Staff Engineer, Thermal Process

Corning Incorporated; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 97,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses and long-term incentives

Company-paid pension and 401(k) match

Health, dental, vision benefits

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Corning Incorporated is looking for a highly skilled Thermal Process Engineer to advance high-temperature manufacturing, glass melting, forming, and ceramic firing initiatives. You will design, optimize, and troubleshoot processes across multiple businesses, partnering with operators and engineers to ensure efficiency and sustainability.

The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, experimental design, and rigorous process standards, with significant travel to support global projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in glass/ceramics, materials science or related technical field.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in thermal process environments.
• Proven experience in glass melting, glass forming, ceramic firing, or high-temperature material processing.
• Strong understanding of thermal dynamics, heat transfer, material science principles, process engineering principles, and manufacturing operations
• Hands-on experience with thermal equipment including furnaces, kilns, and heat exchangers.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze process data, identify root causes, and implement effective technical solutions
• Experience designing and executing experiments, trials, and process evaluations to support optimization and process improvement
• Ability to lead technical work across operators, technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams
• Travel is both domestic and international. Frequency and duration vary according to project stage and status. Could be up to 75%.
• Master’s degree in glass/ceramics, materials science, or a related engineering discipline
• Strong technical fundamentals with process research/engineering and materials
• Proficiency in statistics, data analysis, and design of experiments (DOE)
• Experience mentoring engineers and supporting knowledge transfer within a technical team

Responsibilities

• Lead thermal process performance and continuous improvement within assigned manufacturing or development areas.
• Analyze thermal process data, identify root causes, and implement solutions to improve safety, quality, yield, cost, and throughput.
• Design and execute experiments, trials, and process evaluations to optimize thermal processes and support technical decisions.
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting complex thermal process and equipment issues.
• Develop and sustain process standards, control plans, operating procedures, and technical documentation for thermal operations.
• Partner with operators, technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams to implement and sustain thermal process improvements.
• Drive corrective and preventive actions to improve process reliability, consistency, and performance.
• Support implementation of new thermal processes, materials, equipment, and operating methods.
• Monitor key performance indicators and use data to prioritize improvement opportunities and elevate risks as needed.
• Apply technical expertise in thermal processing, materials, and manufacturing methods to support business objectives.
• Contribute to technical knowledge sharing, mentoring, and stronger engineering practices within the team.
• Ensure adherence to environmental, health, and safety regulations related to high-temperature processes.
• Other responsibilities include measuring and communicating performance against established objectives, reviewing and interpreting data to make recommendations on immediate actions, long term corrective actions, follow-up experiments, etc., and documenting processes and mentoring operators and peers on defined processes.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Heat transfer

DOE

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Process optimization

Troubleshooting

Cross-functional teamwork

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's in glass/ceramics

Master's in glass/ceramics or materials science

Tools

Furnaces

Kilns

Heat exchangers

Job description

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.

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with:

• Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
• Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
• Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
• Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences
• Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation
• Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Role Purpose

We are seeking a highly skilled & motivated Thermal Process Engineer with expertise in glass melting, glass forming, ceramic firing, or high-temperature material processing to join our team and work on high impact projects within the company. The ideal candidate will play a key role in designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting high temperature processes across various businesses, ensuring efficiency, quality, and sustainability in production. This role will collaborate with cross-functional teams to support process development and manufacturing operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead thermal process performance and continuous improvement within assigned manufacturing or development areas
• Analyze thermal process data, identify root causes, and implement solutions to improve safety, quality, yield, cost, and throughput
• Design and execute experiments, trials, and process evaluations to optimize thermal processes and support technical decisions
• Provide technical leadership in troubleshooting complex thermal process and equipment issues
• Develop and sustain process standards, control plans, operating procedures, and technical documentation for thermal operations
• Partner with operators, technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams to implement and sustain thermal process improvements
• Drive corrective and preventive actions to improve process reliability, consistency, and performance
• Support implementation of new thermal processes, materials, equipment, and operating methods
• Monitor key performance indicators and use data to prioritize improvement opportunities and elevate risks as needed
• Apply technical expertise in thermal processing, materials, and manufacturing methods to support business objectives
• Contribute to technical knowledge sharing, mentoring, and stronger engineering practices within the team
• Ensure adherence to environmental, health, and safety regulations related to high-temperature processes.
• Other responsibilities include measuring and communicating performance against established objectives, reviewing and interpreting data to make recommendations on immediate actions, long term corrective actions, follow-up experiments, etc., and documenting processes and mentoring operators and peers on defined processes.

Experiences/Education - Required

• Bachelor's degree in glass/ceramics, materials science or related technical field.
• 5+ years of engineering experience in thermal process environments.
• Proven experience in glass melting, glass forming, ceramic firing, or high-temperature material processing.
• Strong understanding of thermal dynamics, heat transfer, material science principles, process engineering principles, and manufacturing operations
• Hands-on experience with thermal equipment including furnaces, kilns, and heat exchangers.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze process data, identify root causes, and implement effective technical solutions
• Experience designing and executing experiments, trials, and process evaluations to support optimization and process improvement
• Ability to troubleshoot complex thermal process and equipment issuesAbility to lead technical work across operators, technicians, engineers, and cross-functional teams
• Travel Requirements: Travel is both domestic and international. Frequency and duration vary according to project stage and status. Could be up to 75%.
• Master’s degree in glass/ceramics, materials science, or a related engineering discipline
• Strong technical fundamentals with process research/engineering and materials
• Proficiency in statistics, data analysis, and design of experiments (DOE)
• Experience mentoring engineers and supporting knowledge transfer within a technical team

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $97,286.00 - $133,768.00 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].