Supervisor R&D Mechanical Prototype Lab

Corning; Keller (TX); On-site; USD 125,000 - 172,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

401(k) matching retirement plan

Health benefits

Job summary

Corning is seeking a hands-on Supervisor for our R&D Mechanical Prototype Lab to lead a team of technicians, drive prototype delivery, and ensure high-quality fiber optic enclosure prototypes.

You will oversee lab operations, coordinate with engineering, product management, and commercial teams, and maintain safety and 5S practices while supporting projects and customer sample requests.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of supervisory or team-lead experience.
• Hands-on mechanical fabrication, assembly, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and BOMs.
• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Willingness to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of lab technicians, set clear expectations and coach growth.
• Manage the prototype request log to meet milestones and customer timelines.
• Provide hands-on support for fabrication, assembly, troubleshooting, and modifications.
• Maintain a safe, organized lab using 5S, visual management and standard work.
• Partner with cross-functional teams and report KPIs on prototype turnaround and lab efficiency.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Mechanical aptitude

Engineering drawings

BOM interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

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.

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.

Role Purpose

Corning is seeking a hands-on Supervisor for our Research and Development (R&D) Mechanical Prototype Lab to lead a team of technicians supporting the development of fiber optic enclosures and related hardware products. In this role, you will oversee lab operations, drive team performance, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality prototypes in support of product development projects, strategic initiatives, and customer sample requests. This is a leadership role at the intersection of technical execution and cross-functional partnership, with visibility across engineering, product management, and commercial teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of lab technicians - setting clear expectations, managing workload prioritization, and supporting individual growth through coaching and skill-building.
• Manage the prototype request log, balancing product development and commercial priorities to meet project milestones and customer timelines.
• Provide hands-on support for fabrication, mechanical assembly, troubleshooting, rework, and prototype modifications; ensure builds meet engineering drawings and provided specifications.
• Maintain a safe, organized lab environment using 5S (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain), visual management, and standard work; coordinate equipment maintenance and calibration.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to align on priorities and communicate lab capacity, risks, and project status; track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) for prototype turnaround, build quality, and lab efficiency.

Experiences/Education – Required

• 1 + years of previous supervisory, team-lead, or demonstrated technical leadership experience.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude with experience in fabrication, mechanical assembly, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, bills of material (BOMs), and technical documentation.
• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%, including domestic and international

Experiences/Education – Desired

• Mechanical Engineering degree preferred.
• Experience supporting engineering builds, prototype development, new product introduction (NPI), or customer sample requests.
• Experience with fiber optic enclosures or related hardware products.
• Familiarity with 5S, visual management, or standard work practices in a lab or manufacturing environment.
• Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD).

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $124,996.00 - $171,870.00 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].