Ceramics Engineering Manager

Spectrum Control; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3-day weekend schedule

Benefits on day 1

PTO

Competitive wages

Job summary

Spectrum Control is seeking a Ceramics Engineering Manager to lead design, development, and manufacturing of advanced ceramic materials for commercial and aerospace & defense electronics. You will drive material innovation, optimize production, and collaborate across engineering, quality, and operations to deliver high-reliability components.

The role emphasizes program leadership, process development, RCCA, and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field (Master’s desired).
• 5+ years of experience in ceramics engineering with aerospace/defense applications.
• Strong background in ceramic chemistry, powder processing, and high-temperature sintering.
• Experience with RCCA, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Familiarity with aerospace & defense quality systems, standards, and certification requirements (e.g., AS9100, MIL-SPEC).
• Proven track record of process development, scale-up, and qualification in a manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides direction and manages the design, development and support of electrical ceramic devices by planning, organizing and controlling engineering projects and activities.
• Lead the design, formulation, and processing of ceramic materials and associated metal systems for high-reliability electronic components.
• Lead development and optimization of ceramic manufacturing processes and equipment, including powder processing, forming, sintering, coating, and finishing.
• Partners and interfaces with other product design engineering groups to align material properties with electronic component performance requirements.
• Devise, implement and lead value engineering, quality improvement projects as well as application of RCCA methodologies to improve throughput, process repeatability, yields, quality and reliability.
• Support certification, qualification, and customer audit requirements for aerospace & defense programs.
• Author and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, process instructions, and validation reports.
• Leads collaboration cross-functionally with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to ensure manufacturability and compliance.
• Monitors product to established quality levels and adjusts designs and processes to meet or exceed STDs of timely completion, manufacturability, cost targets and technical performance.
• Evaluate and recommend new material, design, process technologies and equipment.
• Evaluate and approve raw material suppliers, ensuring compliance with company and industry standards.
• Provide technical support during customer reviews, regulatory audits, and program milestones.
• Staff, supervise, mentor, develop engineering personnel and technicians in ceramic design and process best practices with feedback and coaching.
• Stay current with advancements in ceramic materials and electronic component technology.

Skills

Ceramics engineering

Root cause analysis

Statistical process control

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

AS9100 / aerospace quality systems

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

At Spectrum Control, most departments operate on a 4-day, 10-hour work schedule in exchange for a 3-day weekend. We offer competitive wages and PTO, plus our benefits begin on day 1 of employment. Come join a workforce where we put you first!

Summary: The Ceramics Engineering Manager will play a critical role in the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced ceramic materials and components used in commercial and aerospace & defense electronics applications. This position leads new product introduction, process development and control, and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring compliance with rigorous quality, reliability, and regulatory standards. As a technical subject matter expert, the Ceramics Engineering Manager will drive material innovation, optimize production processes, and collaborate across engineering, quality, and operations teams to deliver best-in-class electronic components to customers worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides direction and manages the design, development and support of electrical ceramic devices by planning, organizing and controlling engineering projects and activities.
• Lead the design, formulation, and processing of ceramic materials and associated metal systems for high-reliability electronic components.
• Lead development and optimization of ceramic manufacturing processes and equipment, including powder processing, forming, sintering, coating, and finishing.
• Partners and interfaces with other product design engineering groups to align material properties with electronic component performance requirements.
• Devise, implement and lead value engineering, quality improvement projects as well as application of Root Cause & Corrective Action (RCCA) methodologies to improve throughput, process repeatability, yields, quality and reliability.
• Support certification, qualification, and customer audit requirements for aerospace & defense programs.
• Author and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, process instructions, and validation reports.
• Leads collaboration cross-functionally with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to ensure manufacturability and compliance.
• Monitors product to established quality levels and adjusts designs and processes to meet or exceed STDs of timely completion, manufacturability, cost targets and technical performance.
• Evaluate and recommend new material, design, process technologies and equipment.
• Evaluate and approve raw material suppliers, ensuring compliance with company and industry standards.
• Provide technical support during customer reviews, regulatory audits, and program milestones.
• Staff, supervise, mentor, develop engineering personnel and technicians in ceramic design and process best practices with feedback and coaching.
• Stay current with advancements in ceramic materials and electronic component technology.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Ceramics Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry or related field (Master’s desired).
• 5+ years of experience in ceramics engineering, with a focus on electronic components, aerospace, or defense applications.
• Strong background in ceramic chemistry, powder processing, and high-temperature sintering.
• Experience with RCCA, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Familiarity with aerospace & defense quality systems, standards, and certification requirements (e.g., AS9100, MIL-SPEC).
• Proven track record of process development, scale-up, and qualification in a manufacturing environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of ceramic materials science, electronic component design, and advanced manufacturing processes.
• Analytical Skills: Proficient in root cause analysis, statistical process control, and data-driven decision-making.
• Adaptability: Able to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment.
• Attention to Detail: Strong commitment to accuracy and compliance with specifications.
• Organization: Skilled at planning, documenting, and executing technical projects.

Work Environment

• This position is located on-site in a manufacturing facility.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)