MTS, Operation Engineer

MTS, Operation Engineer

Quantum Scape 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.

The Manufacturing and Yield team is a hands-on group of engineers and technicians dedicated to ensuring smooth, consistent production operations. We work directly on the manufacturing floor—maintaining equipment uptime, improving yield, and resolving production issues as they arise. Our team values collaboration, operational discipline, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

We are seeking a motivated Operations Engineer who thrives in a fast-paced production environment. This is a floor-based role focused on keeping production equipment running reliably, identifying and resolving yield losses, and supporting day-to-day manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate is highly hands-on, data-driven, and effective at working directly with operators and technicians to maintain and improve line performance on our Generation 1 battery manufacturing line.

• Floor Operations & Equipment Support
• Serve as the primary on-floor engineering resource for assigned manufacturing tools and process stations on the Gen 1 battery manufacturing line.
• Work side-by-side with operators and technicians to ensure equipment is running within specification and production targets are met.
• Monitor tool performance in real time, respond promptly to alarms or abnormalities, and coordinate rapid containment actions to minimize production impact.
• Perform hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical and process-related equipment issues, escalating to appropriate teams when needed.
• Ensure all assigned equipment and workstations are maintained, calibrated, and documented in accordance with established schedules and requirements.
• Yield Improvement
• Analyze production data to identify yield loss patterns, quality trends, and recurring defects across cathode manufacturing processes.
• Use data tools (e.g., SPC charts, control plans, dashboards) to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and highlight areas for improvement.
• Develop and implement practical, floor-level engineering controls to address root causes of yield loss.
• Build and maintain monitoring tools and reports that help operators and engineers make timely, informed decisions.
• Troubleshooting & Problem Solving
• Lead structured root cause analyses (RCAs) for equipment and yield-related issues directly on the production floor.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) to resolution, tracking progress and verifying effectiveness.
• Identify potential failure modes in assigned tools and processes, and implement mitigation strategies to improve reliability.
• Maintain and update standard operating procedures (SOPs), troubleshooting guides, and work instructions for assigned manufacturing areas.
• Collaboration & Communication
• Collaborate closely with cross functional teams to sustain line performance and address production challenges.
• Present clear, concise findings and recommended actions to team leads and stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Support equipment qualification activities and process change implementations as directed by senior engineering staff.
• Maintain and update SOPs, work instructions, and troubleshooting guides for assigned production areas.
• Automation & Continuous Improvement
• Drive throughput and efficiency improvements across assigned production tools and processes.
• Develop automation tools and scripts to streamline data collection, monitoring, and routine engineering tasks.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort and improve the reliability and repeatability of production processes.

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, with 2+ years of hands-on manufacturing or production engineering experience; or a Master's degree and 1+ in a related field. Experience in a manufacturing or production environment, preferably in battery, semiconductor, or other…