Director, R&D & Advanced Technologies

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

Tru Vue Inc.

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Apogee is a growing, profitable company with annual revenues approaching $1.5 billion. We provide distinctive metal and glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings, and glass and acrylic solutions for picture framing and display applications. To learn more visit: www.apog.com .

The Apogee Performance Surfaces segment generates >$200M in revenue and EBITDA margins of 20-25%. Our brands in the Performance Surfaces portfolio develop and manufacture high-performance coated materials for a variety of applications, including wall décor, museums, graphic design, architectural interiors, digital display, and industrial flooring markets. We are the global leader in anti-reflective, conservation grade electrostatic dissipative, high-definition, and abrasion resistance coatings, that provide protection, innovative designs, and exceptional durability.

Position Summary

The Director, R&D & Advanced Technologies is a working technical leader responsible for the Faribault R&D organization and the development of advanced surface technologies. This role requires deep expertise in PVD sputtering and practical experience with PECVD or related plasma processes.

Approximately 50-60% of the role is hands‑on, including personally leading high-priority development programs, designing and conducting experiments, optimizing processes, solving complex technical problems, and scaling technologies into manufacturing. The balance of the role includes setting R&D priorities, managing the technology portfolio, developing technical talent, and aligning resources with customer, business, and manufacturing needs.

The successful candidate will be equally effective in the laboratory, manufacturing environment, and leadership setting. This individual is expected to personally deliver technical outcomes, not solely manage the work of others.

Responsibilities

Hands-On Technology Development

Personally lead one or two priority advanced-technology programs from experimentation through manufacturing implementation.

Design and execute experiments, develop coating architectures, analyze data, optimize processes, and solve complex technical problems.

Apply deep expertise in PVD sputtering, PECVD/plasma processes, thin films, and advanced surface technologies.

Lead process scale-up, validation, root-cause analysis, and the transfer of new technologies into manufacturing.

Maintain a regular presence in the laboratory and manufacturing environment.

R&D Leadership and Portfolio Management.

Lead the Faribault R&D organization and establish priorities aligned with business growth, customer needs, and manufacturing requirements.

Manage the development portfolio, balancing longer-term technology opportunities with near‑term commercial priorities.

Establish clear project objectives, milestones, resource requirements, technical risks, and success criteria.

Provide senior leadership with clear recommendations regarding technology opportunities, investments, risks, and development priorities.

Ensure resources are focused on initiatives with the greatest strategic and economic value.

Commercialization and Customer Partnership

Translate customer and market needs into technical requirements, development programs, and technology roadmaps.

Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Sales, Marketing, and Technical Service to commercialize new products and processes.

Engage directly with strategic customers to address complex technical challenges and identify development opportunities.

Build productive external relationships with suppliers, universities, research organizations, and technology partners.

Ensure new technologies deliver required performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and customer value.

Talent and Technical Capability

Lead, coach, and develop scientists, chemists, engineers, and technicians.

Build organizational capability in coating, deposition, plasma, materials, analytical, and process-development disciplines.

Strengthen experimental design, structured problem-solving, technical documentation, and knowledge sharing.

Identify critical capability gaps and address them through employee development, recruiting, or external partnerships.

Foster a culture of technical rigor, accountability, collaboration, learning, and practical innovation.

Operational Leadership

Manage R&D operating and capital budgets and prioritize resources based on strategic and business impact.

Establish measurable performance objectives for development milestones, scale‑up, manufacturing transfer, commercialization readiness, cycle time, and technical performance.

Champion safety, disciplined experimentation, knowledge management, and continuous improvement.

Improve R&D productivity while reducing technical risk, waste, process variation, and development cycle time.

Personal Attributes and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engi