Senior Cell Development Engineer

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

Job summary

QuantumScape is seeking a Senior Cell Development Engineer to scope and lead end-to-end development efforts that impact cell performance and reliability. You will lead projects to devise innovative cell designs, specify and optimize assembly processes, and integrate new materials into solid-state batteries.

You will work across automation, metrology, FA and manufacturing, owning projects and driving them to completion with strong cross-functional collaboration and technical communication.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s with 5+ years.
• Experience leading projects to successful completion.
• Experience in electrochemistry/electrochemical systems and battery test methods.
• R&D process-development experience (cell assembly, metrology, process specs, scale-up).
• Proficient in Python for data analysis and statistics (DoE, regression).
• Excellent technical communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead integration and validation of new components and materials on next-generation cell platforms.
• Develop methodologies and experiments to validate key cell design performance, reliability, and safety criteria.
• Design rigorous DOEs; apply statistical and analytical methods to evaluate approaches.
• Model reliability performance (Weibull, Kaplan–Meier) and connect to design/process changes.
• Define CTQ metrics, acceptance criteria, and validation plans.
• Collaborate with cell build, equipment design, safety, quality, metrology, and production teams.

Skills

Engineering degree

Master’s degree with 3+ years

Electrochemistry knowledge

Python for data analysis

Statistics / DoE

Cross-functional collaboration

Project leadership

Communication skills

Education

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Python

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.

What we need

We’re looking for a Senior Cell Development Engineer to scope and lead end‑to‑end development efforts that directly impact cell performance and reliability. You’ll lead projects to devise innovative cell designs, specify and optimize assembly processes, and integrate new materials/components into our anode‑less solid‑state batteries. You’ll partner across automation, metrology, FA and manufacturing, owning projects and driving them to completion.

What You’ll do

• Lead integration and validation of new components and materials on next‑generation cell platforms.
• Develop methodologies and experiments to validate key cell design performance, reliability, and safety criteria.
• Design rigorous DOEs; apply statistical and analytical methods to evaluate approaches and compare effectiveness.
• Model reliability performance (e.g., Weibull, Kaplan–Meier) and connect mechanisms to actionable design/process changes.
• Define critical‑to‑quality (CTQ) metrics, acceptance criteria, and validation plans.
• Collaborate with cell build process teams, equipment design teams, safety, quality, metrology, and production teams to execute on critical path projects.

Skills You’ll Need

• BS or higher degree in engineering, materials science, physics, or a related field.
• Minimum of Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience; OR Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record of leading projects to successful completion.
• Prior experience in or knowledge of electrochemistry/electrochemical systems and battery test methods.
• R&D process‑development experience (cell assembly, metrology, process specs, scale‑up).
• Prior experience with Python for data analysis/visualization; solid statistics (DoE, regression, confidence intervals).
• Excellent technical communication and cross‑functional collaboration.

Nice to have

• Reliability analysis experience (Weibull, survival analysis, life test planning).

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.