Lead Process Engineering Manager - Lasers & Optics

nLIGHT, Inc.; Hillsboro (OR); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Target Cash Bonus

Restricted Stock Units

Paid Time Off

Holidays

Health benefits

401(k) with match

Disability & Life Insurance

Job summary

nLIGHT, Inc. in Hillsboro seeks a Process Engineering Manager to lead the site’s engineering team, advancing manufacturing processes and ensuring safe, reliable production.

The role combines technical depth with leadership, collaboration across functions, and hands-on problem solving. The manager will apply PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and data-driven methods to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and process performance, while transitioning new products from prototype to volume production.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related technical field and 6+ years of manufacturing/engineering experience.
• At least three years of engineering leadership experience including hiring and development.
• Direct manufacturing engineering experience with equipment, tooling, test systems, data analysis, and production processes.
• Experience with lasers/optics/opto-mechanical systems or related tech and transition to volume production.
• Experience using PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, measurement system analysis, and root-cause/corrective-action methods.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across functions, sites, and audiences.
• Familiarity with ITAR/EAR and controlled data requirements; travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Leads engineering team with clear priorities and development plans.
• Collaborates with production and engineering to solve complex manufacturing problems.
• Maintains ISO 9001/AS9100 systems and uses PFMEA, Control Plans, and SPC for process improvements.
• Drives process, yield, cost, capacity, and equipment improvements from concept to sustained production.
• Partners with design and product development to improve manufacturability and transition to volume production.
• Applies systems-engineering to integrate optical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, and test elements.
• Manages production equipment lifecycle including procurement, installation, qualification, calibration, maintenance, and obsolescence.
• Ensures engineering work and process changes meet EHS requirements and communicates risks across functions.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Manufacturing process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or related technical field

Tools

JMP

SQL

LabVIEW

MATLAB

Python

Power BI

Job description

nLIGHT, Inc. in Hillsboro seeks a Process Engineering Manager to lead the site’s engineering team, advancing manufacturing processes and ensuring safe, reliable production.

The role combines technical depth with leadership, collaboration across functions, and hands-on problem solving. The manager will apply PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, and data-driven methods to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and process performance, while transitioning new products from prototype to volume production.