Senior Engineer, Failure Analysis

QuantumScape Corporation•San Jose, CA

9d•$112,500 - $163,200•Onsite

About The Position

QuantumScape is developing solid-state lithium-metal batteries intended to provide greater energy density, faster charging, and enhanced safety. The Cell Development team connects failure and reliability data to specifications for materials, processes, and cells, linking upstream material, film, and process measurements to downstream cell performance and failure modes. The Senior Engineer, Failure Analysis will build analyses that connect these measurements and outcomes, then use the evidence to define specifications, acceptance criteria, and control limits. The role will support qualification and release decisions for new materials, process changes, and tools, helping advance solid-state battery technology from development to production. The position works closely with Failure Analysis, Process Development, Manufacturing Quality, and Reliability teams and communicates recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including leadership. This is an onsite role requiring work onsite five days per week. The expected salary range is $112,500 to $163,200, with final compensation determined by experience, educational background, and internal equity. Compensation also includes an annual bonus and RSU/equity package. QuantumScape offers a benefits plan that includes employee-paid health care and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).

Requirements

PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or an MS with at least 3 years of relevant industry experience.
At least 3 years applying data analysis to engineering, manufacturing, or reliability problems.
Strong grounding in statistics, including design of experiments, hypothesis testing, equivalence testing, regression, and reliability or survival analysis such as Weibull analysis.
Proficiency in Python or JMP and SQL for working with large, multi-source datasets.
Ability to turn ambiguous engineering questions into clear, testable analyses and defensible decisions.
Strong problem-solving ability and attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and across functions.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting recommendations to decision-makers.

Nice To Haves

Battery or other advanced-manufacturing experience.
Hands-on experience setting specifications, control limits, or acceptance criteria from data, such as SPC, process capability, or tolerance analysis.
Experience with failure analysis, reliability engineering, or qualification and change-control processes.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain analyses linking upstream material, film, and process metrics to cell performance, reliability, and failure outcomes.
Define and justify data-grounded specifications, acceptance criteria, and control limits for materials, intermediate products, and cells.
Design and analyze qualification experiments, including splits, controls, and matched comparisons, to determine whether process or material changes are equivalent to baseline.
Set statistically sound sample sizes, test durations, and pass/fail criteria for qualification and change-control decisions.
Develop statistical and machine learning models to predict failure rates, identify leading indicators of failure, and flag anomalies early.
Partner with Failure Analysis, Process Development, Manufacturing Quality, and Reliability teams to identify failure modes and root causes and translate findings into specification updates.
Maintain traceability between material or process variants and downstream results so specifications can be tightened, relaxed, or reverted as evidence develops.
Communicate findings and specification recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, including leadership.