Manufacturing and Innovation Excellence Lead

Requisition Number: 75081 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 Environmental Technologies segment manufactures ceramic substrates and filter products for emissions control in mobile and stationary applications around the world. Manufacturing and Innovation Excellence Lead Overview The Manufacturing and Innovcation Excellence (MIE) Lead is a high-impact, cross-functional program leadership role at the heart of CET's Heavy-Duty innovation engine. Reporting to the HD Manufacturing & MIE Manager, you will own manufacturing readiness for the HD division's most critical product and process innovation programs — ensuring our plants are fully prepared to deliver Day 1 performance at scale across cost, quality, delivery, and safety. This is a role for an experienced technical leader who wants to drive outcomes across an entire division, partner daily with leaders in Commercial, Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing, and gain meaningful exposure to multiple levels of leadership — all without the constraints of people management. Your leverage comes from expertise, influence, and disciplined program execution. What You'll Do As the MIE Lead, you will serve as the connective tissue between innovation and manufacturing — translating business case requirements into executable readiness, surfacing the tradeoffs that matter, and driving the decisions that protect program outcomes. Own Manufacturing Readiness Set the end state, align assumptions, and drive the integrated plan for each innovation program to deliver cost, quality, delivery, and safety performance on Day 1. Define and execute the operational readiness system — requirements, evidence, and action plans — so plants have the people, process, equipment, controls, and capability to run at scale and sustain. Drive Critical Decisions Serve as a core-team decision partner on CET's most critical innovation projects. Surface options, quantify tradeoffs, and drive timely alignment across Commercial, Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing to optimize overall program outcomes. Manage ambiguity and competing assumptions with rigor and pace. Deliver Transformational Innovation Identify and mature critical process innovations that deliver transformational cost reduction. Translate opportunities into executable deliverables that feed the HD cost reduction pipeline. Evolve the MIE System Own and evolve the CET MIE strategy — operating cadence, standards, and readiness expectations. Scale best practices across programs to raise the ceiling on how CET delivers innovation to manufacturing. Influence and Communicate Secure plant and program priorities, resource alignment, and accountability through influence rather than authority. Communicate status, risks, and recommendations clearly to steering teams and senior leadership. What You'll Bring Required Qualifications B.S. in Mechanical, Electrical, or Materials Engineering (or a related engineering/technical discipline), or equivalent experience. Minimum of 5 years of technical, manufacturing-facing experience. Demonstrated ability to translate business case requirements into integrated plans, clear requirements, and evidence-based readiness to run at scale. Proven success driving decisions and managing tradeoffs across Commercial, Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing stakeholders. Strong technical and analytical rigor — problem-solving fundamentals, data interpretation, and disciplined use of engineering methods to lead teams and close gaps. Program execution discipline — establishing operating cadence, managing multiple workstreams, and communicating status and risk to executive audiences. Ability to influence without authority and secure commitment across plants, programs, and functions. Preferred Qualifications Direct manufacturing (plant-based) experience in a high-volume or process manufacturing environment. Working knowledge of the LFM or LFPM framework or equivalent integrated operations methodology. Six Sigma Green Belt training or certification. Lean Manufacturing expertise. Proficiency with JMP and experience with Design of Experiments (DOE). Demonstrated ability to translate engineering solutions into requirements, and further into process and/or equipment designs that deliver on required performance criteria. Who You Are High-ownership operator with a bias for action — you move programs forward, you don't wait for clarity. Trusted cross-functional partner who builds durable relationships and leads effectively without formal authority. Clear, concise, data-based communicator with executive presence and the ability to adapt your message to any audience — from plant floor to senior leadership. Systems thinker who can hold strategy, program detail, and plant reality in view simultaneously. This position does not support immigration sponsorship. The range for this position is $93,557.00 - $128,641.00 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 View email address on click.appcast.io.