Title:  Battery Systems R&D Engineer, SMTS

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.

QuantumScape is looking for a hands-on Battery PhD candidate to be the technical anchor for advanced cell and pack development projects. You will develop the full stack—from multiphysics simulations of QuantumScape cells to prototype pack build, embedded electronics, data analytics, and failure-mode mitigation—driving concepts from whiteboard to field test. Do you have experience building, characterizing, and deploying solid-state or Li-ion batteries? Do you want to see electric vehicles become widespread and end the era of the internal combustion engine? If so, you'll be an excellent fit on our team!
You will collaborate with senior engineers at QuantumScape in the CTO’s organization. You will rapidly prototype concepts to explore technical and economic feasibility. You will learn to use automotive standards and practices.

Responsibilities: 
•    Modeling and simulation - develop and validate physics-based and reduced-order cell, module, and pack models
•    Electronics and firmware - architect and prototype monitoring, balancing, isolation circuits. Define functional-safety and performance requirements for smart BMS designs. Implement embedded code for data acquisition and edge analytics.
•    Data Collection and Analysis - Design automated test rigs, collect high-rate electrical, thermal and mechanical data; build analytics dashboards to extract insights and present findings to executives and partners.
•    Mechanical and rapid prototyping - produce CAD models for fixtures, pack enclosures; leverage rapid prototyping methods (3-D printing, CNC, sheet-metal) to iterate quickly. Coordinate with vendors for prototype and low-volume production.

Qualifications: 
•    PhD in Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field, or 5+ years industrial experience.
•    3+ years combined experience in Li-ion or solid-state battery R&D (academic or industrial)
•    Demonstrated expertise in cell/pack modeling tools (MATLAB/Simulink, COMSOL, ANSYS, or equivalent). 
•    Hands-on electronics background: schematic capture & PCB layout (Altium, KiCad) plus bench debug. 
•    Proficiency in Python for data processing and in C/C++ or embedded scripting for microcontroller development. 
•    Proven track record of building and testing batteries or power electronics hardware. 
•    Strong grasp of battery failure modes (thermal runaway, SEI growth, lithium plating, gas evolution) and sensing/mitigation strategies.
•    Superb communication skills, both written and oral. Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
•    Desire to work in fast fast-paced and constantly evolving environment

Preferred:
•    Familiarity with automotive or aerospace functional-safety standards (ISO 26262, UL 2271). 
•    Knowledge of powertrain integration for UAVs, light EVs, or robotics (BLDC drives, ESCs, motor tuning). 
•    Mechanical FEA or CFD for thermal management design.

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: Salary range for this role has a range of $134,800 to $182,000, 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 exciting perks.

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.