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Thin Film Coating Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... The Coating Process Engineer I supports optical thin film coating manufacturing processes in ... Specify and improve cleaning, material handling, and storage procedures within the thin film ...

... The Coating Process Engineer I supports optical thin film coating manufacturing processes in ... Specify and improve cleaning, material handling, and storage procedures within the thin film ...

Lead Coating Specialist

Rochester, NY · On-site

$92K - $138K/yr

Evaluate and maintain thin film coating, conveyance, and drying processes; applying knowledge of ... Champions and facilitates the engineering change process and all relevant communication ...

Manufacturing Engineer - Coating

Fairport, NY · On-site

$69K - $89K/yr

Partner with weekday engineering, development, and commercial teams to support new product ... Experience with optical thin-film coating or vacuum deposition processes * Certification in Lean ...

Partner with weekday engineering, development, and commercial teams to support new product ... Experience with optical thin-film coating or vacuum deposition processes * Certification in Lean ...

Partner with weekday engineering, development, and commercial teams to support new product ... Experience with optical thin-film coating or vacuum deposition processes * Certification in Lean ...

Thin Film Technician

Boulder, CO · On-site

$22 - $26/hr

We are currently seeking a Thin Film Technician who will operate coating chamber systems to produce ... engineering resources, comprehensive optical fabrication and coating capabilities, advanced ...

Partner with weekday engineering, development, and commercial teams to support new product ... Experience with optical thin-film coating or vacuum deposition processes * Certification in Lean ...

Coating Technician - ROTATING SHIFT

Saxonburg, PA · On-site

$15 - $19.75/hr

Primary Duties & Responsibilities Operation of thin film coating and test equipment including ... Provide engineering support with timely, accurate information * Attend and participate in daily ...

Showing results 41-60

Thin Film Coating Engineer information

See salary details

$75.5K

$100.3K

$122.5K

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

As of Aug 10, 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.
More about Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Thin Film Coating Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Thin Film Coating Engineer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Thin Film Coating Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $100,319 per year, or $48.2 per hour.

Optical Coating Process Engineer I

Corning

Fairport, NY

$70K - $97K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


Corning rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 128 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

88th of 538 rated manufacturers


Job description

Requisition Number: 76728

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.  

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with: 

  • Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
  • Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
  • Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
  • Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences 
  • Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation 
  • Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions
Role Purpose

The Coating Process Engineer I supports optical thin film coating manufacturing processes in Fairport’s Coating department. The role provides hands-on support to manufacturing operations with a focus on process stability, equipment performance, problem solving, and continuous improvement while building on the foundations of our existing designs and processes. This role will develop foundational expertise and progress toward subject matter expert (SME) capability.

Key Responsibilities
  • Provide day-to-day production support, including troubleshooting process upsets and equipment issues
  • Maintain manufacturing processes using existing production assets.
  • Use and improve current metrology methods to monitor and improve manufacturing performance and monitor key process metrics such as yield, scrap, cycle time, and equipment uptime.
  • Identify and support process improvement efforts to reduce costs, improve yield, reduce scrap, and increase capacity
  • Specify and improve cleaning, material handling, and storage procedures within the thin film coating process flow.
  • Develop and maintain process documentation, including work instructions, process sheets, flow charts, and checklists and provide training to the production staff for all new processes.
  • Work cross-functionally with production, quality, commercial, and development engineering to extend our current capabilities to meet future needs.
  • Maintain housekeeping standards and support basic equipment and workspace maintenance
  • Follow and promote safe work practices and cleanroom protocols
Required Experience and Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Science related field, including, but not limited to: Optical Engineering/Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, Physics.
  • Minimum 1-3 years of UV optical thin film production experience
  • Strong critical thinking skills to rapidly solve problems.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Desire to solve problems by using Statistical/6-Sigma/DOE and Hypothesis Tree problem solving methodologies.
  • Ability to function on a process engineering team of multi-disciplinary engineers.
  • Knowledge or Training in one or all these areas: Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Lean Fundamentals, Performance Excellence, and KT Problem Solving.
Hours of Work
  • Monday through Friday, 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM (required).
  • Occasional weekend support may be required based on production needs.
 Travel Requirements
  • Less than 5%.
  • Travel may include training, networking opportunities, and occasional customer or supplier visits.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.


The range for this position is $70,776.00 - $97,317.00 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 accommodations@corning.com.


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