NPI Engineer

Coherent Corp.•Mount Olive, NJ

5d•$84,000 - $120,000

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading the introduction of new crystal components, optical elements, and photonic subassemblies from concept through production release. The primary focus is on supporting external customer programs and accelerating time-to-market. The engineer will serve as the main technical liaison between customers, engineering, and manufacturing teams during the product qualification and commercialization process. Collaboration with global design engineers is key to ensure a smooth transition of new products into manufacturing. The position involves evaluating prototype requests for technical feasibility, manufacturability, and scalability, including material selection, phase-matching requirements, manufacturing tolerances, inspection methods, and test strategies. A deep understanding of customer applications, including various laser platforms and photonic systems, is necessary to identify and mitigate technical risks early. The role also includes generating and maintaining product documentation, coordinating cross-functional activities, and ensuring products meet all customer specifications and quality requirements before production release. The engineer will lead phase-gate reviews, drive lifecycle management, and proactively address risks. Additionally, the role involves developing and maintaining project metrics, reporting systems, and NPI dashboards to monitor program status, identify bottlenecks, and drive continuous improvement through process optimization and implementation of best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline required.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience with a Bachelor's degree; 3 years of relevant experience with a Master's degree; or a Ph.D. in a related field. Equivalent combinations of education and directly applicable work experience will also be considered.
Experience in photonics, laser systems, nonlinear optics, optical materials, and light-matter interactions.
Experience with laser systems, optical components and assemblies, project management, and delivery of technical presentations to customers and cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and execute multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Experience and/or strong interest in customer-facing engineering support, including managing customer requests and technical inquiries.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive projects to successful completion.
Ability to build strong working relationships with customers, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
Strong customer focus with the ability to understand customer needs and deliver responsive technical solutions.
Proven ability to influence stakeholders and drive alignment across organizational boundaries.
Effective project planning, prioritization, and organizational skills in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to manage multiple competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills with a proactive approach to risk identification and mitigation.
Ability to make sound technical and business decisions with limited supervision.
Demonstrated ownership and accountability for project outcomes and customer satisfaction.
Ability to mentor, coach, and share knowledge with peers and less experienced team members.
Adaptability and resilience in managing changing priorities, customer requirements, and business needs.
Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on process optimization and operational excellence.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, resolve conflicts, and foster teamwork.
Results-oriented approach with a demonstrated ability to drive execution and achieve business objectives.
Ability to lead technical reviews, facilitate discussions, and gain consensus among stakeholders.
High level of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to quality.

Nice To Haves

Experience with CAD software, including SolidWorks, is a plus.

Responsibilities

Leading the introduction of new crystal components, optical elements, and photonic subassemblies from concept through production release, with a strong focus on supporting external customer programs and accelerating time-to-market.
Serving as the primary technical interface between customers, engineering, and manufacturing teams throughout the product qualification and commercialization process.
Collaborating closely with design engineers across global Coherent locations to ensure successful transition of new products into manufacturing.
Evaluating prototype requests for technical feasibility, manufacturability, and scalability, including assessment of material selection, phase-matching requirements, manufacturing tolerances, inspection methods, and test strategies.
Developing a deep understanding of customer applications to identify technical risks early and implement effective mitigation plans.
Generating and maintaining product documentation, including technical drawings, manufacturing instructions, specifications, qualification reports, and engineering change documentation.
Coordinating cross-functional activities among planning, R&D, quality, supply chain, and manufacturing teams to optimize product introduction schedules and ensure successful execution of customer programs.
Ensuring products meet all customer specifications, quality requirements, and manufacturing readiness criteria prior to production release.
Leading phase-gate reviews and driving lifecycle management activities, proactively addressing design, process, supply chain, and quality risks throughout the product lifecycle.
Developing and maintaining project metrics, reporting systems, and NPI dashboards to monitor program status, identify bottlenecks, and drive continuous improvement.
Implementing processes, tools, and best practices that improve efficiency, product quality, and time-to-market for new product introductions.