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Thin Film Coating Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Corning

Thin Film Coating Technician

Fairport, NY · On-site

$15.75 - $20.75/hr

As a member of the Advanced Optics Division Engineering Optical Thin Film Coating group, you will work closely with the engineering team to demonstrate new thin film coating and manufacturing ...

Attalon, Inc.

Lead Coating Engineer

San Pablo, CA · On-site

$100K - $178K/yr

Lead Coating Engineer Job Details The Optical Coating Engineer leads the technical team and drives ... Hands-on experience with thin film deposition technologies (thermal and e‑beam evaporation ...

Plug Power, Inc.

Sr. Coating Engineer

Rochester, NY · On-site

$95K - $142K/yr

Sr. Coating Engineer Status: Exempt (salaried) Department: Operations Position Summary The Sr. ... Evaluate and maintain thin film coating, conveyance, and drying processes; applying knowledge of ...

Syntec Optics

Coating Engineer

Rochester, NY · On-site

The Coating Engineer provides engineering support for vacuum thin-film coating processes used in the manufacturing of optical components. This role working closely with other engineers and ...

IDEX Corporation

Senior Coating Engineer

Albuquerque, NM · On-site

$101K - $139K/yr

Serve as the technical subject matter expert for optical coatings, thin film technologies, and ... Represent coating engineering in customer technical discussions, issue resolution activities ...

IDEX

Senior Coating Engineer

Albuquerque, NM

$101K - $139K/yr

Serve as the technical subject matter expert for optical coatings, thin film technologies, and ... Represent coating engineering in customer technical discussions, issue resolution activities ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

As a Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Coating to design, develop, manufacture and test optical surface treatments. In this role, you will report to the Director of ...

MKS Instruments, Inc.

Thin Film Engineer

Irvine, CA

$80K - $100K/yr

As a Thin Film Engineer at MKS Newport, you will partner with Thin Film Coating to design, develop, manufacture and test optical surface treatments. In this role, you will report to the Director of ...

Materion Corporation

Thin Film Engineer

Westford, MA · On-site +1

Thin Film Engineers will be exposed to optical coating design, generation of detailed manufacturing plans and maintenance of existing PVD processes. Ideal candidates must possess strong technical ...

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Thin Film Coating Engineer information

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$75.5K

$100.3K

$122.5K

How much do thin film coating engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for thin film coating engineer in the United States is $100,319.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,500.00 and $109,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Thin Film Coating Engineer do?

A Thin Film Coating Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing thin film deposition processes used to create specialized coatings on materials and components. These coatings are often applied to enhance properties such as durability, reflectivity, conductivity, or resistance to corrosion. The engineer works with advanced equipment like vacuum chambers and sputtering systems, conducts testing and quality control, and troubleshoots issues to ensure the coatings meet strict specifications. Thin film coatings are widely used in industries such as electronics, optics, aerospace, and renewable energy.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Thin Film Coating Engineer, and why are they important?

A Thin Film Coating Engineer needs a solid background in materials science, physics, or engineering, often with a relevant bachelor's or advanced degree. Familiarity with deposition systems (such as PVD, CVD), vacuum equipment, and characterization tools, along with certifications in cleanroom or safety protocols, is highly valuable. Attention to detail, strong problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help engineers excel in troubleshooting and cross-functional collaboration. These competencies are crucial to ensuring precise coating processes, high product quality, and innovation in advanced manufacturing environments.

What is the difference between Thin Film Coating Engineer vs Coatings Technician?

AspectThin Film Coating EngineerCoatings Technician
CredentialsBachelor's degree in materials science, engineering, or related fieldHigh school diploma or associate degree, specialized training
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing facilities, R&D departmentsProduction lines, coating application areas, maintenance settings
Industry UsageDesigning and developing coating processes, quality controlApplying coatings, equipment setup, routine maintenance

The main difference is that Thin Film Coating Engineers focus on designing, developing, and improving coating processes, often requiring higher education and analytical skills. Coatings Technicians typically handle the application and maintenance of coatings in production settings, with more hands-on work and less emphasis on process development.

How does a Thin Film Coating Engineer typically collaborate with other departments during the product development process?

Thin Film Coating Engineers frequently work alongside R&D, quality assurance, and production teams to ensure coatings meet both performance and manufacturing requirements. They participate in cross-functional meetings, share technical insights on material properties, and help troubleshoot issues that arise during scale-up. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as the engineer must often explain technical concepts to non-specialists and incorporate feedback to optimize coating processes. This collaborative environment enables continuous improvement and successful product launches.
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Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Thin Film Coating Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 3% Nights. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,319 per year, or $48.2 per hour.

Thin Film Coating Engineer

Gooch & Housego California LLC

Moorpark, CA • On-site

$135K/yr

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description

Description

ABOUT US

G&H is a world leader in optical designing, testing and manufacturing. As experts in the technology of light, G&H works with customers to provide optical systems, assemblies, and components for demanding applications.


Headquartered in Ilminster Somerset, UK with primary operations in the USA and Europe, G&H is recognized for the breadth of their acousto-optic, electro-optic, crystal-optic, fiber optic, and precision optic products. G&H is recognized as the preferred source for OEMs in the life sciences, industrial, and aerospace and defense industries, with a history of quality and excellence that dates back over seventy-five years.


ABOUT THE ROLE

G&H's Moorpark facility manufactures precision optical components and advanced thin film coatings for aerospace, defense, and other demanding applications.


We are seeking a hands-on Thin Film Coating Engineer to support coating production, optimize processes, troubleshoot equipment, and drive continuous improvement within our optical coatings department.

This role combines process engineering, production support, equipment ownership, and technical leadership in a highly specialized manufacturing environment. You will work directly with coating systems, technicians, and production teams to improve quality, yield, and throughput.


WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR


Required

  • Experience in thin film coatings, optical coatings, nanotechnology, photonics, semiconductor, advanced materials, or similar manufacturing environments
  • Experience with thin film deposition processes and process optimization
  • Hands-on experience with vacuum systems and equipment troubleshooting
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Ability to work effectively across Engineering, Operations, and Quality teams
  • U.S. Person as defined under ITAR regulations

Preferred

  • Ion Beam Sputtering (IBS) experience
  • Optical coating design experience
  • TFCalc or Essential Macleod experience
  • Optical metrology experience
  • Experience leading or mentoring technicians

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Support and optimize thin film coating production
  • Improve process performance, yield, and throughput
  • Troubleshoot coating equipment and process issues
  • Maintain process documentation and work instructions
  • Support coating design, tooling, and process development activities
  • Utilize metrology tools to verify coating performance
  • Provide technical guidance to coating technicians
  • Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality teams to solve production challenges

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

  • BS or MS in Physics, Materials Science, Optical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent experience
  • 5+ years of relevant industry experience preferred

NOTES

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this job description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this job description, employees are expected to undertake all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by their line manager.


The Company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunity or practices on the grounds of gender, race, religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by national laws under which the Company operates.


This position will involve having access to items and technical data that may be controlled under U.S. export laws and regulations ("U.S. Export Control Laws"), including but not limited to the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR").  To comply with the U.S. Export Control Laws, and in conjunction with the review of candidates for those positions within G&H that may present access to export-controlled technical data, G&H must assess whether candidates are "U.S. persons" as defined under the EAR (15 C.F.R. Part 772) and the ITAR (22 C.F.R.   120.15).  Certain questions asked during the application process are intended to assess this and will be used for evaluation purposes only.  Failure to provide the necessary information in this regard will result in our inability to consider you further for this position 

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