Staff Cell Development Engineer

QuantumScape; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 137,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Generous RSU/Equity package

Employee-paid health care

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Job summary

QuantumScape is seeking a hands-on Staff Engineer, Cell Development, to drive the process for its next-generation solid-state battery cells. You will own and improve the process from early concept to demonstration and toward a reliable product, focusing on yield, reliability, and scalable manufacturing.

You will lead technical strategy, coordinate with Failure Analysis and Metrology, mentor engineers, and communicate progress to executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's with 10+ years, Master's with 8+, or Ph.D. with 6+ years in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related field with strong electrochemistry background.
• Deep technical expertise in lithium-metal, solid-state, or advanced battery cell technologies, including electrochemistry and failure mechanisms.
• Experience taking a process from early development through pilot/demo builds.
• Strong analytical skills to decompose ambiguity and re‑integrate findings into a coherent strategy.
• Ability to set priorities under uncertainty and trade off performance, manufacturability, yield, reliability, cost, and schedule.
• 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‑generation cell process workstreams from early builds through demo and into product.
• Set technical direction to improve cell performance, yield, consistency, and reliability.
• Work with cells, experiments, and test data to develop and improve cell builds and processes.
• Partner with Failure Analysis and Metrology to diagnose root causes and translate findings into design improvements.
• Mentor engineers across the organization and promote candid feedback and shared ownership.
• Communicate progress, risks, and recommendations to collaborators up to the executive team.

Skills

Cell process development

Electrochemistry

Yield optimization

Reliability engineering

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

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

PhD in a closely related field

Job description

About the team

The Cell Development group is responsible for taking QuantumScape's solid-state lithium-metal energy storage technology from early concept through manufacturing maturity. The team works at the intersection of materials science, electrochemistry, and process engineering, engaging directly with Failure Analysis, Metrology, Quality, and Manufacturing to turn promising ideas into reliable, scalable cells. We move fast, favor clarity over noise, and value candid feedback and close collaboration across groups. Come build with us!

What we need:

The Cell Development team is seeking a hands-on Staff Engineer, Cell Development, to drive development of the process for our next generation of cells and advance it through demonstration and toward a reliable product. This PMTS role serves as the recognized authority on yield and reliability for this process, owning and improving it as the program matures. Expect open-ended, ambiguous problems in a fast-paced environment: break complex challenges into well-scoped chunks, drive parallel workstreams to resolution, and synthesize the results into a coherent path forward. Own hard, unsolved problems, lead through technical influence, and help invent what comes next!

What You'll do:

• Lead technical strategy and hands-on execution for key next-generation cell process workstreams, driving development and scale-up from early builds through demo and into product
• Set technical direction and priorities to improve cell performance, yield, consistency, and reliability.
• Work directly with cells, experiments, and test data to develop, fix, and improve cell builds and processes
• Partner closely with Failure Analysis and Metrology teams to diagnose root causes of cell-level issues and translate findings into design and process improvements
• Mentor and rally engineers across the broader organization, championing candid feedback and shared ownership
• Communicate progress, risks, and recommendations clearly to collaborators up to and including the executive team

Skills You'll Need:

• Bachelor's with 10+ years, Master's with 8+, or Ph.D. with 6+ years of experience in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or a closely related field, with a strong background in electrochemistry and battery or electrochemical cell development
• Deep technical expertise in lithium-metal, solid-state, or advanced battery cell technologies, including electrochemistry and failure mechanisms
• Experience taking a process from early development through pilot/demo builds
• Strong analytical skills - be able to decompose ambiguous problems and re-integrate findings into a coherent strategy and actionable path forward
• Ability to set technical priorities under uncertainty and make tradeoffs across performance, manufacturability, yield, reliability, cost, and schedule
• Skilled at aligning multi-functional teams around a technical plan
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Nice to have:

• Direct experience with solid-state or lithium-metal cell technology specifically
• Familiarity with statistical process control, DOE, or reliability engineering methodologies
• Experience working with metrology and failure analysis techniques (e.g., CT scanning, SEM, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy)
• Experience mentoring technical contributors and translating R&D findings into specifications, controls, or manufacturing-ready practices

ONSITE:

This position requires onsite work 5 days per week to meet its essential duties and requirements. As an on-site R&D and manufacturing organization, face-to-face interaction is vital to building authentic relationships, trust, and teamwork.

Compensation & Benefits:

Expected salary range for this role is $136,700 to $208,500 with the final figure determined by the candidate's experiencw, educational background and internal equity.

• annual bonus
• generous RSU/Equity package
• employee-paid health care
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

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.