Hardware Engineer, Battery Systems

QuantumScape is working to transform energy storage through solid-state lithium-metal battery technology designed for higher energy density, faster charging, and enhanced safety. The Hardware Engineer, Battery Systems will own the electrical design of the battery management system, including architecture, protection, monitoring, PCB design, verification, and regulatory safety compliance while collaborating with mechanical, firmware, marketing, and external design teams.

Responsibilities

• 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

Preferred

• 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)
• Data Center Power Products
• Energy Products
• PCBA Manufacturing
• High-Voltage Battery Design
• High-Current Design
• Scalable Modular Systems
• Hot-Swap Systems
• Application Engineering
• Power Electronic Circuits
• AC/DC Circuits
• DC/DC Circuits
• Inverter Circuits
• Customer-Facing Communication

Benefits

• Annual bonus
• Generous RSU/Equity package
• Employee paid health care
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Other benefits

Company

• Solid-state lithium-metal batteries for energy storage
• San Jose, California, USA
• http://www.quantumscape.com/
• Founded in 2010
• 501-1000 employees

Qualifications

• 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
• This position is required to work onsite 5 days per week to meet the minimum essential duties and requirements of this position
• 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
• 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)
• 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

Required skills

• Battery Management System (BMS) Design, Battery Pack Design, Li-Ion Battery Technology, Analog, Digital, and Power Circuit Design, PCB Design and Layout, Altium, Cadence, SPICE Circuit Simulation PSpice, SPICE Circuit Simulation LTspice, High-Voltage Battery Design, Design for Reliability DFMEA, Design for Reliability Design Margin Analysis, Design for Reliability HALT, Design Verification Testing (DVT), Battery Safety Standards UL 1973, Battery Safety Standards UL 9540A, Battery Safety Standards IEC 62619

Preferred skills

• 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 a customer facing application engineering role

Experience

• 5+ years