Lead, Manufacturing Engineer

L3Harris International; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 102,000 - 189,000; Full time

Job summary

L3Harris Technologies, Inc. in Rochester, NY is seeking a Lead, Manufacturing Engineer specializing in precision optics processing.

The role focuses on CNC-controlled deterministic grind, polish, and smoothing for high-accuracy optical components used in astronomical, laser, and earth-imaging applications. Responsibilities include developing and sustaining fabrication processes, improving yield and throughput, and collaborating with quality and metrology teams to ensure conformance to stringent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience; Graduate Degree with minimum 7 years; in lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate technical alternatives and communicate their impact on performance, cost, and schedule.
• Develop, optimize, and sustain fabrication processes for high-precision optical components, including grinding, smoothing, and polishing.
• Improve yield, repeatability, throughput, and process capability through fabrication improvement projects.
• Introduce new optical processes by creating process plans, tooling, work holding methods, and in-process inspection steps.
• Establish blocking/deblocking processes for various geometries and materials with alignment, bond integrity, and thermal considerations.
• Collaborate with quality and metrology teams to verify conformance and improve correlation between in-process and final requirements.

Skills

Optics manufacturing

CNC grinding & polishing

Metrology & inspection

Process development

Cross-functional collaboration

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Graduate Degree

Experience-based alternative to degree (13 years)

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title:

Lead, Manufacturing Engineer (Precision Optics Process Engineer)

Job Code:

47215

Job Location:

Rochester, New York

Job Schedule:

5/8 (Monday-Friday)

Job Description:

L3Harris’s Optics department in Rochester, NY, is seeking an experienced Process Engineer to support the production of high-quality optical components for cutting-edge astronomical, high-energy laser, and earth imaging applications. This role is for an Optical Process Engineer specializing in CNC-controlled deterministic grind, polish, and smoothing. This role will specialize in sub aperture deterministic finishing for optical fabrication. You will play a key role in developing and improving manufacturing processes used to produce mission-critical optical components. You’ll leverage your expertise in grinding and polishing to improve process consistency, product quality, and throughput across our optical fabrication work center. Be a part of a team that pioneers precision manufacturing in optical technologies.

Essential Functions:

• Evaluate technical alternatives and communicate their impact on performance, cost, and schedule.
• Prioritize tasks based on schedule requirements and process availability.
• Translate complex technical requirements into clear, actionable guidance for engineers and shop-floor technicians.
• Develop, optimize, and sustain fabrication processes for high-precision optical components, including grinding, loose-abrasive smoothing and polishing of optical materials such as fused silica, Zerodur, ULE, or SiC.
• Support fabrication improvement projects that enhance yield, repeatability, throughput, and process capability.
• Introduce new optical processes into manufacturing by creating process plans, selecting tooling, defining work holding methods, and establishing in-process inspection steps.
• Establish and optimize blocking and deblocking processes for a range of optical geometries and materials, with consideration for alignment, bond integrity, thermal effects, removal forces, and risk of part damage during fabrication.
• Apply structured problem-solving to diagnose fabrication issues using root-cause analysis, process data, operator feedback, and metrology results.
• Partner with quality and metrology teams to verify product conformance and improve correlation between in-process measurements and final optical requirements.
• Collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and planning to standardize best practices and implement process improvements.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.
• Ability to obtain a Secret security clearance

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Have or the ability to obtain SSBI with Polygraph.
• Able to support multiple projects in various stages of readiness.
• Independently coordinate complex manufacturing and measurement activities.
• Experience with large-aperture optics or other demanding precision components.
• Experience resolving problems involving both fabrication and metrology.
• Strong communicator, written and verbal communication skills within and outside of function.
• Background in optics, precision machining, polishing, metrology, CNC, or process engineering.
• Working knowledge of optical metrology methods including interferometry, profilometry, spherometer, thickness measurement, and cosmetic inspection.
• Background in design for manufacturability for optical components.
• Strong, specialized knowledge of optical fabrication consistent with Lead technical roles.
• Requires strong knowledge of optics manufacturing.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in New York is $101,500 - $188,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.