Staff Engineer, Cell Process Development at QuantumScape

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. About the team: The Manufacturing and Yield team is a hands-on group of process and manufacturing engineers dedicated to ensuring stable, high-quality Gen 1 battery cell production. We work at the intersection of process control and manufacturing execution — maintaining process stability, driving yield improvement, and resolving excursions across both the FSD and Development production lines. Our team values technical rigor, cross-functional collaboration, and a continuous improvement mindset. What we need: We are seeking a highly experienced Staff Engineer, Cell Process Development level to own critical manufacturing processes on the Gen 1 battery line. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in precision process engineering, excels at leading complex process investigations, and operates with a high degree of independence to drive process stability, control, and continuous improvement across both the FSD and Development production lines. What You’ll Do: Process Ownership & Control Own assigned manufacturing processes on the Gen 1 battery line, covering both FSD and Development line operations. Define, maintain, and optimize process recipes, control plans, and process specifications to ensure stability and repeatability. Establish and maintain process monitoring strategies — including control limits, SPC charts, and response protocols for out-of-control conditions. Lead process qualification and requalification activities following equipment maintenance, upgrades, or process changes. Yield Improvement & Process Optimization Identify yield loss mechanisms and lead root cause analysis using structured methodologies (e.g., 8D, fishbone, 5-Why). Design and execute DOEs to optimize process parameters, improve process margins, and reduce variability. Analyze production and metrology data to develop process insights and implement data-driven improvements. Partner with Quality and Metrology teams to define and maintain CTQ metrics and measurement systems for process-critical attributes. Process Troubleshooting & Equipment Collaboration Diagnose and resolve complex process and equipment interactions, minimizing yield impact and production downtime. Develop and maintain process-level troubleshooting guides and response procedures for production excursions. Collaborate with equipment engineers and technicians to ensure process requirements are reflected in maintenance and PM strategies. Maintain and update SOPs, process specifications, and engineering documentation for all assigned process areas. Cross-Functional Leadership & Process Transfer Work closely with Manufacturing, Metrology, Quality, and Operations teams to ensure process requirements are understood and met across functions. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers on process fundamentals, control strategy, and best practices. Represent assigned processes in engineering reviews, CRB submissions, and cross-functional technical discussions. Support process transfer activities to higher-volume production lines, ensuring process knowledge and control strategies are effectively scaled. Skills You’ll Need: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field, with 8+ years of process engineering experience in a manufacturing environment; or Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience. Demonstrated expertise in precision process engineering in a production or high-precision manufacturing environment, preferably in battery, semiconductor, or related industries. Hands-on experience developing, optimizing, and controlling automated manufacturing processes. Strong proficiency in st