Early Stage Development Engineer

NCBiotech; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses and incentives

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Corning is seeking an Early‑Stage Development Engineer to design, build, and operate lab‑scale testbeds for evaluating material transformation processes. You will work hands‑on with laser processing, adhesive bonding, precision dispensing, optical alignment, and related technologies to generate go/no‑go evidence before scaling.

You will conduct DOE/DMAIC experiments, develop physics understanding, and document results for cross‑functional reviews.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field with 2–4 years of relevant experience; or MS with internships or research experience (0–2 years).
• Strong fundamentals in engineering mechanics and basic electrical circuits.
• Hands-on proficiency in a lab environment with tools, alignment fixtures, basic electronics, and prototype hardware.
• Ability to write scripts or programs for data acquisition or motion control (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Demonstrated ability to reason from first principles and draw sound engineering conclusions from limited data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and design reviews.

Responsibilities

• Frame and prioritize technical questions at earliest development stage with technology leads.
• Design lab‑scale apparatus and testbeds integrating mechanical, electrical, motion, sensing, vision, and controls elements.
• Run structured experiments (DOE, DMAIC) to characterize processes and generate evidence supporting go/no‑go decisions.
• Develop understanding of material transformation physics to inform design decisions.
• Produce clear technical documentation to support design reviews and IP capture.
• Identify scaling, throughput, and safety considerations early for production alignment.

Skills

DOE Methods

Lab Testing

Python

MATLAB

Data Analysis

Written Communication

First Principles

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering or related field

MS with internships/research (optional)

Tools

MATLAB

Python

SolidWorks

Job description

Requisition Number: 76164

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.

Role Purpose

At Corning, we’re engineering what comes next in automated manufacturing — and this role is where that work begins. As an Early‑Stage Development Engineer, you’ll design, build, and personally operate the lab‑scale testbeds that answer the hardest technical questions before any industrial system is designed. Working hands‑on with material transformation technologies – laser processing, adhesive bonding, precision dispensing, optical alignment, and beyond – you’ll deliver the go/no‑go technical evidence that shapes what Corning builds at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with technology leads and automation process engineers to frame and prioritize the technical questions that must be answered at the earliest stage of development.
• Design and build lab‑scale apparatus and testbeds — integrating mechanical, electrical, motion, sensing, vision, and controls elements — to explore and validate candidate process approaches.
• Run structured experiments (Design of Experiments, DMAIC, hypothesis‑driven testing) to characterize processes, define process windows, and generate statistical evidence supporting go/no‑go decisions.
• Develop working knowledge of the underlying material transformation physics to make sound design decisions and communicate results clearly to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Produce clear technical documentation — concepts, designs, results, assumptions, and risks — to support design reviews, downstream system specification, and IP capture.
• Identify scaling, throughput, and safety considerations early to ensure testbeds have clear line‑of‑sight to the eventual production system.

Experiences/Education - Required

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field with 2–4 years of relevant experience; or MS with relevant internships or research experience (0–2 years).
• Strong fundamentals in engineering mechanics and basic electrical circuits.
• Hands‑on proficiency in a lab environment — working with tools, alignment fixtures, basic electronics, and prototype hardware.
• Ability to write scripts or programs for data acquisition or motion control (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and aptitude to learn new tools quickly.
• Demonstrated ability to reason from first principles and draw sound engineering conclusions from limited data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation, diagrams, and design reviews.

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Hands‑on exposure to laser processing, adhesive bonding, precision dispensing, optical alignment, or similar material transformation technologies; basic optics or opto‑mechanics knowledge is a plus.
• Mechanical design experience in SolidWorks or equivalent CAD software.
• Experience with motion control, machine vision, or sensor integration.
• Experience using MATLAB or Python for engineering analysis, data analysis, or simulation; familiarity with structured experimentation methods (DOE, DMAIC, or Six Sigma equivalents).
• Understanding of tolerancing, alignment sensitivity, repeatability, and mechanical error budget concepts; prior experience building benchtop prototypes or lab apparatus in a university, internship, or work setting.

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.

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, Corning provides company matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan of up to 4% of pay when you contribute at least 6% of pay.
• 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.

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.

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].