Sr Engineer, Thin Film Coatings

Apogee Enterprises, Inc.•Faribault, MN

4d•$100,000 - $115,000

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Thin Film Coatings Engineer to support the development and continuous improvement of our coated products. This person will lead efforts in Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and in Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) for developing and optimizing thin-film coatings on glass, acrylic, and other polymeric substrates.

Requirements

B.S. degree in Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related field required.
5+ years of experience in PVD &/or PECVD coatings research and development for glass, acrylic and other polymer products.
Hands-on experience in vacuum deposition, sputtering, or thin film process development, especially PVD or PE-CVD processes.
Strong working knowledge of: Vacuum system components (pumps, gauges, valves) Process gases and pressure control Substrate cleaning and surface preparation
Proficiency in data analysis, DOE (Design of Experiments), and process optimization.
Experience with optical, mechanical, or chemical characterization techniques (e.g., UV-Vis, ellipsometry, XRD, XPS, SEM, profilometry).
Understanding of scaling R&D processes to production environments.
Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to innovate, file patents, and contribute to new product development.
Experience in new product introduction and project management preferred
Understanding of surface pretreatment techniques (O₂ plasma, corona, UV-ozone) to enhance adhesion on polymer or glass substrates.
Familiarity with coating processes for polymer substrates (e.g., adhesion layers, temperature control).
Preferred experience developing multi-layer optical coatings (Anti-Reflective, mirror, protective, conductive, etc.).
Preferred familiarity with adhesion-promoting interlayers and stack integration (e.g., SiO₂/SiNₓ, SiNₓ/ITO).

Nice To Haves

M.S. or Ph.D.

Responsibilities

Lead projects through new product introduction (NPI) processes including prototyping, testing, and production validation.
Work with suppliers and customers to ensure component compatibility and quality standards.
Design, develop, and optimize PVD and PECVD vacuum deposition and sputtering processes for coatings on various substrates (glass, acrylic, polycarbonate).
Integrate PECVD/PVD layers with multilayer stacks (e.g., AR coatings, barrier stacks, TCOs) for optical, mechanical, or barrier performance.
Conduct process stability studies to improve reproducibility and film uniformity across large-area substrates.
Conduct thin film characterization (optical, mechanical, structural) and interpret data to drive continuous improvement.
Develop and refine layer stacks, deposition parameters, and process recipes to meet optical and durability specifications.
Perform troubleshooting and root cause analysis for coating non-uniformities, adhesion issues, and equipment performance.
Maintain and improve vacuum deposition equipment; assist with preventive maintenance and calibration of tools.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams in materials science, process engineering, and product design to transition R&D processes into production.
Prepare detailed technical documentation, experimental reports, and contribute to intellectual property filings.
Support scale-up and pilot line testing of new coating technologies.

Benefits

Competitive Benefits Package for employees and their dependents (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability)
Incentive Plans
401(k) with employer contribution and match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with employer match
Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time)
Paid Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Wellness Program
Training and Career Progression