoped chunks, drive parallel workstreams to resolution, and bring the results back together into a coherent path forward. If you enjoy building high-synergy teams, communicating with clarity at every level up to the executive team, and taking ownership of hard, unsolved problems, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll do:

• Own the technical roadmap for solid-state lithium-metal cell development, from early-stage idea generation and feasibility through maturation and manufacturing readiness
• Act as the thought leader on yield and reliability, setting the technical direction and priorities for improving cell performance, consistency, and failure rates
• Lead cell design and scale-up efforts, including the transition from single-layer to multi-layer cell architectures and downstream pack integration
• Partner closely with Failure Analysis, Metrology, and Quality teams to diagnose root causes of cell-level issues and translate findings into design and process improvements
• Break down complex, open-ended technical problems into structured workstreams, and synthesize results across parallel efforts into a clear, actionable path forward
• Build and lead a high-synergy, cross-functional team, hiring and developing talent to grow the group's capabilities
• Drive cross-functional campaigns spanning R&D, manufacturing engineering, and quality to qualify new processes and improve line performance
• Communicate progress, risks, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders up to and including the executive team, with a bias toward clarity over noise
• Champion a culture of radical candor and shared ownership, eliminating siloed handoffs between development and manufacturing

Skills You'll Need:

• Proven track record leading cell or battery development programs from concept through manufacturing scale-up
• Deep technical expertise in lithium-metal, solid-state, or advanced battery cell technologies, including electrochemistry and failure mechanisms
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to decompose ambiguous, open-ended technical problems and re-integrate findings into a coherent strategy
• Experience with cell design and scale-up, including multi-layer cell architectures and pack integration considerations
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior leadership
• Prior people-leadership experience, including hiring, developing, and managing technical teams
• Comfort operating in a fast-paced, high-ambiguity environment with shifting priorities
• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or equivalent, with a solid background in electrochemistry (required)
• 10+ years of relevant industry experience, including significant experience in battery or electrochemical cell development