Optical Coating Process Engineer

Socket.dev; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent is seeking an experienced Optical Coatings Process Engineer to design, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for telecom-grade thin film coatings. You will oversee multi-chamber production and automated coating platforms, analyze data to drive improvements, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate designs and enable new product introductions.

The role requires a Master's degree and 5 years of experience in optical coating process engineering, with strong skills

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Physics, Engineering, or related field.
• 5 years in optical coating process engineering in manufacturing.
• In-depth knowledge of reactive magnetron sputter deposition and thin film growth processes.
• Deep knowledge of thin film design theory and related software.
• Experience using SPC and interpreting statistics for process improvement.
• Familiarity with LabVIEW/Matlab/Python for equipment control and data analysis.
• Proficient with thin film software, Excel, Word, and presentation tools.
• Experience with PLC-based and HMI-controlled deposition systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for optical thin film coatings.
• Oversee production in multiple chambers and manage automated coating platforms.
• Analyze manufacturing data to evaluate process performance and suggest improvements.
• Collaborate with development, manufacturing, maintenance, and design teams to validate designs.
• Develop tools and processes to enable new product introductions.
• Work with Quality on customer issues and material qualifications.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives with minimal supervision.

Skills

Sputter deposition

Thin film design

Statistical analysis

SPC (statistical process control)

LabVIEW

Python

Matlab

MES interfaces

PLC/HMI

Data analysis

Education

Master's degree in Physics, Engineering, or related

Tools

LabVIEW

Matlab

Python

Visual Basic

PLC programming

Job description

Job duties: Design, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for optical thin film coatings used in telecom product lines. Oversee production activities in multiple chambers and manage automated coating platforms to achieve quality, yield, and throughput targets. Analyze manufacturing data to evaluate process performance and recommend improvements for efficiency and productivity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including development engineers, manufacturing, maintenance, and thin film design, to assess new designs and ensure compatibility with manufacturing and measurement capabilities. Develop and integrate new tools and processes to facilitate new product introduction and streamline manufacturing operations. Work closely with Quality to resolve customer issues, provide technical expertise on Return Material Authorization requests, and support equipment qualification. Lead continuous improvement initiatives in process engineering and manufacturing systems, contributing to organizational goals with minimal supervision.

Requirements: Master's degree in Physics, Engineering, or related.

5 years of experience in optical coating process engineering in manufacturing. Requires skills and experience to involve:

• In depth knowledge of reactive magnetron sputter deposition processes, thin film growth processes and their interrelationships.
• In depth knowledge of thin film design theory, thin film design code development and product application.
• General knowledge of statistical software packages, interpretation of statistics and an ability to clearly communicate statistical results to others.
• Experience Decreasing/Eliminating process variations using problem solving methodologies to; understand root causes, confirm hypotheses, implement resolutions, and optimize improvement.
• General knowledge optical thin film metrology for telecommunication filters and Life Sciences fluorescence filters.
• Familiarity with Matlab/Visual Basic/Labview/Python code writing skills for equipment control and data analysis and proficient in at least two of these languages.
• Proficient with commercial thin film software, and other programs, Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.
• Proficiency in PLC-based and HMI-controlled automated thin film deposition systems.
• Experience with process control systems, including laser monitoring systems and manufacturing execution system (MES) interfaces.
• Experience developing and modifying LabVIEW code for automated optical monitoring and thin film thickness control systems.
• Experience analyzing radiometric measurement data from tunable laser-based optical measurement systems.
• Proficiency in statistical process control (SPC) for monitoring and improving thin film deposition yield and process stability.
• Experience performing product qualification testing for new products and process changes in manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing and maintaining process documentation, including work instructions for manufacturing and measurement systems.

Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!