Director, Advanced Surface Technologies & R&D

apog; Faribault (MN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. in Minnesota seeks a Director of R&D & Advanced Technologies to lead the Faribault R&D organization and advance surface coating technologies.

The role blends hands-on development with strategic leadership to align with customer needs and manufacturing constraints. Expect deep proficiency in PVD sputtering and PECVD/plasma processes, and the ability to guide experiments, scale-up, and portfolio priorities.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in PVD sputtering and PECVD/plasma processes.
• Role requires leading and contributing across R&D and manufacturing interfaces.
• Experience leading the Faribault R&D organization.

Responsibilities

• Personally lead priority advanced-technology programs from experimentation through manufacturing implementation.
• Design and execute experiments, develop coating architectures, analyze data, optimize processes.
• Apply deep expertise in PVD sputtering, PECVD/plasma processes, thin films, and advanced surface technologies.
• Lead process scale-up, validation, root-cause analysis, and transfer of new technologies into manufacturing.
• Maintain a regular presence in the laboratory and manufacturing environment.
• Lead the Faribault R&D organization and establish priorities aligned with growth and needs.
• Manage the development portfolio with balance of long-term opportunities and near-term priorities.
• Establish objectives, milestones, resources, risks, and success criteria.
• Provide senior leadership with recommendations on opportunities, investments, risks and priorities.
• Ensure resources focus on initiatives with strategic value.
• Translate customer and market needs into technical requirements and roadmaps.
• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Marketing and Technical Service to commercialize products.
• Engage with strategic customers to address challenges and identify opportunities.
• Build relationships with suppliers, universities, research organizations, and partners.
• Ensure technologies deliver performance, manufacturability, cost and value.
• Lead, coach, and develop scientists, chemists, engineers, and technicians.
• Build capability in coating, deposition, plasma, materials, analytical, and process-development disciplines.
• Foster technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, learning and practical innovation.
• Manage R&D budgets and establish performance objectives for milestones and transfer.
• Champion safety and continuous improvement.
• Improve productivity while reducing risk, waste, and cycle time.

Skills

PVD sputtering

PECVD/plasma processes

Thin films

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry

Job description

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. in Minnesota seeks a Director of R&D & Advanced Technologies to lead the Faribault R&D organization and advance surface coating technologies.

The role blends hands-on development with strategic leadership to align with customer needs and manufacturing constraints. Expect deep proficiency in PVD sputtering and PECVD/plasma processes, and the ability to guide experiments, scale-up, and portfolio priorities.