Hardware Engineer, Battery Systems

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 role: As a hardware engineer, you own the electrical design of the battery management system. From AFE architecture to temperature monitoring, to selecting fuses and FETs for protection, you ensure the battery pack can work reliably under all conditions without compromising safety.

Why this role matters: As the hardware engineer for battery systems, you are responsible for all design aspects of the battery management system. You will collaborate closely with the mechanical engineering team to create state-of-the-art designs with high power and energy density, while meeting all regulatory safety requirements. You will also work with the firmware team closely to ensure all functions are implemented properly and validated thoroughly.

What you'll do:

Design BMS system with pack voltages up to 600V and power >20kW

Create schematics and design PCB for the BMS

Define connection for voltage sensing, balancing and temperature monitoring

Select protection devices based on worst case operating conditions

Collaborate with mechanical engineers to design heat sinks and wiring harnesses

Implement inrush current limiting features

Ensure hardware redundancy on critical protection functions

Closely work with marketing team to generate detailed engineering specifications

Perform design margin analysis and DFMEA

Specify design verification tests to ensure functional performance and regulatory compliance of the battery pack

Support UL 1973 and UL 9540A safety certification activities

Work with external design teams to ensure the battery pack integrates well in its application

What you bring:

a relevant Bachelor’s degree and 9+ years’ experience or a relevant Master’s degree and 8+ years’ experience or relevant Ph.D. and 5+ years’ experience

5+ years in battery pack or BMS design with at least two products through prototype validation or production

Familiar with schematic and PCB design tools like Altium or Cadence

In depth understanding of Li-Ion battery technology and protections

Expertise in designing analog, digital and generic power circuits, especially on low power design for battery applications

Familiar with simulation tools such as PSPICE, LTSpice, Simulink and PSIM

Good PCB layout knowledge including high-speed design, thermal design, design for manufacturing and EMI mitigation techniques.

Understand component management and BOM structures, capable of identifying agency critical components and verifying safety specifications

Experienced in designing, bringing up, testing and troubleshooting brand new platforms

Analysis of circuit components, including their thermal and magnetic properties

Good understanding of grounding, isolation, creepage/clearance and hi-pot testing

Capable of creating thorough DVT plans to validate product specifications

Design for reliability using tools such as design margin analysis, DFMEA and HALT

Experience with battery safety standards, such as UL1973, UL9540A and IEC62619

Comfortable of collaborating with mechanical, firmware and marketing teams.

Good at generating engineering documentation such as specifications, block diagrams, design review presentations, assembly drawings, and test reports

Nice to have:

Previous experience in Data center power and energy products (CBU/BBU/EBM, etc)

Hands-on PCB layout experience

Direct experience supporting PCBA manufacturing

High-voltage battery pack design up to 800V+

High-current design of >100A

Experience in scalable modular systems with hot-swap capabilities

Experience in a customer facing application engineering role

Knowledge of power electronic circuits (AC/DC, DC/DC, Inverter, etc)

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 $136,700 to $208,500, and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's experience, educational background and internal equity. 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.