Glass Technology Leader

Corning•Harrodsburg, KY

11d•$106,400 - $146,300•Onsite

About The Position

The Glass Technology Leader provides technical and organizational leadership for glass compositional control, raw material support, and glass technology process improvements. This role leads glass technology activities to ensure accurate, reliable measurements and robust glass quality performance while supporting manufacturing, process development, and continuous improvement initiatives. The Glass Technology Leader partners closely with Quality, Supply Chain, Mixing, Melting, Forming, and Operations to solve operational issues, support process and material changes, develop team capability, and drive results through data-based decision making. This role also provides leadership for measurements, procedure development, equipment reliability, and the implementation of new technologies and methods.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Materials Science, or another applicable engineering/scientific field.
2 years + of experience in manufacturing or lab environment
Experience in a glass, ceramic, chemistry lab, manufacturing, or related technical environment.
Experience applying engineering and scientific principles to solve manufacturing or process-related problems.
Experience analyzing data, identifying trends, and implementing actions based on findings.
Experience supporting or leading cross-functional technical projects.
Experience providing technical guidance, training, or informal leadership to others.
Solid analytical and problem-solving skills.
Strong methodical, data-based decision-making capability with the ability to proactively identify and solve problems.
Understanding basic statistical and data analysis concepts and their application in manufacturing.
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to troubleshoot technical and equipment-related issues in a manufacturing setting.
Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a rapidly changing environment.
Ability to work effectively across functions and with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Experience in glass technology, raw materials, compositional control, or manufacturing process support.
Experience with laboratory and measurement equipment such as XRF, ICP, IOX, FTIR, or similar systems.
Experience with measurement systems analysis, gauge capability, and calibration systems.
Demonstrated leadership experience supervising or leading engineers and technicians.
Demonstrated project management skills, including rigorous application of documented procedures and management of schedule, budget, and scope.
Experience with Six Sigma DMAIC, KT problem solving, risk assessment, and structured continuous improvement tools.
Technical curiosity and a strong drive to learn and improve systems.
Environmental hazard awareness and safe work practices.
Experience working with outside suppliers and contractors.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Open, engaging, and able to interface effectively with others at all levels of the organization.
Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to accept and lead change.
Ability to work effectively in a multicultural work environment.
Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills.
Ability to influence without direct authority and lead through expertise and credibility.

Responsibilities

Lead glass technology activities supporting ongoing glass measurements, compositional control, and equipment accuracy and reliability.
Provide leadership and direction for engineers and technicians supporting glass technology.
Execute and continuously improve measurement plans for offline and online glass evaluations.
Evaluate trends in glass and measurement data, investigate root causes, and develop corrective and preventive action plans.
Use engineering principles, scientific methods, and data analysis to solve operational issues related to glass technology, raw materials, and glass composition.
Support and lead experiments involving raw materials, glass compositions, and process changes.
Collaborate with internal customers including Quality, Supply Chain, Mixing, Melting, Forming, and Operations to support production needs, developments, and process improvements.
Lead the glass technology process for compositional developments and material-related changes.
Drive the use of structured problem-solving and improvement tools including KT, risk assessment, DMAIC, innovation, and other appropriate methodologies.
Track, analyze, and report critical quality, measurement, and capability metrics.
Complete and maintain measurement system analyses for key quality gauges and measurement systems, identifying and acting on improvement opportunities.
Identify, troubleshoot, and correct equipment and gauge issues impacting measurement accuracy, reliability, and process performance.
Oversee preventive maintenance, calibration follow-up, and reliability activities for glass technology related equipment.
Develop integration and receivership plans for new gauges, methods, and glass technology requirements.
Onboard, validate, and implement new procedures, test methods, and gauges through project execution and SOP development.
Provide guidance and training to engineers, technicians, and operations personnel on proper testing, measurement methods, and data interpretation.
Support 24/7 manufacturing by ensuring measurement systems, methods, and team capability meet plant needs.
Coordinate with internal and external engineering resources, suppliers, and contractors to deliver technical solutions and equipment performance improvements.
Manage or influence capital planning and resource prioritization for glass technology.
Support plant weekend team rotations and provide occasional off-hours support for developments, troubleshooting, and cross-plant collaboration.
Lead and develop technical talent within the glass technology function.
Establish clear priorities and accountability for safety, quality, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
Coach and mentor team members in problem solving, statistical thinking, disciplined execution, and technical rigor.
Build strong cross-functional partnerships to align glass technology efforts with manufacturing and business priorities.
Promote a culture of technical curiosity, ownership, standardization, and proactive issue resolution.
Ensure documented procedures are followed and improved as needed to sustain reliable and repeatable outcomes.
Drive project execution with attention to scope, timing, risk, and implementation discipline.
Support change management and help teams adapt effectively in a rapidly changing manufacturing environment.