Senior Crystal Growth Engineer

II-VI UK, Ltd.; Mount Olive (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Coherent Corp. in Budd Lake, New Jersey, seeks a senior crystal-growth engineer to lead development-heavy programs for oxide and garnet materials.

You will optimize growth processes, diagnose issues, and coordinate with Manufacturing, Quality, and Engineering to sustain production. Requirements include a solid technical degree and 9+ years of hands-on crystal growth experience, with familiarity in Czochralski, Bridgman-Stockbarger, Float Zone, and Skull Melting methods.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline relevant to crystal growth.
• 9+ years hands-on experience in crystal growth or high-temperature materials manufacturing.
• Direct experience with oxide and/or garnet materials or equivalent high-temperature systems.
• Strong understanding of crystal-growth process physics and parameter control.

Responsibilities

• Own and improve crystal-growth processes from charge prep to disposition with emphasis on quality, yield and throughput.
• Lead development-heavy portfolio for oxide and garnet materials with production support.
• Apply advanced knowledge of thermal fields, gradients, and atmosphere to control crystal quality.
• Provide leadership for Czochralski, Bridgman-Stockbarger, Float Zone, and Skull Melting techniques.
• Plan, execute, and analyze structured process experiments and DOE; translate results into work instructions.
• Investigate excursions using data and root-cause methods with cross-functional partners.
• Use data to identify defects and trends; recommend practical process improvements.
• Support furnace and ancillary equipment capability and preventive maintenance.
• Establish process-control plans, risk assessments, and technical reports; communicate results clearly.
• Support transfer of new processes from development to production with qualification runs.
• Promote a strong EHS culture and follow site procedures.

Skills

Crystal growth

Problem solving

Documentation

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or closely related technical discipline

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data-analysis tools

Instrumentation troubleshooting

Job description

Responsibilities

• Own and improve crystal-growth processes from charge preparation and furnace setup through growth, cooldown, inspection, and disposition, with a focus on quality, yield, throughput, and safe operation.
• Lead a development-heavy portfolio for oxide and garnet materials while providing production-sustaining engineering support for deployed growth methods, including process stability, yield, quality, and equipment capability.
• Apply advanced understanding of thermal fields, temperature gradients, pull or translation rate, rotation, atmosphere, pressure, melt chemistry, crucible and hot-zone configuration, and seed orientation to control crystal quality and reproducibility.
• Provide technical leadership and hands‑on support for Czochralski, Bridgman‑Stockbarger, Float Zone, and Skull Melting processes; evaluate method selection and parameter windows for materials and product requirements.
• Plan, execute, and analyze structured process experiments and DOE; translate results into controlled work instructions, recipes, process specifications, and training materials.
• Investigate growth, material, and equipment excursions using data and root‑cause methods; define and verify corrective and preventive actions with Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering partners.
• Use process and characterization data to identify trends in defects, inclusions, stress, cracking, composition, optical performance, and other relevant material attributes; recommend practical process improvements.
• Support furnace and ancillary‑equipment capability, including preventive maintenance priorities, calibration, controls, sensors, vacuum or inert‑gas systems, RF or induction systems, and troubleshooting of equipment‑related variation.
• Establish and maintain process‑control plans, risk assessments, change‑control records, and technical reports; communicate results, risks, and recommendations clearly to cross‑functional teams and leadership.
• Support transfer of new or improved processes from development to production, including qualification runs, acceptance criteria, operator training, and sustained process monitoring.
• Promote a strong EHS culture by following applicable procedures and identifying hazards associated with high temperature, vacuum, pressure, inert gases, RF/induction power, and materials handling.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Ceramic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a closely related technical discipline.
• At least 9 years of direct, hands‑on experience in crystal growth, crystal‑growth process development, or high‑temperature materials manufacturing.
• Direct experience growing oxide and/or garnet materials, or demonstrably transferable experience with comparable high‑temperature oxide crystal‑growth systems.
• Advanced working knowledge of crystal‑growth process physics and parameter control, including the relationship of thermal profile, melt behavior, atmosphere, growth rate, and equipment configuration to crystal quality and yield.
• Demonstrated familiarity with Czochralski, Bridgman‑Stockbarger, Float Zone, and Skull Melting techniques; depth in the methods used at the site will be evaluated during selection.
• Experience planning and interpreting experiments, analyzing process data, and applying statistical or structured problem‑solving methods to improve capability and reduce variation.
• Experience troubleshooting furnaces, controls, instrumentation, vacuum/inert‑gas systems, and related growth equipment in a manufacturing or development environment.
• Ability to write clear technical documentation and communicate effectively with operators, technicians, engineers, quality personnel, and leaders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data‑analysis tools used to document and evaluate process performance.
• Ability to work onsite in Budd Lake, New Jersey. Position level, reporting relationship, travel expectations, work schedule, compensation range, and any export‑control eligibility requirement are [TBD] pending business and HR confirmation.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in relevant materials, engineering, or physical-science discipline.
• Experience growing optical, laser, nonlinear optical, oxide, semiconductor, or other high-performance single‑crystal materials.
• Experience with high‑purity raw‑material preparation, solid‑state synthesis, thermal treatment, and material characterization methods relevant to crystal quality.
• Experience developing or modifying crystal‑growth equipment, hot zones, furnace recipes, sensors, process controls, or automation.
• Demonstrated success transferring a crystal‑growth process into stable manufacturing production and improving yield, throughput, or product performance.
• Strong project leadership, organization, attention to detail, and follow‑through in a fast‑paced technical environment.

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

CultureCommitment

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail].