Senior Development Scientist

Corning, Inc.; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 102,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company-wide bonuses and long-term/in‑

100% company-paid pension

401(k) matching

Health and well-being benefits

Paid parental leave

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Paid time off

Recognition program

Job summary

Corning, Inc. seeks a Senior Automation Process Engineer in its Optical Communications segment to define, mature, and validate next‑generation automated manufacturing processes.

You will own the process definition across the system, ensuring cross‑station alignment and robust production readiness. You will collaborate with a senior systems engineer, guide process engineers, and apply modeling, simulation, and targeted experimentation to reduce downstream risk before production.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Automation Engineering.
• 5+ years in engineering mechanics, automation, or related fields.
• Experience with modeling, simulation, and engineering analysis.
• Ability to work across process, systems, and supplier boundaries.
• 3+ years providing technical direction to engineers.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end automation system process definition.
• Lead concept generation and station-level requirements.
• Mature process knowledge: sequence, timing, throughput.
• Identify and resolve logistics, timing, or access issues.
• Direct tuning and alignment of prototype equipment.
• Document process approaches and protect IP.
• Review supplier concepts against requirements.
• Provide technical direction to engineers and reviews.
• Ensure safe work practices.

Skills

Automation process

Modeling & simulation

Engineering analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Microsoft Excel

Communication

Tolerancing

DMAIC/DOE

Education

BS in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Industrial/Automation Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Microsoft Office

Job description

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.

Requisition Number: 79672
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.
Purpose
As a Senior Automation Process Engineer working in development, you will lead the definition, maturation, and validation of how next-generation automated manufacturing processes must work. You will own the process definition across the entire system, ensuring that process requirements developed across stations, functions, and process areas form a coherent, technically credible whole that guides concept selection, internal development, and downstream supplier implementation.
You will use engineering judgment, mechanistic reasoning, modeling, simulation, analogy to similar systems, and targeted experimentation to mature process understanding and reduce downstream risk. A major portion of this work is performed before production equipment exists and before empirical operating data is available. By the end of process development, you will own the process portion of the system definition that drives production system design — specifying what the production system must achieve, how it must behave, and how its performance will be validated.
You will provide technical direction to process engineers assigned to the project, partner closely with the senior systems engineer who serves as the overall project technical lead, and serve as the senior process voice in technical reviews and decision forums.
Responsibilities

• Own the process definition across the entire automation system, including process method, material transformation, critical measurement, critical material handling, station interfaces, sequencing, timing, tolerances, operating windows, and process‑related controls performance; and ensure that process requirements developed across multiple stations and functions are complete, internally consistent, and compatible with overall system goals.
• Lead the process side of concept generation, evaluation, and down‑selection; ensure concept reviews reflect full‑process considerations rather than isolated station decision; including defining station‑level requirements for logistical material handling – transport, presentation, transfer, timing – that broader system handling must satisfy, and ensure they are coherent across the system.
• Lead process maturation and validation across the full system, ensuring that sequence, timing, throughput, yield, and operating‑window understanding are mature enough to support production system design; and identify the most important process knowledge gaps across the system and determine effective methods for closing them – including expert input, comparison to similar systems, engineering analysis, modeling, simulation, and targeted experimentation.
• Identify when process decisions create unacceptable logistics burden, timing penalty, or access debt at the system level, and lead the trade‑off discussions to resolve them.
• Direct, and personally engage in, tuning, adjustment, and alignment of prototype and development equipment when needed to validate process behavior or troubleshoot – using provided controls, software settings, hand tools, and alignment fixtures.
• Convert validated learning into the process requirements and specifications that drive production system design and supplier implementation; and document novel process approaches and intellectual property as they emerge from development.
• Review supplier‑proposed concepts and hardware selections against process requirements and validated learning; participate in cross‑functional design‑path approval.
• Provide technical direction to process engineers assigned to the project; review and guide their technical outputs for quality, completeness, and consistency; including development of close partnership with the senior systems engineer, discipline leads, subject matter experts, and suppliers; serve as the senior process voice in technical reviews and decision forums.
• Be a model for safe work practices, ensuring a safe environment for colleagues.
  

Travel requirements: up to 25%, typically in concentrated periods every 1–2 years.
Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Automation Engineering disciplines; Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Physics, or a related technical discipline
• 5+years of relevant engineering experience in engineering mechanics, automation, manufacturing systems, process development, equipment engineering, applied physics, or related technical work directing and personally performing hands‑on adjustments to prototype and development equipment – using provided controls, software interfaces, hand tools, and alignment fixtures; and demonstrating proficiency defining, maturing, and validating process requirements for automated or precision‑engineered systems.
• Demonstrated experience using modeling, simulation, engineering analysis, or structured experimentation to mature process understanding with demonstrated ability to reason from first principles, analogy, engineering analysis, and limited data – and to drive technically credible decisions before empirical operating data is available.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively across process, systems, discipline engineering, and supplier boundaries with demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders across the organization via effective written and verbal communication including technical documentation, requirements, design reviews, and presentations to peers, customers, and management.
• 3+ years of experience providing technical direction to engineers and reviewing their technical outputs for quality and completeness.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
  

Desired Skills, Experience, Abilitities

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline with 3–5 years of relevant experience leading process development across multi‑station or system‑level automation projects with demonstrated understanding of tolerancing, alignment sensitivity, repeatability, and mechanical error budget concepts.
• Exposure to automated manufacturing systems, pilot systems, advanced equipment development, precision automation, or high‑speed automation environments.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar tools for engineering analysis or simulation.
• Familiarity with structured experimentation methods such as DMAIC, DOE, MEEs, Six Sigma, or equivalent.
  

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.
The range for this position is $101,784.00 - $139,953.00 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.
  

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].