Forming Process Engineering Supervisor

Corning•Christiansburg, VA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible. At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. This position will deliver improved manufacturing performance through improved execution, maintenance and operational ownership in various areas of the plant. Support daily operations in process troubleshooting and problem-solving manufacturing process issues, driving continuous improvement and cost reduction to achieve plant requirements for safety, quality, delivery, selects, uptime, throughput, and cost. Apply technical knowledge and practices to effectively solve difficult technical, operational and engineering related problems.

Requirements

BS in Ceramic, Chemical, Materials, or Mechanical engineering
3-5 years of hands-on experience in engineering or manufacturing
1+ years leading through others (e.g., project/team lead, shift/team leadership, or cross-functional initiative leadership)
Demonstrated project leadership experience (leading cross-functional teams, setting scope/schedule, managing risks, and driving accountable execution)
Strong ability to lead in a matrix environment—aligning stakeholders, clarifying roles, and driving decisions while partnering effectively across functions
Results-oriented leader who sets direction and priorities, removes barriers, and delivers outcomes in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
Strong technical curiosity and learning agility; translates technical understanding into clear direction, standards, and capability building for others
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills; proficient in quality and continuous improvement tools (e.g., Kepner-Tregoe, Performance Excellence, Project Management tools) and able to facilitate structured problem solving with teams
Ability to manage multiple priorities across a 24/7 operation; strong organizational, planning, and follow-through skills
Track record of driving measurable improvements through others (small-to-medium projects, production support, and sustainment of gains)
Effective written and verbal communication across all levels; able to influence, present recommendations, and gain alignment
Experience leading technical work with operators/technicians and partnering with maintenance and engineering to improve execution and reliability
Strong working knowledge of standard business and engineering software tools (MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, statistical analysis tools, MS Project or other scheduling tools)
Constructive conflict management—builds alignment, seeks win-win solutions, and resolves issues at the right level with appropriate escalation when needed
Performs effectively under stressful/emergency situations; maintains composure and leads coordinated response and recovery
Verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and multitasking will be significant skills for success.
Looking for a positive teammate who is customer-focused, open, and approachable to effectively collaborate in teams in a multi-cultural environment and across all levels of the organization.
Strong verbal and written communication skills?
Self-starter with the technical curiosity to learn and bring new ideas?
Flexibility and dedication to succeed support a positive can-do attitude?

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated results delivering technical and operational improvements in manufacturing through coaching, standard work, and change management
Experience with ceramic manufacturing and understanding of process management systems, process control, and discipline techniques
Advanced data analysis capability (Excel, Access, Minitab or JMP) to enable teams to make data-driven decisions
Prior experience developing others (mentoring, onboarding, training content, or informal leadership roles)
Shift supervisory or team-lead experience in a production environment
Proven ability to manage and deliver on multiple priorities while maintaining stakeholder alignment and visibility
Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of technical backgrounds and experience levels
Strong interpersonal skills—engaging, enabling, open; builds trust and accountability

Responsibilities

Leads daily cross-functional problem-solving with production, maintenance, and engineering; ensures timely containment, root cause identification, and sustainable corrective actions
Sets priorities and coordinates resources to resolve process/equipment issues impacting safety, quality, delivery, uptime, throughput, and cost
Provides operational ownership for assigned areas by establishing standard work, visual management, and escalation paths to drive stable execution
Coaches operators, team leaders, and peers in Lean, 5S, and safety practices; reinforces adherence to standards and verifies effectiveness in the field
Develops and communicates project charters, timelines, and cost estimates for process improvements; aligns stakeholders and drives execution to meet manufacturing objectives
Facilitates data-driven technical understanding of key process steps and ensures learnings are documented, shared, and incorporated into procedures and training
Leads or sponsors focused projects and change management activities (process/equipment changes, trial runs, equipment/tooling redesign, raw material/batch/component changes), including risk assessment and implementation readiness
Ensures material, process, and equipment changes are reviewed, documented, and controlled; tracks results and drives follow-up actions to sustain gains
Partners with operations leadership to develop and implement training and development plans for operators and engineers; mentors others to build capability and improve performance