Fabrication Manufacturing Engineer

Coherent Corp.•Mount Olive, NJ

About The Position

Join a team pushing the limits of precision manufacturing. As a Fabrication Manufacturing Engineer, you’ll play a critical role in developing and scaling advanced polishing and finishing processes for high-performance crystals and exotic optical substrates. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where deep technical expertise meets real-world production challenges. Core Responsibilities Process Innovation & Development Lead the development, optimization, and transfer of advanced polishing and finishing processes for NLO crystal and exotic materials including oxides, fluorides, Ge, Si, and sapphire. Drive process capability, yield improvement, and manufacturability from prototype through production. Advanced Optical Fabrication Execute and oversee high-precision fabrication operations such as CNC generating, deterministic corrective finishing, and manual pitch or pad polishing. Work with complex optical geometries including aspheres and freeform surfaces. Metrology & Quality Assurance Ensure world-class optical quality using interferometry (flats and spheres), X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal orientation, and spectrophotometry. Translate metrology data into actionable process improvements. Production & Troubleshooting Support Partner with the production floor to troubleshoot equipment and process issues using structured root cause failure analysis (RCFA). Implement robust technical solutions that improve yield, repeatability, and throughput. Tooling & Fixture Design Design or support custom fixtures and tooling to enable fabrication of delicate, unconventional, or challenging crystal geometries. Continuous Improvement & Automation Champion continuous improvement initiatives, including automation, robotics, and advanced process controls to scale manufacturing excellence.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field required.
Demonstrated experience handling and processing crystals, including crystal orientation (e.g., C-axis sapphire).
Strong understanding of how crystal properties influence optical and mechanical performance.
7+ years in an optics manufacturing or production environment.
Hands-on experience with CNC machining, diamond turning, and double-sided polishing.
Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD.
Experience using data analysis tools like MATLAB or Python to drive process decisions.
Strong command of Design of Experiments (DOE) and Statistical Process Control (SPC).
Comfortable maintaining, improving, and debugging fabrication equipment.
Ability to mentor technicians, collaborate cross-functionally, and clearly communicate technical risks and tradeoffs to leadership or external partners.
All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.: Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Nice To Haves

Master’s or PhD preferred for highly specialized crystal or optical roles.

Responsibilities

Lead the development, optimization, and transfer of advanced polishing and finishing processes for NLO crystal and exotic materials including oxides, fluorides, Ge, Si, and sapphire.
Drive process capability, yield improvement, and manufacturability from prototype through production.
Execute and oversee high-precision fabrication operations such as CNC generating, deterministic corrective finishing, and manual pitch or pad polishing.
Work with complex optical geometries including aspheres and freeform surfaces.
Ensure world-class optical quality using interferometry (flats and spheres), X-ray diffraction (XRD) for crystal orientation, and spectrophotometry.
Translate metrology data into actionable process improvements.
Partner with the production floor to troubleshoot equipment and process issues using structured root cause failure analysis (RCFA).
Implement robust technical solutions that improve yield, repeatability, and throughput.
Design or support custom fixtures and tooling to enable fabrication of delicate, unconventional, or challenging crystal geometries.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives, including automation, robotics, and advanced process controls to scale manufacturing excellence.