Subject Matter Expert (Manufacturing Engineer) - Optics Polishing
About The Position
Coherent Corp. is seeking an experienced Crystal Optics Fabrication, Polishing, and Automation Subject Matter Expert for its Budd Lake, New Jersey location. The role provides technical leadership and subject matter expertise in fabricating and precision polishing optical crystals used in laser systems, optical isolators, modulators, and other photonic products. The position focuses on improving manufacturing processes and implementing automation, including robotics, for optical manufacturing in an adaptive, fast-paced environment with changing priorities and business needs. The position is based 100% onsite and involves regular work in cleanroom, laboratory, and industrial manufacturing environments. It may require occasional work outside normal business hours to support equipment installation, qualification, production trials, or critical manufacturing needs. The role also includes mentoring early-career Manufacturing Engineers and partnering with Production Operations to resolve issues, support schedules, and improve performance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in optics, materials science, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, robotics, automation, or a related technical field.
- At least 7 years of experience in crystal optics fabrication, precision polishing, and/or optical manufacturing.
- Demonstrated experience leading or supporting automation projects in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience identifying automation opportunities and implementing robotics, machine vision, automated equipment, or material-handling systems.
- Experience developing equipment requirements, evaluating suppliers, validating processes, and transferring automated solutions into production.
- Strong knowledge of crystal optics, optical materials, fabrication, polishing, and surface finishing.
- Hands-on knowledge of grinding, lapping, polishing, fixturing, abrasives, slurries, and optical inspection techniques.
- Knowledge of robotics, automation systems, machine vision, sensors, PLC-controlled equipment, or automated inspection systems.
- Strong project management, troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to develop technical business cases and evaluate return on investment for automation projects.
- Ability to lead cross-functional projects and communicate effectively with technicians, engineers, suppliers, and management.
- Ability to work independently and provide technical leadership in a production environment.
- Ability to work onsite in cleanroom, laboratory, and industrial manufacturing environments.
- Ability to stand for prolonged periods; work with microscopes, precision tools, manufacturing equipment, and computer systems; occasionally lift and move items weighing up to 40 pounds; perform repetitive hand and arm movements; wear required personal protective equipment; and sit for extended periods.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with optical crystals, laser materials, surface finishing, precision manufacturing, or optical inspection.
- Experience with new product introduction, process qualification, capability studies, and continuous improvement.
Responsibilities
- Provide technical leadership for crystal fabrication and precision polishing operations.
- Oversee sawing, coring, grinding, lapping, shaping, fixturing, and polishing of optical crystals.
- Establish and optimize process parameters to meet dimensional, surface, and optical quality requirements.
- Identify and prioritize opportunities to automate labor-intensive, repetitive, and quality-sensitive operations.
- Lead the selection and implementation of robotics, machine vision, automated inspection, material handling, and process-control systems.
- Develop automation roadmaps and business cases addressing capacity, labor, quality, cost, ROI, and implementation timelines.
- Lead automation projects from concept and prototyping through installation, qualification, training, and production release.
- Partner with suppliers, integrators, Engineering, Quality, R&D, Maintenance, and Production Operations to deploy new technologies.
- Troubleshoot equipment, tooling, fixture, slurry, material-handling, surface-quality, contamination, and dimensional issues.
- Develop and improve processes for new products, engineering builds, production programs, yield, cycle time, capacity, and cost.
- Use precision metrology and process data for qualification, capability studies, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions.
- Manage and mentor early-career Manufacturing Engineers.
- Partner with Production Operations to align projects, resolve issues, support schedules, and improve overall performance.
- Follow site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.
- Depending on location, execute and maintain applicable ISO 9000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and other standards within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.
- Adhere to Coherent Corp.'s ICARE values: Integrity, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, and Enthusiasm.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation program
- Career development platform
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
