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Thin Film Coating Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Plug Power, Inc.

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 ...

Corning

Optical Coating Process Engineer I

Fairport, NY · On-site

$70K - $97K/yr

... 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 ...

Corning

Optical Coating Process Engineer I

Fairport, NY · On-site

$70K - $97K/yr

... 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 ...

Plugpower

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 ...

Corning

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 ...

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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 Sep 2, 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.

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.

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.

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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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 93% Full Time, 3% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,319 per year, or $48.2 per hour.

Optical Coating Process Engineer

II-VI Aerospace & Defense

Santa Rosa, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago

Job description


Job duties: Design, implement, and optimize manufacturing processes for optical thin film coatings used in telecom product lines. Oversee production activities in multiple chambers and manage automated coating platforms to achieve quality, yield, and throughput targets. Analyze manufacturing data to evaluate process performance and recommend improvements for efficiency and productivity. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including development engineers, manufacturing, maintenance, and thin film design, to assess new designs and ensure compatibility with manufacturing and measurement capabilities. Develop and integrate new tools and processes to facilitate new product introduction and streamline manufacturing operations. Work closely with Quality to resolve customer issues, provide technical expertise on Return Material Authorization requests, and support equipment qualification. Lead continuous improvement initiatives in process engineering and manufacturing systems, contributing to organizational goals with minimal supervision.
Requirements: Master's degree in Physics, Engineering, or related.
5 years of experience in optical coating process engineering in manufacturing. Requires skills and experience to involve:
  • In depth knowledge of reactive magnetron sputter deposition processes, thin film growth processes and their interrelationships.
  • In depth knowledge of thin film design theory, thin film design code development and product application.
  • General knowledge of statistical software packages, interpretation of statistics and an ability to clearly communicate statistical results to others.
  • Experience Decreasing/Eliminating process variations using problem solving methodologies to; understand root causes, confirm hypotheses, implement resolutions, and optimize improvement.
  • General knowledge optical thin film metrology for telecommunication filters and Life Sciences fluorescence filters.
  • Familiarity with Matlab/Visual Basic/Labview/Python code writing skills for equipment control and data analysis and proficient in at least two of these languages.
  • Proficient with commercial thin film software, and other programs, Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.
  • Proficiency in PLC-based and HMI-controlled automated thin film deposition systems.
  • Experience with process control systems, including laser monitoring systems and manufacturing execution system (MES) interfaces.
  • Experience developing and modifying LabVIEW code for automated optical monitoring and thin film thickness control systems.
  • Experience analyzing radiometric measurement data from tunable laser-based optical measurement systems.
  • Proficiency in statistical process control (SPC) for monitoring and improving thin film deposition yield and process stability.
  • Experience performing product qualification testing for new products and process changes in manufacturing environments.
  • Experience developing and maintaining process documentation, including work instructions for manufacturing and measurement systems.

To apply: Email resumes to TalentAcquisition@coherent.com
About Us
Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!
Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.

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