Manufacturing Engineer - Coating
About The Position
The Coating Manufacturing Engineer provides hands-on process engineering support for optical thin-film coating operations. This role will provide directions to the operations team regarding execution of the operations plan. It will also focus on monitoring coating performance, evaluating run data and metrology results, troubleshooting process excursions, and updating recipes and setpoints to improve stability, yield, and cycle time for subsequent runs. The position partners with production technicians, maintenance, and weekday engineering to ensure safe, capable, and repeatable operations in a high-mix manufacturing environment. This role does not include direct supervision of employees.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline (Optical Science/Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related) or equivalent experience
- 1-3 years of experience in Process Engineering or Manufacturing Support
- Ability to evaluate run data and metrology results, draw valid conclusions, and implement controlled setpoint/recipe changes
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear shift/weekend handoff documentation
- Working knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma/DOE/SPC problem-solving methods
Nice To Haves
- Experience with optical thin-film coating or vacuum deposition processes
- Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, DOE, SPC problem-solving methods
- Knowledge of metrology tools (interferometers, spectrophotometers, ellipsometers, SEM, profilometers)
- Experience in high-mix manufacturing environments
- Experience creating/maintaining process documentation, control plans, and troubleshooting guides in a regulated or high-quality manufacturing environment
Responsibilities
- Assist with the execution of the weekend team plan including authoring a pass-down each day of activities accomplished in the department.
- Provide on-floor operational support for coating runs: monitor process performance, respond to alarms/out-of-standard conditions, and coordinate immediate containment actions.
- Review run logs, process trends, and metrology (e.g., spectral performance, thickness/uniformity, defect data) to determine root cause drivers and improvement opportunities.
- Update coating recipes, process setpoints, and operating windows for subsequent runs based on data analysis, engineering judgment, and established change-control practices.
- Troubleshoot process excursions outside standard parameters; lead structured problem-solving using statistical methods (DOE, SPC, hypothesis-driven investigations, DMAIC).
- Maintain and improve current metrology methods and data collection to monitor and improve manufacturing performance.
- Identify and implement process improvements to reduce cost and scrap and improve variation, cycle time, and complexity.
- Author/maintain process documentation (work instructions, control plans, troubleshooting guides) and provide technical training/coaching to production staff as needed.
- Partner with weekday engineering, development, and commercial teams to support new product introduction and capability expansion; ensure weekend learnings are handed off clearly.
- Support safe operations by following EHS requirements and reinforcing standard work, LOTO, and chemical handling practices.
Benefits
- Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives
- 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions
- Matching contributions to 401(k) savings plan
- Medical, dental, vision
- Paid parental leave
- Family building support
- Fitness
- Company-paid life insurance
- Disability
- Disease management programs
- Paid time off
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
