Development Engineer

Corning Inc.; Concord (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonuses

Long-term incentives

Company‑paid pension

Health benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Corning Inc. is seeking a Development Engineer for optical fiber manufacturing platforms, combining applied science with manufacturing engineering to reduce costs, improve quality, and enable new capabilities through rigorous experiments.

The role focuses on designing processes, evaluating root‑cause limitations, and translating findings into hardware improvements. Located onsite in the Charlotte/Concord area, travel is limited and full‑time commitment is required.

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Chemical, Materials, Ceramics, or Mechanical Engineering (or closely related field).
• 2–5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing or process development environment.
• Process engineering background with emphasis on chemical transport and reaction processes, and their impact on product and equipment performance.
• Experience translating engineering solutions into process and/or equipment design requirements.
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as JMP, Python, or PowerBI; familiarity with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and industrialize optical fiber manufacturing processes — including process systems, equipment, and coating applications — to improve yield, quality, rate, and cost
• Apply the scientific method and engineering first principles to diagnose root‑cause limitations in manufacturing processes; design and execute well‑controlled experiments to validate solutions
• Translate experimental findings into engineering requirements and process/equipment designs that meet defined performance criteria
• Support early‑stage innovation testing on development and manufacturing assets; advance learnings through deeper understanding and demonstration phases toward robust implementation
• Collaborate with cross‑functional technology development teams to drive improvements in manufacturing yield, process rate, machine utilization, product quality, raw material efficiency, and energy usage

Skills

Scientific method

First principles thinking

Root-cause analysis

Education

BS or MS in Chemical, Materials, Ceramics, or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

JMP

Python

PowerBI

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Aspen

Matlab

Fluent

Job description

The company built on breakthroughs.
Join us.

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations– not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company,and the world, forward.

At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.

Come break through with us.

Our Optical Communications segment has recently evolved from being a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable, hardware and equipment to being a comprehensive provider of industry-leading optical solutions across the broader communications industry.This segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network. The carrier network product group consists primarily of products and solutions for optical‑based communications infrastructure for services such as video, data and voice communications. The enterprise network product group consists primarily of optical‑based communication networks sold to businesses, governments and individuals for their own use.

Overview

Corning's Optical Fiber division is seeking a Development Engineer to design, develop, and industrialize next‑generation optical fiber manufacturing platforms. This role sits at the intersection of applied science and manufacturing engineering — driving step‑change reductions in cost, improving product quality, and enabling new product capabilities through rigorous process experimentation and first‑principles problem‑solving.

Primary Day‑to‑Day Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and industrialize optical fiber manufacturing processes — including process systems, equipment, and coating applications — to improve yield, quality, rate, and cost
• Apply the scientific method and engineering first principles to diagnose root‑cause limitations in manufacturing processes; design and execute well‑controlled experiments to validate solutions
• Translate experimental findings into engineering requirements and process/equipment designs that meet defined performance criteria
• Support early‑stage innovation testing on development and manufacturing assets; advance learnings through deeper understanding and demonstration phases toward robust implementation
• Collaborate with cross‑functional technology development teams to drive improvements in manufacturing yield, process rate, machine utilization, product quality, raw material efficiency, and energy usage

Required Qualifications

• BS or MS in Chemical, Materials, Ceramics, or Mechanical Engineering (or closely related field)
• 2–5 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing or process development environment
• Process engineering background with emphasis on chemical transport and reaction processes, and their impact on product and equipment performance
• Working knowledge of physical phenomena — including heat and mass transfer and static/dynamic physics — applied to manufacturing process improvement
• Demonstrated experience designing and executing well‑controlled process experiments using the scientific method and engineering first principles

Desired Qualifications

• Experience translating engineering solutions into process and/or equipment design requirements that deliver defined performance criteria
• Proficiency with data analysis tools such as JMP, Python, or PowerBI; familiarity with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Experience with modeling or simulation software (e.g., Aspen, Matlab, Fluent)
• Background in optical fiber manufacturing, polymer coatings, or advanced materials manufacturing
• Applies engineering first principles and root‑cause analysis to resolve complex, ambiguous manufacturing challenges
• Uses measured and modeled data to evaluate alternatives and drive sound technical decisions


• Presents technical findings and recommendations clearly to project teams, department leaders, and cross‑site stakeholders


• Collaborates effectively across cross‑functional teams spanning research, early‑stage development, and manufacturing


• Manages concurrent priorities and carries assignments through to completion in a project‑driven environment

Work Conditions

Travel: Less than 10%, domestic; occasional international travel possible

Schedule: Full‑time, overtime‑exempt; overtime may be required based on project phase and business needs. This is an onsite position.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $85,304.00-$117,293.00 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.

A job that shapes a life.

Corning offers you the total package.

Your well‑being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company‑wide bonuses and long‑term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.


• As part of our commitment to your financial well‑being, we provide a 100% company‑paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.


• Our health and well‑being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company‑paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.


• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

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

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [e-mail] .

Nearest Major Market: Charlotte
Nearest Secondary Market: Concord