Title:  Commercial Counsel

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.

Why This Role Matters: Our solid-state battery platform is at the frontier of materials science, manufacturing, and automotive technology. Our legal transactions often combine complex intellectual property structures, high-value R&D partnerships, and evolving technical and regulatory requirements. You will be at the center of shaping how we bring this technology to the world by taking primary responsibility for drafting and negotiating complex technology transactions and strategic collaborations that are core to our product and business roadmap—while maintaining versatility to support broader commercial agreements and legal initiatives.

About the team: You will join a “small but mighty” public company legal team that is viewed by internal stakeholders as a trusted business partner.  Each team member combines deep expertise in specific domains with the versatility of a seasoned generalist. Our ability to “do more with less” provides each team member with the opportunity to work on a broader diversity of matters and gain a higher level of responsibility, exposure and skills compared to other in-house teams. We foster a culture of continuous learning, and we view every attorney as a future general counsel.

What You’ll Do:

• Technology Transactions & Commercial Contracts: Review, draft, and negotiate a broad range of contracts with an emphasis on technology-centric transactions, including:
  • Joint development and co-engineering agreements
  • Strategic technology collaborations
  • Technology licensing and IP cross-licensing
  • Supply, OEM, and manufacturing services agreements
  • SaaS and data use agreements
  • Non-disclosure agreements and material transfer agreements
  • Other commercial documents such as M&A agreements, real estate leases, letters of credit, and purchase orders, as needed
• Intellectual Property Strategy Integration: Partner closely with R&D, product & engineering, ops, business development, and the Director of Intellectual Property to structure transactions that align with our patent strategy and technical roadmap. Support cross-functional initiatives that protect and leverage IP in strategic partnerships and external collaborations.
• Secondary Support: While your focus will be on high-value technology and commercial transactions and IP strategy integration,  our legal team operates with versatility. You may be asked to contribute to adjacent domains such as:
  • Regulatory compliance (e.g., export controls, EHS)
  • Corporate governance and public disclosures
  • Risk management
  • Policy development and employee training
• Partner Engagement: Represent the company in interfacing and building relationships with our external stakeholders, including prospective and existing suppliers, customers, licensees and other partners, with occasional travel.
• Values and Culture: Embody company values and adopt best practices regarding use of company systems and processes, management and leadership, collaboration, and mentoring. Contribute to a positive culture based on continuous learning, professional growth, and development.

Qualifications & Skills:  We are looking for first-rate talent.

• At minimum, you will have a J.D. degree from a national law school, state bar membership in good standing, and at least 6 years of relevant experience at a premier law firm and additional years at a high-growth technology company.
• A technical background would be an asset. You are not expected to be a battery expert, but you will either have a STEM background and/or a demonstrated capability and willingness to ascend our technology learning curve.
• Occasional domestic and/or international travel may be required.

Qualities Required:

• Possesses a strong sense of mission and looking to help build something of consequence.
• Holds oneself to the highest levels of integrity, authenticity, accountability and humility. Values the humanity in all our colleagues, acts respectfully and with good intentions at all times, and considers and learns from the views of others.
• Demonstrates a bias towards action and results, is proactive and haves the strong ability to both operate independently and work collaboratively with various teams across the organization. Must have a “roll up your sleeves and let’s get the job done right” type attitude.
• Possess psychological flexibility and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adapt to evolving role in the context of larger organizational changes. Versatile and willing to work on matters outside the comfort zone of a traditional commercial transactions lawyer, and to pitch in on other areas.
• Carries a growth and collaborative mindset, willing to expand one’s domains of competence and knowledge (including battery science and technology), and willing to support one’s colleagues’ efforts to do the same.

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 $188,200 to $301,200, and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's experience and educational background. QuantumScape Battery Inc. 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.