Cell Development Engineer, PMTS
QuantumScape
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 Principal Cell Development Engineer to help shape the technical direction of our next generation cells. You’ll define strategy, orchestrate multi‑quarter development programs, and mentor engineers while staying close to the work—uncovering mechanisms and translating them into concrete changes to cell components, design, and processes.
What You’ll do:
- Own segments of the development roadmap for key cell platforms; identify mechanisms, prioritize bets, and set validation strategies.
- Operationalize hypothesis-driven loops (design → build → evaluate) generating fast feedback to drive design decisions
- Lead reliability modeling and risk quantification (e.g., Weibull, Kaplan–Meier); connect insights to design rules and process windows.
- Mentor and develop engineers; review designs/analyses; publish internal guidance that accelerates learning org‑wide.
- Communicate decisions crisply to executives and partners; ensure corrective actions stick in production.
Skills You’ll Need:
- PhD in a engineering or science with 6+ years post‑degree experience (or Master’s 8+ / Bachelor’s 10+ with equivalent impact).
- Repeated track record of leading complex, cross‑functional programs from concept to production impact.
- Deep expertise in electrochemical systems and reliability of lithium‑based cells; strong intuition for mechanisms.
- Advanced statistics and Python‑based analysis; comfort with survival analysis, tolerance intervals, and DoE at scale.
- Exceptional technical communication
Nice to have:
- Experience shipping cell technologies into pilot or production and improving yield/reliability at scale.
- Experience with mentoring and technical leadership.
- Strong background with automated assembly, in‑line inspection, and metrology data pipelines.
- IP contributions (patents/publications) in batteries, reliability, or manufacturing science.
The Opportunity: Shape the technical direction of next-gen cells, multiply team impact through mentorship and standards, and deliver performance improvements that show up in every build.
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 $160,700 to $217,000, and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's experience and educational background. 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.