Process Development Engineer at Coherent in East Granby, Connecticut

Job Description:

Job Description and Responsibilities:

Coherent is a world leader of lasers and laser-based technology for materials processing, microelectronics, scientific, life sciences and medical customers. The light we deliver touches almost every aspect of human life-vision correction to cell analysis, precision welding to 3-D metal printing, gravity wave detection to brain research. Put your talents to work at Coherent where you can create and innovate enabling technologies that will push the frontiers of science and technology.

We are seeking a Process Development Engineer to work in our Optical Fiber Manufacturing group in East Granby, Connecticut. The candidate will be involved with a variety of glass manufacturing processed which are used in our daily production of specialty optical fibers. Responsibilities include:

• Become familiar with optical fiber fabrication techniques used at Coherent, including:


• Glass fabrication via Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD)


• Over-collapse glass preform processing


• Fiber production via thermal Draw process


• Analyze glass produced after each of these three manufacturing steps to determine design targets to be used to meet the final product target performances


• Daily interaction with the production staff to ensure smooth manufacturing and to provide support in cases where troubleshooting is needed


• Track manufacturing process performance over time and develop numerical tools to quantify process capabilities (e.g. Statistical Process Capability - SPC - analysis)


• Based on SPC analysis (or similar), propose process improvement opportunities


• Design, plan and execute experiments to assess process improvement towards enhanced process control, higher yields and cost-effective processes.


• Work with cross-functional teams to implement process optimizations


• Design and execute process validation plans to qualify new processes and quantify improvement/gain (compared against targets)


• Draft and update Work Instructions as needed, work with Manufacturing Engineering for implementation. Participate in training and/or quality audits as needed


• Participate in process development activities lead by the R&D group towards New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and new equipment qualification


• Frequent opportunities for project management either for enhanced process control activities or process troubleshooting (using8D and 3A problem solving tools)

Education and Work Experience:

Required Qualifications:

• B.S. degree in an Engineering or other relevant scientific field such as Chemistry, Material Science, or Physics


• Minimum 2 years of experience in process engineering and/or process development


• Proficient in Excel (or equivalent) and demonstrated experience with database platforms (such as SQL, Access, etc.)


• In-depth experience in data analysis, must be comfortable extracting significant volumes of data


• Demonstrated excellent communication skills

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in optical fiber engineering is strongly desired and other optical fiber manufacturing experience is a plus.


• Masters degree in Engineering or other relevant scientific field


• Experience in project management

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

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