Power Electronics Lead – Integrated Rack Power Platform

QuantumScape; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

QuantumScape in San Jose is seeking a Power Electronics Lead to own the complete power conversion architecture for an integrated solid-state battery rack platform. You will supervise end-to-end design from AC mains or 48V input to regulated rails, including bidirectional battery paths, with a focus on high efficiency and compact form factor.

You will guide topology selection, drive performance targets, and mentor a small cross-functional team across power, firmware, and PCB disciplines to

Qualifications

• 10+ years designing multi-kW AC-DC or DC-DC power converters shipped in volume.
• Experience with LLC, PSFB, DAB, and CLLC topologies.
• Digital power control using DSP/MCU-based compensation techniques.
• Experience with server power supplies and EV onboard chargers.
• Proficient in power electronics simulation tools: PLECS, LTspice, Simplis, PSIM.
• Ability to lead and mentor a small cross-functional engineering team.

Responsibilities

• Architect the end-to-end power conversion topology (AC-DC, intermediate bus, DC-DC, bidirectional path).
• Lead topology trade-off analyses including PSFB, LLC, DAB, and CLLC.
• Define efficiency targets (97%+ at rack load) and power density goals for 1U/2U shelf.
• Collaborate with firmware/embedded teams on digital control loops and compensation.
• Define operating voltage/current windows and protection schemes (OCP, OVP).
• Bring up hardware prototypes, perform thermal characterization, and optimize efficiency.
• Coordinate with PCB layout for creepage, clearance, and power-plane integrity.

Skills

Power electronics design

Topologies: LLC

Topologies: PSFB

Topologies: DAB

Topologies: CLLC

GaN/SiC devices

Digital power control

DSP/MCU compensation

Server power supplies

EV onboard chargers

Team leadership

Thermal analysis

Tools

PLECS

LTspice

Simplis

PSIM

Job description

Power Electronics Lead – Integrated Rack Power Platform

Location: San Jose, CA (On-site)

Reports To: Head of Engineering, Data Center Power Platform

About the Role

We are building a first-of-its-kind integrated PSU + BBU rack power shelf that collapses the traditional two-shelf architecture (separate power supply and battery backup) into a single, high-density platform powered by solid-state battery technology. This shelf will compete directly with incumbent rack power offerings from Delta, LITEON, and similar vendors, targeting hyperscale AI data center deployments.

As the Power Electronics Lead, you will own the complete power conversion architecture—from AC mains or 48V DC bus input through regulated output rails, including the bidirectional charge/discharge path for the integrated solid-state battery pack. You will serve as the chief engineer for the power stage and the technical decision-maker whose topology choices influence every engineering discipline on the team.

What You'll Do

• Architect the end-to-end power conversion topology, including:
• AC-DC front end
• Intermediate bus
• DC-DC output stage
• Bidirectional battery converter path
• Lead topology trade-off analysis across:
• Phase-shifted full bridge (PSFB)
• In-line versus parallel sidecar battery integration
• Design magnetics including planar transformers and coupled inductors.
• Select power semiconductors (GaN/SiC FETs and diodes) with thermal derating analysis.
• Define and drive efficiency targets (97%+ Titanium-class performance at rack load) and power density goals within a 1OU or 2OU shelf envelope.
• Collaborate closely with firmware and embedded engineering on digital control loop implementation including:
• Voltage/current mode compensation
• Loop bandwidth
• Partner with the Battery Systems Engineer to define:
• Voltage operating window
• Current limits for solid-state battery cells
• Design protection circuitry including:
• Overcurrent Protection (OCP)
• Overvoltage Protection (OVP)
• Define system fault response behavior.
• Bring up and validate prototype power stages through:
• Hardware bring-up
• Thermal characterization
• Efficiency optimization
• Work closely with PCB layout engineers to ensure:
• Proper creepage and clearance
• Power plane integrity

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years designing multi-kW AC-DC or DC-DC power converters that have shipped in volume.
• Deep expertise in at least two converter topologies such as:
• LLC
• PSFB
• DAB
• CLLC
• Core selection
• Experience with digital power control using DSP/MCU-based compensation techniques.
• Server power supplies
• EV onboard chargers
• Comparable high-density power products
• Proficiency using simulation tools including:
• PLECS
• LTspice
• Simplis
• PSIM
• Comfortable providing technical leadership and mentoring a small cross-functional engineering team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing with GaN or SiC wide-bandgap power devices.
• Familiarity with 48V and high-voltage DC bus architectures.
• Experience with bidirectional power converters, especially integrated battery charging paths.
• Knowledge of Open Compute Project (OCP) Open Rack / ORv3 power delivery specifications.
• CC-CV charging profiles
• Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing platforms including:
• Typhoon HIL
• PLECS RT Box

Why This Role Matters

Your architectural decisions will define the entire product. Whether the battery is integrated inline or connected through a sidecar bus, whether the system utilizes GaN at 48V or silicon at 12V, and whether hold-up transfer occurs in microseconds or requires a brief interruption—every downstream engineering discipline will build upon your decisions.

This is a rare opportunity to design a next-generation rack power platform from a blank sheet using breakthrough solid-state battery technology that fundamentally changes what is possible for AI data center power infrastructure.