What are the responsibilities and job description for the Optical Polishing Engineer position at Schott North America?
We're seeking an Optical Polishing Engineer to join our manufacturing engineering team. This role is ideal for an experienced professional passionate about precision optics and process excellence, someone who thrives in a hands-on, collaborative environment and is driven to optimize yield, throughput, and product quality.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, refine, and maintain grinding and polishing processes for glass and ceramic optics, ensuring precision, repeatability, and efficiency across multiple product lines.
- Analyze and improve existing workflows and equipment utilization to remove production bottlenecks and enhance overall throughput.
- Author and maintain process documentation, including work instructions, operation sheets, and inspection procedures, in accordance with ISO 9001 and internal quality standards.
- Train and mentor technicians and junior engineers on polishing best practices, metrology interpretation, and process discipline.
- Utilize metrology tools including interferometers, autocollimators, profilometers, and CMMs to evaluate surface form, finish, and alignment.
- Partner with quality and production teams to define critical-to-quality characteristics and establish data-driven control systems for monitoring process health.
- Lead or participate in root cause investigations, implement corrective actions, and deliver technical reports and presentations to management.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging statistical process control and lean manufacturing principles.
- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field; Master's preferred.
- (Equivalent combination of education and 10 years of relevant experience considered.)
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in optical fabrication and polishing, including single- and double-side processes.
- Strong understanding of glass and ceramic materials, abrasives, slurry chemistry, and polishing compounds.
- Proficiency in interferometry and optical metrology, with the ability to interpret test data to guide corrective actions.
- Familiarity with CMMs, spherical generation, or optical assembly techniques a plus.
- Experience working with SAP systems, and competency with Microsoft Office and data analysis tools.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional technical teams.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; capable of clearly communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement training preferred.
At SCHOTT, you can expect a unique corporate culture where we emphasize equity, diversity, and inclusion. We know: motivated and committed employees are the precondition for the success of our company.
Discover a special corporate culture where everyone has the opportunity to develop their entire potential.
We offer a wide range of benefits to meet your needs to include medical, dental, vision, 401K, vacation, holidays, tuition reimbursement, short-term/long-term disability, etc.
Your Benefits
At SCHOTT, you can expect a unique corporate culture where we emphasize equity, diversity, and inclusion. We know: motivated and committed employees are the precondition for the success of our company.
Discover a special corporate culture where everyone has the opportunity to develop their entire potential.
We offer a wide range of benefits to meet your needs to include medical, dental, vision, 401K, vacation, holidays, tuition reimbursement, short-term/long-term disability, etc.
Your Profile
- Bachelor's degree in Optical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field; Master's preferred.
- (Equivalent combination of education and 10 years of relevant experience considered.)
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in optical fabrication and polishing, including single- and double-side processes.
- Strong understanding of glass and ceramic materials, abrasives, slurry chemistry, and polishing compounds.
- Proficiency in interferometry and optical metrology, with the ability to interpret test data to guide corrective actions.
- Familiarity with CMMs, spherical generation, or optical assembly techniques a plus.
- Experience working with SAP systems, and competency with Microsoft Office and data analysis tools.
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively within cross-functional technical teams.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; capable of clearly communicating technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent continuous improvement training preferred.
SCHOTT North America, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Applicants considered without any regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local law. Any form of unlawful harassment is prohibited.