Lead Project Engineer

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a small team of engineers and technical professionals, providing direction, coaching, performance management, and career development to ensure successful execution of department and business objectives.
• Plan, prioritize, and allocate engineering resources across multiple projects and operational initiatives. Establish project scope, objectives, schedules, equipment requirements, and cost estimates to ensure timely and effective delivery.
• Lead cross-functional engineering projects from concept through implementation, coordinating activities across engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, and commercial teams to achieve business goals.
• Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise in manufacturing processes, advanced materials, and product development. Support troubleshooting efforts and resolution of complex technical issues affecting production, quality, cost, and delivery.
• Drive execution of new product introductions, process improvements, and manufacturing transfer activities, including development of documentation, training plans, equipment specifications, and process validation activities.
• Develop, monitor, and manage project budgets, schedules, and resource plans. Communicate project status, risks, and mitigation plans to leadership and key stakeholders.
• Ensure engineering activities comply with applicable industry standards, customer requirements, and ISO quality management systems.
• Build strong working relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. Serve as a key technical representative during customer visits, supplier engagements, and cross-functional reviews.
• Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and project risks while ensuring project deliverables meet quality, performance, and cost objectives.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, automation, capacity expansion, and cost reduction.
• Lead project gate reviews and engineering design reviews, ensuring alignment with technical requirements, business objectives, and stakeholder expectations.
• Travel to customers, suppliers, and other Coherent locations as required.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical field required.
• Minimum 8 years of engineering experience in a manufacturing, product development, or advanced materials environment.
• Minimum 2 years of experience leading projects, technical teams, or direct reports.
• Experience working in cross-functional manufacturing environments required.
• PMP certification or formal project management training preferred.
• Prior people leadership experience preferred.

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a small engineering team while balancing technical and operational priorities.
• Strong experience in manufacturing engineering, product development, process improvement, and project execution.
• Experience with advanced materials processing and machining, including ceramics, metal matrix composites, or similar engineered materials, strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of precision machining methods, including milling, turning, diamond grinding, EDM, laser machining, lapping, and ultrasonic machining.
• Experience with engineering and manufacturing software, including:
  • CAD (Creo/ProE, SolidWorks, or equivalent)
  • CAM (Mastercam, GibbsCAM, SurfCAM, or equivalent)
  • CMM/Metrology (PC-DMIS, Calypso, or equivalent)
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively engage operators, engineers, customers, suppliers, and senior leadership.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong customer focus and aptitude for external interfacing with customers, vendors, and strategic partners.

Working Conditions

• Position is in manufacturing environment and requires on-site activities (this is not a work from home position).
• Work schedule is 5 days, 40 hrs per week, first shift.

Physical Requirements

• Required to lift/push/pull a minimum of 35 lbs
• Must be able to sit, bend, squat and walk about facility
• Depending on project assignment, may be required to walk/stand for entire 8 hour day (e.g., during production trials)

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.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company's values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

I ntegrity - Create an Environment of Trust

C ollaboration - Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

A ccountability - Own the Process and the Outcome

R espect - Recognize the Value in Everyone

E nthusiasm - Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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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.