Lead Optical Coating Engineer

IPG Photonics•Marlborough, MA

About The Position

The Senior Optical Coating Engineer will lead development of new optical products and introduce critical processes at IPG Photonics’ optical coating facility, while providing expert-level support to resolve critical issues. The role requires deep expertise in thin-film optical coatings and vacuum coating equipment and technologies, including hands-on operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of optical coating systems. The engineer will develop and implement optical coatings and design and evaluate thin-film coatings across VUV, DUV, UV, visible, and near-infrared spectral ranges. The position collaborates with key decision-makers and cross-functional groups to coordinate efforts and advance technology, while overseeing established production processes and supporting future development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering, preferably with a concentration in Thin Films, Optics, or a related field.
Strong knowledge and hands-on experience with Electron Beam, Ion Beam Sputtering, and Ion-Assisted optical thin-film deposition technologies, along with a broad understanding of vacuum equipment operation.
Strong knowledge of thin-film theory, modeling software, and optical coating design concepts.
Strong knowledge of optical and coating materials, with experience in cleanroom operations, optics handling, cleaning, and contamination control, including UV applications.
Extensive experience in optical coating design and development of processes for laser optics.
Experience with deep UV and vacuum UV coatings.
Strong knowledge and experience in optical thin-film metrology.
Proven ability to manage multiple technical assignments and effectively organize and prioritize workloads.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across company projects and cross-functional teams.
Hands-on experience operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting optical coating systems.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of direct industry experience in optical coating.

Responsibilities

Contribute to and support the company’s optical coating development program.
Identify and address critical technical issues that impact program success, evaluate future concepts, and implement solutions aligned with company objectives.
Provide technical input into technology choices and support the development of efficient optical coating operations.
Evaluate development progress to help ensure new products meet program goals and support continuous improvement.
Develop and implement coating designs, workflow controls, and production protocols.
Monitor and report development process metrics and SPC data and support database traceability.
Communicate development progress through reports and presentations to internal and external stakeholders, including R&D activities, technical challenges, and upcoming priorities.
Demonstrate accountability for assigned technical activities and contribute to the overall success of the group.
Oversee established production processes and facilitate future development.