MTS, Mechanical Design Engineer
About The Position
QuantumScape is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer, Member of Technical Staff (MTS), for its Hardware, Automation, and Metrology team. The team designs, develops, and deploys first-of-a-kind manufacturing equipment to support the scale-up of solid-state battery technology, partnering with cell design, process engineering, metrology, data automation, and operations. The engineer will own the mechanical design of custom automation equipment throughout its lifecycle, from concept and prototyping through detailed design, build, qualification, factory and site acceptance testing (FAT/SAT), and handoff to manufacturing. The role includes defining mechanical architecture and subsystem interfaces, managing design risks, and ensuring equipment is robust, manufacturable, serviceable, reliable, and safe. The engineer will work closely with systems, controls, electrical, process, manufacturing, and EHS partners, while contributing technical leadership, mentoring, and mechanical design standards. This position is onsite five days per week and may require approximately 5% domestic and 5% international travel.
Requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field and at least 1 year of experience, or a bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of progressively responsible mechanical engineering experience.
- Hands-on expertise in mechanism, hardware, and automation equipment design, including ownership of complex mechanical systems.
- Practical experience with component manufacturing methods, including machining, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and sheet metal fabrication.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Inventor, and CATIA, with the ability to produce production-ready models and assemblies.
- Strong working knowledge of ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards and their application to detailed mechanical drawings.
- Ability to apply strength of materials, machine design theory, and physics-based reasoning to estimate loads, assess factors of safety, select materials, and size mechanical components for reliability and scalability.
- Ability to exercise independent technical judgment, solve complex and ambiguous mechanical problems, and influence design best practices across teams.
- Ability to collaborate across mechanical systems, controls, electrical, process, manufacturing, and EHS disciplines with minimal supervision.
- Willingness to support limited travel, approximately 5% domestic and 5% international, for supplier engagement, build reviews, and equipment qualification.
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of working in a dry room, fume hood, lab area, or glovebox; using fine motor skills; sitting or standing for extended periods; reaching and twisting with the hands; and lifting up to 25 pounds.
- Availability to work onsite five days per week.
Nice To Haves
- Experience designing manufacturing systems for solid-state batteries, lithium-ion batteries, or fuel cells.
- Certification in GD&T standards.
- Certification in 3D CAD tools.
Responsibilities
- Lead mechanical design and development of critical, first-of-a-kind automation and process equipment supporting QuantumScape’s next-generation energy storage technology.
- Own mechanical design from concept definition through detailed design, build, qualification, and handoff to manufacturing.
- Make technical decisions, mitigate design risks, and ensure design readiness.
- Conduct hands-on mechanical design, prototyping, and validation to identify robust, scalable solutions suitable for volume production.
- Define mechanical architecture, subsystem interfaces, and design approaches incorporating design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA), reliability, maintainability, and safety.
- Collaborate with systems, controls, electrical, process, manufacturing, and EHS teams across specifications, design reviews, prototyping, assembly, testing, FAT/SAT, and continuous improvement.
- Mentor engineers, influence best practices, and help shape mechanical design standards across HAM.
Benefits
- Annual bonus.
- RSU/equity package.
- Employee-paid health care.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- Other benefits.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
