Senior Laser Process Engineer / Scientist

Corning•Hickory, NC

8d•$119,542 - $164,370•Onsite

About The Position

Corning is seeking a Senior Laser Process Development Engineer/Scientist to drive early-stage development of advanced laser processes and optical solutions. You'll combine deep technical expertise with hands-on experimental execution — designing optical systems, building prototype stations, and translating laboratory innovations into scalable, manufacturing-ready capabilities. This role is well-suited for engineers and scientists with applied industry experience in laser processing or photonics, as well as candidates whose graduate research included direct, hands-on laboratory or process development work.

Requirements

Graduate degree (Master's or PhD) in Photonics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
5+ years of relevant experience in laser processing, optics, photonics, or related process development; graduate research with direct, hands-on laboratory work in these areas may be considered.
Working knowledge of laser theory, laser platforms, and light-material interaction.
Working knowledge of optical theory and light propagation, including optical system behavior and components.
Hands-on experimental experience, including building or operating lab setups, troubleshooting technical issues, and interpreting experimental data.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable engineering decisions.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including experience documenting experiments and presenting findings to technical audiences.

Nice To Haves

PhD in Photonics, Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
Experience with optical modeling software such as COMSOL, Zemax, or Python-based simulation platforms.
Proficiency with 3D Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools (SolidWorks, Creo, or similar) and statistical analysis platforms (Minitab, JMP, or advanced Excel).
Familiarity with controls, instrumentation, and basic programming for process automation.
Experience applying DOE, SPC, Six Sigma, or other structured process analysis methods to development or manufacturing challenges.
Background in one or more of: automation and process development, prototype or semi-automated station design, fiber optics and photonics applications, or translating research into scalable manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and optimize laser-based processes for potential deployment across Corning facilities worldwide, scaling early-stage concepts into manufacturing-ready capability.
Build, refine, and troubleshoot benchtop and semi-automated prototype stations; design optical systems using free-space optics, refractive, and reflective components to support laser process and light-material interaction studies.
Plan and execute structured experiments to establish process windows, characterize laser-material interactions, and apply analytical methods — including Design of Experiments (DOE), root cause analysis, and Statistical Process Control (SPC) — to solve complex technical challenges.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Applied Research and Development (R&D), Research, and engineering teams to translate laboratory work into scalable processes.
Document technical work and capture intellectual property through reports, process development guidelines, and patent submissions.