Thin Film Coating Supervisor
About The Position
The Thin Film Coating Supervisor is responsible for assisting the coating manager with leading day-to-day production activities within the coating department, ensuring work is completed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with production schedules and quality requirements. This role provides direct leadership and support to coating technicians and operators while maintaining close coordination with engineering, quality, planning, and operations teams. The position plays a key role in driving departmental performance through employee development, process discipline, schedule execution, and consistent floor presence. The ideal candidate brings prior experience within thin film optical coating or vacuum deposition manufacturing environments, combined with strong communication skills, sound decision-making, and the ability to lead teams within a fast-paced production setting. This role works closely with coating engineering and technical leadership to support process stability, troubleshoot production issues, improve throughput, and maintain high standards for product quality and operational performance.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or GED required; Associate degree, technical certification, or coursework in optics, engineering technology, materials science, or a related technical field is beneficial but not required.
- Minimum 5 years of experience within a thin film coating, vacuum deposition, optics manufacturing, or similar precision manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated leadership experience within a manufacturing environment, including experience leading technicians, operators, or production teams in a lead, supervisory, or formal people leadership capacity.
- Proven ability to support employee accountability, coordinate production activities, reinforce process discipline, and maintain performance standards within a fast-paced production environment.
- Working knowledge of thin film coating processes, vacuum deposition equipment, contamination control practices, and production workflows within a precision manufacturing setting.
- Strong mechanical and troubleshooting aptitude with the ability to identify and resolve day-to-day production and equipment-related issues.
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, work instructions, specifications, and production documentation.
- Experience working within production environments driven by schedule attainment, yield, quality, and throughput expectations.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead employees, reinforce accountability, and work cross-functionally with engineering, quality, planning, and operations teams.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Experience working within ISO-regulated or process-controlled manufacturing environments is beneficial.
- Proficiency with standard computer systems and production documentation tools; prior ERP/MRP experience is a plus.
- U.S. Persons as defined by U.S. law, i.e., U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents ("Green Card" holders), persons granted refugee status or asylum status in the United States, or temporary residents granted amnesty.
Nice To Haves
- Associate degree, technical certification, or coursework in optics, engineering technology, materials science, or a related technical field.
- Experience working within ISO-regulated or process-controlled manufacturing environments.
- Prior ERP/MRP experience is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Assist the coating manager in leading day-to-day coating department operations to ensure production schedules, quality standards, and delivery commitments are achieved safely and efficiently.
- Supervise coating technicians and operators, maintaining accountability for performance, attendance, productivity, and adherence to established procedures.
- Coordinate staffing, production priorities, and coating chamber utilization to support throughput and operational efficiency.
- Maintain consistent floor presence to support employees, address production concerns, and ensure process compliance.
- Support troubleshooting of coating process, equipment, and production issues in collaboration with coating engineering and technical leadership.
- Monitor yield, scrap, rework, and process performance to identify issues and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement efforts.
- Ensure compliance with work instructions, contamination control practices, ISO procedures, HSE requirements, and department standards.
- Coordinate preventative maintenance activities, equipment readiness, tooling organization, and department housekeeping.
- Train, coach, and develop coating personnel on equipment operation, production processes, inspection methods, and department expectations.
- Support onboarding, cross-training, and skills development while reinforcing accountability, teamwork, and safe work practices.
- Partner with planning, engineering, quality, operations, and HR to support staffing needs, resolve production constraints, and improve overall department performance.
- Maintain accurate production documentation, labor tracking, and departmental records as required.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package linked to your experience and performance.
- 401(k) with company match
- Tuition Reimbursement opportunities.
- Health, dental, vision, HSA, & life insurance.
- Paid time off including vacation, sick time, and 11 paid company holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
