Coherent

Manufacturing Engineer

Coherent • $80K — $110K *
Budd Lake, NJ 07828In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • BS in relevant technical field such as Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering.
  • 5+ years of experience in manufacturing or process engineering.
  • Proven track record in reducing manufacturing costs and improving yield.
  • Familiar with Lean, Six Sigma, and process improvement methodologies.
  • Experience with manufacturing documentation and systems integration.

Responsibilities

  • Drive process improvements to reduce manufacturing and absorption variance.
  • Analyze production data to find margin improvement opportunities.
  • Lead projects aimed at reducing cycle time and optimizing throughput.
  • Develop and enhance process documentation and workflows.
  • Evaluate inventory practices to decrease excess material and waste.
  • Implement automation and tooling solutions for improved safety and efficiency.
  • Apply AI and analytics for better process visibility and anomaly detection.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Generous paid time off and flexible work hours to support work-life balance.
  • Professional development opportunities and continuous learning programs.
  • Retirement plans including 401(k) with company matching.
  • Employee wellness programs and resources.
Full Job Description
Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

  • Drive manufacturing process improvements for Budd Lake production operations focused on reducing manufacturing variance, absorption variance, and product cost.
  • Analyze production data, routings, labor standards, yields, scrap, rework, and capacity utilization to identify and execute margin improvement opportunities.
  • Lead cycle time reduction, throughput improvement, and labor content optimization projects for key product families including Sapphire and YVO4.
  • Develop, maintain, and improve process documentation including work instructions, routers, travelers, BOMs, process flows, capacity models, and PFMEAs.
  • Evaluate and improve material utilization, WIP flow, inventory turns, and production planning alignment to reduce future excess and obsolete inventory exposure.
  • Design, qualify, and implement tooling, fixtures, automation, robotics, and error-proofing solutions to improve safety, consistency, yield, and scalability.
  • Apply AI-enabled tools, analytics, dashboards, and predictive methods to improve process visibility, anomaly detection, standard work adherence, and decision speed.
  • Use Lean, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, root cause analysis, and process capability methods to stabilize processes and deliver measurable results.
  • Partner with Operations, Quality, Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, and Engineering to improve routing accuracy, labor absorption, cost models, and production execution.
  • Support investigation and resolution of yield losses, scrap, rework, MRB issues, and process escapes with timely corrective and preventive actions.
  • Lead validation, qualification, and implementation of new or revised manufacturing processes, equipment, tooling, and control plans.
  • Identify, justify, and manage capital and continuous improvement projects that improve throughput, capacity, quality, and gross margin performance.
  • Train production personnel on updated processes, automated systems, robotics work cells, AI-enabled tools, and standard work requirements.

Education & Experience
  • BS in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, or other relevant technical degree.
  • 5+ years' experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, industrial engineering, or production operations within a precision manufacturing environment.
  • Demonstrated experience reducing manufacturing cost through cycle time reduction, yield improvement, labor efficiency, material utilization, scrap reduction, and routing accuracy.
  • Practical knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, SPC, DOE, FMEA/PFMEA, process capability, root cause analysis, and corrective action methods.
  • Experience developing and maintaining manufacturing documentation including routers, travelers, work instructions, BOMs, process flows, standard labor assumptions, and control plans.
  • Working knowledge of automation, robotics, machine integration, data acquisition, and manufacturing systems used to improve process repeatability and throughput.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and data analysis/reporting platforms; ability to interpret ERP/MRP, production, quality, and cost data to drive action.

Skills

  • Experience supporting optical, crystal, ceramic, sapphire, YVO4, or other precision component manufacturing processes.
  • Hands-on experience implementing automation, robotics, vision systems, AI-enabled analytics, or machine learning tools in a manufacturing environment.
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, SME, ASQ, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
  • Experience building cost models, capacity models, labor standards, OEE/throughput dashboards, or variance reduction scorecards.
  • Strong cross-functional leadership skills with ability to influence Operations, Quality, Planning, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance without direct authority.
  • Excellent problem-solving, communication, organization, and follow-through skills with a bias toward measurable business results.

Physical Requirements
  • Ability to regularly walk throughout manufacturing, assembly, test, coating, polishing, and warehouse areas.
  • Ability to stand for extended periods (up to 4-8 hours per day) while supporting production activities, process observations, and troubleshooting efforts.
  • Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials, tooling, fixtures, and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds.
  • Ability to bend, stoop, reach, kneel, and climb ladders or step stools as required to support manufacturing equipment and process improvements.
  • Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, monitors, and engineering software for extended periods.
  • Ability to perform detailed visual inspections and review technical data, drawings, procedures, and manufacturing documentation.
  • Ability to work in cleanroom, laboratory, and manufacturing environments while wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, gloves, smocks, and protective footwear.
  • Ability to support manufacturing activities in environments that may include moving machinery, vibration, noise, and exposure to chemicals used in optical manufacturing processes while following established safety procedures.
  • Ability to occasionally work flexible hours to support production needs, equipment installations, process qualifications, and continuous improvement initiatives.

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.

About Coherent

Coherent, Inc. is a global leader in providing laser-based solutions to a broad range of commercial and scientific research customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets lasers, laser-based systems, precision optics, and related accessories for a diverse group of customers. Coherent's markets include scientific research, OEM components and instrumentation, microelectronics, materials processing, and life sciences. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications. Coherent was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.
Learn more about Coherent
Size
5,085 employees
Market Cap
$4.6 billion
Industry
Manufacturing & Automotive
Net Income
-$419.7 million
Founded
1966
5 Year Trend
+27.8%
Revenue
$1.2 billion
NASDAQ
COHR
* Ladders Estimates

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