Senior NPI Reliability Engineer

At Coherent Scotland, we develop laser systems. Our systems are deployed in a wide variety of markets including renewable energy, microelectronics, fundamental research, life sciences and medicine. We aim to make a positive impact on everybody’s life by providing customers with lasers with superior reliability and performance.

Coherent Scotland has grown strongly and consistently over the past ten years, even through times of global economic slowdown. We have a healthy product development pipeline which will enable this growth to continue in the future. This will generate many exciting opportunities for personal growth within the organisation in the years to come. We develop and manufacture many different lasers on site as well as manufacturing lasers which are developed in other Coherent divisions.

Coherent Scotland is based at the West of Scotland Science Park in Glasgow and is a subsidiary of Coherent Corp., a global leader in the manufacture of materials, networking equipment and laser products. We are housed in a purpose-built facility with research and development, manufacturing, and marketing all on one site.

We have a friendly, business-orientated work environment and great staff facilities within our modern building, including as an on-site cafeteria. In addition, we offer a competitive remuneration package which includes a contributory pension scheme, subsidised private health care and free life assurance. However, if work-life balance is important to you, you’ll also be pleased to know that we operate flexible core hours which provide the opportunity to start your weekend early.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting into R&D, this role is for a New Product Introduction (NPI) / Reliability Engineer to work as part of the design and development team on our cutting-edge laser products. As an NPI / Reliability Engineer you will work alongside the mechanical and optical development team to ensure design for manufacturing and reliability remains a key focus during the development cycle of our laser systems. 

With a focus on reliability, you will develop test plans for laser systems and sub-systems to determine and validate reliability in line with product lifecycle expectations. You will work with the systems development team to identify critical components of the laser systems and provide inputs to increase lifetime performance through testing and analysis.

Working across multiple projects, you will coordinate with development teams to facilitate testing and develop a reasonable understanding of the operation of several laser systems.

Additionally, you will support the optical development team diagnosing production and field issues through the extraction and analysis of data, working with the quality group to better understand system use.

Through Prototype and Pilot production you will provide DFX feedback, aid the design team in resolving issues and supply documentation, tooling and training to allow the product to be built in a clean manufacturing environment. You will ensure compliance of the product to specification and test products through HALT/HASS to identify weaknesses and drive changes.

You will have responsibility for achievement of both personal and team-based goals delivering project focused outputs. You will be able to adapt quickly to changing requirements and understand critical needs and prioritise tasks and workload.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES.

• A hands-on approach to work is key to conduct testing on systems and sub-components, setting up and gathering data from a variety of sources (such as accelerometers, thermocouples and oscilloscopes).
• Lab based work to test and define process and optimise designs, such as full system environmental testing, component improvement, and material selection and testing (e.g. adhesives, desiccant etc.) to identify weakness and drive improvements.
• Influencing designs and design engineers to ensure Lean / Six-Sigma principles are considered.
• Influencing design to ensure design for manufacturing and reliability is incorporated.
• Leading design FMEA of modules to ensure right first-time designs.
• Interfacing with subcontractors, suppliers and external test facilities.
• Liaising with field service to gather customer validation data.
• Supporting to maintain the lab and standards of the lab space.
• Creating reliability block models for systems.
• Statistical analysis and presentation of test, manufacturing, and supplier data.
• Creating test profiles and programming equipment to carry these out.
• Building prototype and pilot laser systems.
• Defining, testing and implementing production tooling.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally including the transfer from design engineering into manufacturing in a high-tech environment.
• Experience in reliability or system testing, ideally in a high-tech environment, and knowledge of failure lifecycles.
• Degree in science, technology or engineering, or equivalent industrial experience.
• Understanding of vibration profiles affecting systems.
• Reasonable grasp of statistics, particularly those of reliability and failure.
• A passion for solving problems and continuous improvement with an enthusiasm to drive positive change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to learn quickly – it is expected you will be a hands-on person and will be expected to learn quickly the fundamentals of lasers and how to build and operate them.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Knowledge of the New Product Introduction (NPI) process and elements of project planning.
• Experience of using PLM software (e.g., Agile or similar).
• Cleanroom experience.
• Knowledge of humidity, pressure and thermal expansion and how it affects sealed systems.
• Knowledge of lasers, optics, electronics and opto-mechanics.
• Experience of optical fibre handling.
• Experience of Python, C#, LabVIEW or other object-oriented programming language.
• An understanding of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

SKILLS & OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Demonstrated problem solving and work prioritisation skills.
• Ability to keep up to date with technology and apply to business strategic plan.
• Ability to achieve results independently or working with others.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with end-users, management, and staff.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities involving internal customer requests and demands.
• Ability to excel in a cross-organisational, cross cultural, global team environment.
• Handle special assignments promptly and professionally.
• Set a high standard of ethics, professionalism, and competency.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions typical of a climate controlled and professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers.

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Scotland EHS standards.

QUALITY & 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:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome 

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

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.