Firmware/ Embedded Engineer

QuantumScape; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

QuantumScape in San Jose is seeking a Firmware/Embedded Engineer to build a PSU+BBU rack power shelf for hyperscale AI data centers. You will implement real-time control loops that regulate power delivery, manage bidirectional power flow, and enable seamless mains-to-battery transfer with sub-millisecond timing.

Your work will involve DSP/MCU platforms (TI C2000, Microchip dsPIC), PMBus/I2C communications, and robust fault protection.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience writing real-time firmware for power converters.
• Strong understanding of digital control loops and power electronics.
• Proficiency in C for bare-metal/RTOS environments.

Responsibilities

• Implement digital compensators for voltage/current regulation loops at 50-200kHz.
• Design bidirectional power flow state machine for seamless transitions.
• Develop battery charge algorithms and protection features in collaboration with battery eng.
• Implement PMBus/I2C communications for host monitoring and control.
• Develop Redfish/IPMI telemetry for integration with hyperscaler systems.
• Create fault-detection and protection logic with fast trip paths.
• Build diagnostics and field-debug capabilities; support bench bringup and testing.

Skills

Real-time firmware

Power electronics

Digital control loops

C programming

RTOS

Tools

TI C2000

Microchip dsPIC

DSP/MCU platforms

PMBus/I2C

OpenBMC

Job description

QuantumScape is on a mission to transform energy storage with solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. The company’s next-generation batteries are designed to enable greater energy density, faster charging and enhanced safety to support the transition away from legacy energy sources toward a lower carbon future.

About the role

We are building an integrated PSU+BBU rack power shelf that combines power conversion and solid-state battery backup into a single platform for hyperscale AI data centers. Unlike a standard server PSU with unidirectional power flow, this system manages bidirectional conversion, real-time battery state management, and seamless mains-to-battery transfer - all within sub-millisecond timing constraints

.As Firmware/ Embedded Engineer, you are the brains of the system. You implement the real-time control loops that regulate power delivery, manage the battery charge/discharge path, execute seamless transfer between mains and battery power, and expose the shelf as a fully managed device to the rack's baseboard management controller

Why this role matter

s: A standard PSU runs a simple control loop on a unidirectional power path. Your system juggles two competing control objectives simultaneously - holding the output rail steady for GPU trays while managing battery current within safe limits - and must execute a flawless handoff between power sources under the most critical conditions (mains failure). The firmware is what makes this an integrated platform rather than two separate boxes. Your work with the power electronics lead forms the technical spine of the entire produc

What you'll

• do:Implement digital compensators for voltage and current regulation loops running at 50-200kHz control rates on a power-oriented DSP/MCU (Tl C2000, Microchip dsPIC, or equivale
• nt)Design and implement the bidirectional power flow state machine: mains-powered battery-powered mains-restored transitions with zero output disturbance and sub-millisecond transfer t
• imeIntegrate battery charge algorithms (CC-CV profiles, temperature-dependent rate limits, float/maintenance charge modes) developed in collaboration with the battery systems engin
• eerImplement PMBus command set for host communication, enabling the rack BMC to monitor and control the shelf (voltage/current telemetry, SoC/SoH reporting, enable/disable, fault stat
• us)Develop Redfish/IPMI telemetry reporting for integration with hyperscaler fleet management syst
• emsDesign fault detection and protection logic: overcurrent, overvoltage, overtemperature, battery undervoltage, and communication loss - with sub-microsecond hardware-assisted trip paths and firmware- managed recovery sequen
• cesBuild power sequencing and hot-swap control logic for safe insertion/extraction under live bus conditi
• onsDevelop diagnostics, event logging, and field debug capabilities (black-box flight recorder for fault even
• ts)Validate control algorithms using hardware-in-the-loop simulation before committing to prototype hardw
• areSupport bench bringup and prototype testing alongside the power electronics l

What you br

• ing:8+ years writing real-time firmware for power converters (not generic embedded systems you must understand digital control loop the
• ory)Proficiency with TI C2000 (strongly preferred), Microchip dsPIC, or equivalent power-oriented DSP/MCU platf
• ormsDeep understanding of digital compensator design: pole-zero placement, loop bandwidth, phase margin, and their impact on transient response and stabi
• lityHands-on experience with PWM generation, ADC sampling synchronization, and interrupt-driven control l
• oopsExperience implementing PMBus or I2C-based power management communication proto
• colsTrack record with at least one power converter product through prototype bringup and valida
• tionFluent in C for bare-metal and RTOS environments; comfortable with fixed-point math for real-time con

Nice to

• have:Prior BMS firmware experience (cell balancing, Soc estimation via EKF or coulomb counting, protection state mach
• ines)Familiarity with OpenBMC integration and Redfish/IPMI prot
• ocolsExperience with functional safety standards (IEC 61508 or ISO 26262 from automo
• tive)Proficiency with hardware-in-the-loop tools (PLECS RT Box, Typhoon HIL, dS
• PACE)Experience with CAN bus, SPI, or UART-based multi-board communication in power sy
• stemsExposure to OCP power shelf communication and management stan