Principal Member of Technical Staff, Solid State Cathode Engineer (CA, US, 95110)

QuantumScape; United States; On-site; USD 137,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

RSU/Equity

Health care

ESPP

Job summary

QuantumScape is seeking a senior technical leader to drive scale-up of solid-state cathode fabrication for large-format all-solid-state battery builds. You will own the path from lab demonstrations to production-intent processes, partnering with R&D, process engineering, and manufacturing to define strategies and controls.

The role requires extensive materials science experience, hands-on DOE/SPC-based problem solving, and a proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, onsite

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or closely related field, with hands-on cathode development experience.
• Demonstrated ownership of process scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturing qualification, or pilot-line execution.
• Strong understanding of how process conditions affect material properties, cell performance, yield, and reliability.
• Working knowledge of laboratory, controlled-environment, equipment, and process safety practices.
• Process engineering judgment, including DOE, SPC, process capability, failure analysis, and data systems.
• Ability to set technical priorities under uncertainty and make tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, yield, reliability, cost, and schedule.
• Troubleshooting skills across materials, process, equipment, and measurement systems.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and align stakeholders around a technical plan.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical strategy and hands-on execution for scaling solid-state cathode fabrication from lab-scale development to larger-format ASSB builds.
• Work directly with materials, tools, experiments, and process data to develop, troubleshoot, and improve cathode fabrication processes.
• Define key material and process requirements, process windows, and control strategies to improve yield, uniformity, reliability, and cell performance.
• Lead root-cause analysis for process variability, defects, equipment excursions, and performance issues.
• Translate experimental and manufacturing data into clear technical recommendations and execution plans.
• Influence and mentor cross-functional teams across R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, quality, equipment, and supply chain.

Skills

Catholyte development

Scale-up

DOE

SPC

Data analysis

Cross-functional leadership

Manufacturing transfer

Technical communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics

Master’s degree

PhD

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 team: The Solid State Cathode team is a cross-functional group of materials scientists, process engineers, and manufacturing technologists responsible for developing and scaling the cathode fabrication processes at the heart of QuantumScape's all-solid-state battery. The team carries cathode technology from lab-scale demonstration through pilot-line execution to repeatable, manufacturing-relevant processes, working in close partnership with R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, quality, equipment, and supply chain. The team prides itself on hands-on experimentation, rigorous data-driven problem solving, and turning R&D learnings into the specifications and controls that hold up at scale.

What we need: We are seeking a senior, hands-on technical leader to drive scale-up of solid-state cathode fabrication for larger-format all-solid-state battery builds. This role will help define the technical path from R&D demonstrations to repeatable, manufacturing-relevant processes, combining deep materials and process expertise, direct engagement with experiments and equipment, data-driven problem solving, and cross-functional leadership. If you want to own the path from a lab-scale demonstration to a production-intent process — and to influence the specifications, controls, and practices that make it stick — we'd like to hear from you.

What You’ll do:

• Lead technical strategy and hands-on execution for scaling solid-state cathode fabrication from lab-scale development to larger-format ASSB builds.
• Work directly with materials, tools, experiments, and process data to develop, troubleshoot, and improve cathode fabrication processes.
• Define key material and process requirements, process windows, and control strategies to improve yield, uniformity, reliability, and cell performance.
• Lead root-cause analysis for process variability, defects, equipment excursions, and performance issues.
• Translate experimental and manufacturing data into clear technical recommendations and execution plans.
• Influence and mentor cross-functional teams across R&D, process engineering, manufacturing, quality, equipment, and supply chain.

Skills You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of experience, Master’s degree with 8+ years of experience, or Ph.D. with 6+ years of experience in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related field, along with demonstrated hands-on experience in catholyte development for sulfide, halide, and/or oxyhalide-based solid-state batteries.
• Demonstrated ownership of process scale-up, technology transfer, manufacturing qualification, or pilot-line execution.
• Strong understanding of how process conditions affect material properties, cell performance, yield, and reliability.
• Working knowledge of laboratory, controlled-environment, equipment, and process safety practices.
• Process engineering judgment, including use of DOE, SPC, process capability, failure analysis, and data systems.
• Ability to set technical priorities under uncertainty and make tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, yield, reliability, cost, and schedule.
• Troubleshooting skills across materials, process, equipment, and measurement systems.
• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and align stakeholders around a technical plan.
• Excellent technical communication and documentation skills.

Nice to have:

• Experience owning a pilot-line, manufacturing-transfer, or production-intent materials-processing workflow.
• Experience with ASSB stacks, solid-state cathodes, dry-processed cathodes, or solid-solid interface processes.
• Experience qualifying new materials, process changes, equipment platforms, suppliers, or manufacturing controls.
• Familiarity with electrochemical and physical characterization methods for diagnosing process-driven variability and performance loss.
• Experience mentoring technical contributors and translating R&D learnings into specifications, controls, or manufacturing-ready practices.

Physical requirements:

• Work is performed in a dry room, fume hood, lab area, or glovebox requiring the use of fine motor skills
• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time
• Reaching and twisting motions with hands
• Lifting up to 25 lbs.

ONSITE: This position is required to work onsite 5 days per week to meet the minimum essential duties and requirements of this position. As an on-site R&D and manufacturing operations organization, in-person face to face interaction is essential to building authentic relationships, trust, teamwork, and collaboration.

Compensation & Benefits: Expected salary range for this role is from $136,700 to $208,500 and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's experience, educational background and internal equity. QuantumScape also offers an annual bonus and a generous RSU/Equity package as part of its compensation plan. In addition, we do offer a tremendous benefits plan including employee paid health care, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), and other benefits.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request an accommodation.