Patent Agent

About the team: You’ll be part of a fast-growing, collaborative legal team built on trust, teamwork, and a shared mission to protect and advance the technologies we believe in. In this role, you’ll work closely with colleagues across R&D, legal, and external partners to drive impactful results.

What we need:We’re looking for a Sr. Patent Agent who’s excited to play a hands-on role in protecting the innovations that make this possible. If you enjoy working closely with scientists and engineers, translating complex ideas into strong IP, and helping build a strategic patent portfolio, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do:

As a key part of the IP team, you’ll work at the intersection of science, technology, and law to support our growing portfolio of battery-related innovations.

• Partner with R&D and engineering teams to identify new inventions and capture them early in the development lifecycle
• Support collaborative projects by working with external partners to document and protect joint IP
• Lead inventor interviews, prepare invention disclosures, and provide IP training with a focus on patents and trade secrets
• Draft and prosecute U.S. and international patent applications
• Manage and guide outside counsel to ensure our filings reflect both technical accuracy and strategic goals
• Help shape our IP strategy through competitive landscape reviews and freedom-to-operate assessments
• Contribute to documentation practices that support clear inventorship, ownership, and long-term value creation

Skills You’ll Need:

We’re seeking someone with a strong technical background, a sharp eye for detail, and the ability to turn complex innovation into clear, defensible IP.

• Master’s degree in a scientific or engineering field (Ph.D. a plus)
• USPTO registration required
• At least 5 years of experience in patent prosecution, ideally with a mix of law firm and in-house roles
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Interest in working directly with inventors and staying close to science.

What You Bring:

• You enjoy being part of a collaborative, fast-paced environment where priorities can shift.
• You’re practical, thoughtful, and focused on delivering high-quality work.
• You can work independently but are always ready to jump in and support the team.
• You understand the bigger picture and how IP fits into it.

Onsite: This position is required to work onsite four 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 $152,700 to $232,900, 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.