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 team: The Industrial Engineering team is a diverse group of engineers and program managers that are tasked with pilot production line design and operations. We engage many teams across multiple technical and non-technical disciples to build the most efficient production line possible. The team prides themselves on attention to detail, optimization analysis, technical understanding, and utilizing schedules and timelines to forecast future production capacity.

What we need: The IE team is seeking an experienced program manager who can lead cross-functional initiatives to design, develop, and deploy factory automation solutions for our solid state battery technology. This role bridges engineering, operations, and vendor teams to ensure seamless integration of automation systems that enable scalability, efficiency, and quality in production processes.

You will work closely with the Hardware, Automation & Metrology team to support automation projects across the company as manufacturing techniques are taken from proof of concept to fully automated and integrated equipment on the production floor. We are looking for someone who has proven experience managing critical programs, can adapt to a rapidly changing environment, and can help technical teams drive their projects to completion. If you like problem solving, building something from the ground up, and challenging the status quo, we’d like to hear from you.

What You’ll do:

• Program Leadership: Drive automation programs from concept through deployment, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and timelines.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Collaborate with hardware, software, metrology, and process teams to define requirements and deliver integrated solutions
• Technical Oversight: Oversee design reviews, equipment specifications, and validation processes for automated systems, including robotics, PLCs, and vision systems.
• Risk Management: Identify technical and schedule risks early; develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Vendor & Partner Management: Manage external machine integrators and suppliers from RFP/RFQ through FAT/SAT and handoff to manufacturing.
• Compliance & Safety: Ensure adherence to SEMI, NFPA, UL, and other relevant standards during design and commissioning.
• Reporting & Communication: Provide clear program updates to stakeholders and executive management

Skills You’ll Need:

• Excellent communication, organizational skills, attention to detail and accuracy
• Experience with highly technical projects on aggressive timelines
• 5+ years of experience in factory automation program or project management, preferably as an automation systems integrator.
• High level understanding of PLC/HMI programming, robotics integration, mechanical design, and Lean manufacturing principles
• Experience with SmartSheets or equivalent scheduling software
• Strong fundamentals with Microsoft Office, specifically Excel for analysis and PowerPoint for executive briefings
• 5+ year of industry experience with a B.A./B.S. required preferably in engineering, engineering management, or engineering operations (OR Master’s & 3+ years)

Nice to have:

• 1-2 years’ experience with ThinkCell
• Certified in PMP
• M.S. in engineering or engineering management is a plus

Physical requirements:

• Work is performed in a dry room, fume hood, lab area, or glovebox requiring the use of fine motor skills
• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time
• Reaching and twisting motions with hands
• Lifting up to 25 lbs.

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 $ 100,500 to $153,500, and a final salary will be determined by the candidate's 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.