Director, Data Center Storage Energy System Engineering

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.

What we need: We are looking for a rare individual - a seasoned engineering leader who combines deep data center power expertise with intellectual restlessness to help reinvent how energy is stored and delivered at scale. As Head of Storage Energy System Engineering, you will lead the technical strategy and engineering execution for applying QuantumScapes solid-state battery platform to data center energy systems. This is a ground-floor leadership role with direct impact on one of the most important infrastructure challenges of the next decade.

This is not a role for someone who wants to run a playbook. Its a role for someone who wants to write one.

What Youll Do:

Reimagine Data Center Energy Architecture

• Define the technical roadmap for integrating solid-state battery storage into data center power systems, from rack-level UPS replacement to building-scale energy buffering and behind-the-meter storage.
• Challenge conventional assumptions about VRLA/Li-ion UPS designs, backup power topologies, and peak shaving architectures - and propose whats possible when the battery chemistry fundamentally changes.
• Lead architecture studies and feasibility assessments for deploying QuantumScape technology in hyperscale, colocation, and edge data center environments.
• Bridge the gap between QuantumScapes cell-level innovations (energy density >844 Wh/L, rapid charge capability) and the system-level requirements of large-scale power infrastructure.

Own the Technical Vision for Power Architecture

• Serve as the organizations foremost authority on data center power architecture - legacy and emerging:
• Legacy systems: AC/DC distribution, 480V/208V power chains, traditional UPS topologies (online double-conversion, delta conversion), VRLA/Li-ion battery systems, N+1 and 2N redundancy models, generator backup integration.
• Emerging systems: 48V DC rack power, Open Rack V3, high-density AI/GPU pod power delivery, direct liquid cooling (DLC) power integration, rack-level power controllers, software-defined power, and AI-driven energy management.
• Develop reference architectures and system integration specifications for QuantumScape battery-based energy storage solutions within data center environments.
• Drive power efficiency and sustainability impact - enabling customers to reduce PUE, meet carbon goals, and manage renewable intermittency with high-density stationary storage.

Lead Standards & Industry Engagement

• Represent QuantumScape in key industry standards and open hardware bodies, with priority focus on:
• Open Compute Project (OCP) - contribute to and lead working groups on power architecture, rack energy systems, and stationary storage integration.
• ASHRAE, IEEE, UL, and NFPA standards bodies relevant to data center power and battery safety.
• SNIA, JEDEC, and emerging data center energy consortia.
• Build QuantumScapes reputation as a thought leader in next-generation data center energy - through white papers, keynotes, and industry convenings.
• Identify and influence pre-competitive standardization opportunities that accelerate solid-state battery adoption in infrastructure.

Build Strategic Technical Partnerships

• Support the business team to identify, qualify, and develop deep technical partnerships with key ecosystem players: hyperscale operators, colocation providers, ODMs, power electronics vendors, inverter/UPS manufacturers, and system integrators.
• Co-develop joint reference architectures and go-to-market technical solutions with strategic partners.
• Serve as the senior technical interface for customer engagement - translating customer power and reliability requirements into QuantumScape product development inputs.

Lead & Grow the Team

• Build, mentor, and scale a world-class team of systems engineers, power electronics engineers, integration architects, software, and application engineers focused on data center energy storage.
• Establish an engineering culture defined by first-principles thinking, intellectual curiosity, rigorous execution, and a shared belief that the best solutions havent been invented yet.
• Define hiring plans, career ladders, and development frameworks; attract top talent from the power systems, data center infrastructure, and advanced battery sectors.

Own Budget & Program Execution

• Own the engineering budget for the Data Center Energy Systems group - headcount, lab infrastructure, partner development, and program investments.
• Develop annual and multi-year budget forecasts; report actuals vs. plan to BU leadership and executive team.
• Drive program discipline: milestone definition, risk management, and on-time delivery of customer commitments and product development gates.

Who You Are: You dont just keep up with the state of the art - youre dissatisfied with it. Youve spent your career solving hard infrastructure problems, and youre energized (not intimidated) by the scale of what data centers will need to handle in the coming decade. You bring:

Skills You'll need:

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
• 20+ years of experience in data center infrastructure engineering, power systems, energy storage, or related fields.
• Expert-level knowledge of data center power architecture - spanning both legacy (UPS systems, PDU design, generator backup, traditional battery technologies) and emerging (Open Rack, 48V DC, AI cluster power density, software-defined power infrastructure).
• Familiarity with stationary energy storage systems - including Li-ion and emerging chemistries - as applied to backup power, peak shaving, demand response, or grid edge applications.
• Demonstrated track record of leading and scaling engineering teams (25+ engineers), including hiring, performance management, and organizational design.
• Budget ownership experience - cost center management, multi-year forecasting, and cross-functional resource allocation.
• Hands-on experience with industry standards participation (OCP, IEEE, ASHRAE, UL, or similar) - as an active contributor or working group leader, not merely a passive observer.
• Experience building and managing strategic technical partnerships with vendors, ODMs, or infrastructure operators.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills - ability to translate deep technical insight into compelling narratives for C-suite, customers, and investors.

Nice to have:

• Masters degree or Ph.D. preferred, particularly in power electronics, electrochemical systems, or energy engineering.
• Direct experience with solid-state, lithium-metal, or other advanced battery chemistries in system-level applications.
• Background in AI/ML/HPC infrastructure power and energy management (GPU clusters, high-density compute pods, LLM training infrastructure).
• Experience with renewable energy integration into data center microgrids - solar, wind buffering, demand response programs.
• Familiarity with safety standards for large-format battery systems in commercial/industrial environments (NFPA 855, UL 9540, IEC 62619).
• Experience at or with hyperscale operators (cloud providers, colocation companies) as a customer, vendor, or partner.
• Prior experience at a hardware startup or deep-tech company bringing new technology from R&D to commercial deployment.
• Published work, patents, or recognized industry contributions in power systems or energy storage.

The Mindset Were Looking For:

• First-principles thinker: You question received wisdom and are willing to start from scratch when the problem demands it.
• Big problem energy: Youre drawn to challenges where the stakes are real and the solution space is genuinely open.
• Collaborative by nature: You build bridges across teams, companies, and standards bodies - not walls.
• Bias toward action: You move fast, learn from experiments, and dont let perfect be the enemy of shipped.
• Curiosity without ego: You learn from customers, partners, and your own team as readily as you teach.

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 $212,700 to $297,803 and a final salary will be determined by the candidates experience and educational background. 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.