Lead Principal Engineer, Solid-State Cell Development

QuantumScape Battery, Inc.; San Jose, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

RSU/Equity package

Employee health care

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Job summary

QuantumScape Battery, Inc. is seeking a Principal Member of Technical Staff for Cell Development to lead and execute the process development for next-generation solid-state battery cells. The role centers on optimizing yield and reliability, breaking down complex challenges, and delivering a scalable path to production.

The position is onsite in California, requiring collaboration with Failure Analysis, Metrology, and Manufacturing teams to turn R&D advances into manufacturing-ready solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years (or Master’s 8+, PhD 6+) in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field with electrochemistry and battery experience.
• Deep technical expertise in lithium-metal, solid-state, or advanced battery cell technologies.
• Experience taking a process from early development through pilot/demo builds.
• Strong analytical skills to decompose ambiguous problems and derive strategy.
• Ability to set technical priorities under uncertainty and balance tradeoffs.
• Ability to align multi-functional teams around a technical plan.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy and hands-on execution for next-gen cell process workstreams.
• Set direction to improve cell performance, yield, reliability.
• Work with cells, experiments, and data to improve builds and processes.
• Collaborate with Failure Analysis and Metrology to diagnose root causes.
• Mentor engineers and promote candid feedback and shared ownership.
• Communicate progress and risks to collaborators up to executive team.

Skills

Electrochemistry

Battery cell development

Process development

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Communication skills

Project prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field

Master's degree in relevant field

PhD in related field

Tools

DOE

SPC

Metrology techniques

CT scanning

SEM

Impedance spectroscopy

Job description

QuantumScape Battery, Inc. is seeking a Principal Member of Technical Staff for Cell Development to lead and execute the process development for next-generation solid-state battery cells. The role centers on optimizing yield and reliability, breaking down complex challenges, and delivering a scalable path to production.

The position is onsite in California, requiring collaboration with Failure Analysis, Metrology, and Manufacturing teams to turn R&D advances into manufacturing-ready solutions.