Lead Project Engineer

Are you ready to lead cutting-edge engineering initiatives that bring complex optical systems from concept to reality? You'll lead technical teams and coordinate engineering activities for design, development, and implementation of new products and manufacturing processes.  Support program management and operations personnel with technical guidance on assigned projects.  Ensure that design concepts comply with customer’s specifications and are manufacturable.  Support acceptance testing, qualification testing, and troubleshooting efforts on assigned programs.  Participate in configuration control (CCD), change control (ECO, NOR, RCN), and MRB activities to support assigned programs.  Adhere to program financial goals and provides financial estimates and status updates to program management.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Leads technical teams and coordinates engineering activities for design, development, and implementation of new products and manufacturing processes
• Responsible for product design and development activities on assigned projects
• Ensures product designs meet customer specifications and technical requirements
• Experience with problem analysis and resolution.  Uses advanced knowledge to resolve a wide range of issues and develops new methods to solve problems.
• Lays out conceptual manufacturing plans to ensure design concepts are manufacturable and product can be built using existing Coherent processes
• Develops design documentation, test procedures, Bills of Materials, and manufacturing work instructions with assistance from manufacturing engineering and operations personnel
• Demonstrated ability to achieve results independently and working with others
• Ability to recommend and implement improvements
• Optical design and analysis; hands-on experience with Zemax, CODE V, OSLO, etc. is a plus
• Experience in Clean room protocols and processes
• Experience in Vendor/supplier sub-contract management including optics, mechanics, tooling fabrication, and optical coatings
• Resolves technical issues as they arise during fabrication with assistance from manufacturing engineering, quality engineering and operations personnel
• Identifies root causes of manufacturing problems using analytical techniques
• Provides clear and concise corrective action reports
• Works with Production Engineering to develop qualification and acceptance test procedures
• Supports program management with technical advice and direction on assigned programs
• Adheres to program financial goals and provides financial estimates and status updates to program management
• Supports business development activities through participation in customer presentations and proposal preparation
• Supports quotation process by reviewing customer drawings and internal quotations
• Identifies technical issues that require either exceptions or development activities

Education & Experience

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s degree in optical, mechanical, electrical, or manufacturing engineering, optical-physics, or a related discipline.  An understanding of optical and mechanical manufacturing and test processes and the ability to apply engineering theories and concepts are essential.
• Minimum of 7 years of related experience in a professional role with Bachelor’s degree; or equivalent experience; or 5+ years with a Master’s degree or higher 

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience with networked PC based computer system (MS Office, spreadsheets, access, graphics, Email, MRP systems, and accounting software)

Experience, knowledge and/or specialization that will enhance effectiveness in this position includes:

• Using CAD software; SOLIDWORKS experience preferred
• Conducting trade studies and engineering analyses of optical alignment and tests for optical instruments
• Error budgets & error analysis
• Knowledge of thermal, mechanical, vibration, and shock effects on optical systems
• Opto-mechanical assembly techniques
• Optical alignment and optical alignment tools and methods
• Crystalline, glass, and polymer materials for refractive systems in the IR, SWIR, NIR, Visible, and UV portions of the spectrum
• Anti-Reflective (AR), High-Reflective (HR), and filter optical coatings
• Metals, plating, conversion film, and coating materials for mechanical structures or reflective optical system substrates
• Materials and mounting methods for opto-mechanical systems; preparation and use of primers, one and two part adhesives, and elastomers
• Optical element cleaning, handling, and packaging
• Optical metrology and/or alignment instruments and techniques (interferometers, spectrophotometers, autocollimators, theodolites, measuring/toolmaker microscope, lasers, etc.)
• Optical component or system test and metrology instruments, techniques, and performance testing, e.g. Modulation Transfer Function (MTF), Transmitted Wavefront Error, Surface Figure, focal length, encircled or ensquared energy, transmission, relative illumination, veiling glare, etc
• Mechanical metrology instruments and techniques and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing

Working Conditions

• Job operates in a professional office environment
• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines
• Work in a cubicle area – must be able to work in environment where employees are on the phone / speaking causing potential distractions throughout the day
• Noise level – Usually moderate

Physical Requirements

• Standing. Particularly for sustained periods of time. 50 – 75% of the time.
• Walk. Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Talking. Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other employees accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing. Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.
• Reaching. Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Use hands/fingers to type/handle.  Operating a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Grasping. Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Stooping. Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Lifting. Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.

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.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

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.

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR), applicant must be a U.S. person, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8. U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State."

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at talentacquisition@coherent.com.