Optical Coating Engineer

Requisition Number: 63731

Corning is vital to progress - in the industries we help shape and in the world we share.

We invent life-changing technologies using materials science. Our scientific and manufacturing expertise, boundless curiosity, and commitment to purposeful invention place us at the center of the way the world interacts, works, learns, and lives.

Our sustained investment in research, development, and invention means we're always ready to solve the toughest challenges alongside our customers.

Corning's businesses are ever evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, and automotive markets. We are changing the world with:

• Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives

• Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected

• Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light

• Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences

• Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation

Scope of Position:

As a member of the Advanced Optics Division Engineering Optical Thin Film Coating group, you will define and develop optical thin film coatings and manufacturing processes that build on Corning's existing knowledge base to move products into coating production. This is a hands-on engineering / manufacturing role working in collaboration with the Division Engineering Optical Design, Mechanical Design, and System Test teams, as well as the Development Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Program Management teams.

Major Responsibilities:

• Design robust, cost-effective coating production processes using existing methods that meet customer specifications. Specify cleaning, material handling, storage procedures, and metrology methods to characterize coating performance within the coating process flow. Manage coating designs and process recipe portfolio.

• Transfer knowledge of new coating designs, processes, and product characteristics into manufacturing. Provide training as needed, create coating recipes, work instructions, process sheets, and define measurement requirements for new products.

• Interface with Development and Optical Design teams to understand new coating fundamentals and processing requirements. Comprehension of coating properties impact to system-level performance specifications; analyze technical trade-offs and risks.

• Utilize in-house developed software to model system-level coating performance; transmission uniformity, polarization and retardance characteristics, coating thickness variation, and perform tolerancing studies and Monte Carlo simulations.

• Engage with Mechanical Design team to design and fabricate prototype and production optical element tooling, customized coating chamber hardware, and metrology tools.

• Provide engineering support to Division Engineering Technicians; define test activities, process set-up, hardware evaluation, measurements, and analysis of results.

• Assist Program Management to estimate costs, labor hours, and manage overall coating aspects of projects. Provide input for process and product transfer tollgates. Participate in weekly project meetings; customer and design review meetings; experienced working directly with customers.

• Support System Test team with customized coatings for test benches and other metrology applications.

• Utilize Design for Manufacturing principles to determine optimal manufacturing strategies and Manufacturing Engineering Excellence (MEE) practices to solve technical problems and formulate mechanistic understanding of coating processes.

• Lead projects and activities furthering coating technology and metrology capabilities, and document intellectual property via internal reports, invention disclosures, and patent applications.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree (Master's degree preferred) in Optical Science/Engineering, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of optical coating design and manufacturing, ideally in the UV and visible wavelength range.

Desired Skills and Experience:

• Coating and optical design / modeling software experience - FilmStar, OptiLayer, WVASE, UniformityPro, Code V.

• Thin film characterization - spectrophotometer, ellipsometer, SEM, TEM, FTIR, SIMS, MIL spec testing.

• Electron beam, thermal evaporation, and ion-assisted deposition. High-vacuum practice; vacuum chamber operation, system control, and support equipment.

• Experience with optical substrate materials; optics handling, cleaning, and inspecting.

• Contamination control and cleanroom operations.

• Experienced specifying capital equipment configuration and acceptance testing.

• Programming (MATLAB, Python, MS Excel).

• Excellent mechanical ability. Experienced with mechanical design and fabrication techniques. Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings and specifications.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Critical thinking to solve problems quickly and efficiently.

• Determine root cause by leveraging Statistical and Hypothesis Tree problem solving methodologies.

• Ability to interact within a team of multi-disciplinary engineers and at all levels of the organization (Production Technicians to Senior Leadership).

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $106,094.00 - $145,879.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. The benefits available for this position are dependent on hours worked and may include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, pension plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, and PTO.

Corning Puts YOU First!

We are committed to supporting your health, financial, career development, and life goals as you grow professionally and personally to achieve your highest potential. All benefits begin as soon as you start your career at Corning.

• Our monetary peer-to-peer recognition program is tied to our Values and celebrates you and your colleagues' contributions.

• Health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, mental health/substance use, fitness, and disease management programs.

• Financial benefits include a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and a 100% company-paid pension benefit that grows steadily throughout your career.

• Companywide bonus and attractive short- and long-term compensation programs are available based on your role and responsibilities.

• Professional development programs help you grow and achieve your career goals.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To request an accommodation, please contact us at accommodations@corning.com.

Nearest Major Market: Rochester