Early Stage Development Engineer

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.

Our Optical Communications segment has evolved from a manufacturer of optical fiber and cable to a comprehensive provider of optical solutions. The segment is classified into two main product groupings – carrier network and enterprise network.

At Corning, we’re engineering what comes next in automated manufacturing. As an Early‑Stage Development Engineer, you’ll design, build, and operate lab‑scale testbeds that answer technical questions before any industrial system is designed. Working hands‑on with material transformation technologies—laser processing, adhesive bonding, precision dispensing, optical alignment, and beyond—you’ll provide the technical evidence that shapes what Corning builds at scale.

• Partner with technology leads and automation process engineers to frame and prioritize the technical questions that must be answered at the earliest stage of development.
• Design and build lab‑scale apparatus and testbeds—integrating mechanical, electrical, motion, sensing, vision, and controls elements—to explore and validate candidate process approaches.
• Run structured experiments (Design of Experiments, DMAIC, hypothesis‑driven testing) to characterize processes, define process windows, and generate statistical evidence supporting go/no‑go decisions.
• Develop working knowledge of the underlying material‑transformation physics to make sound design decisions and communicate results clearly to cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Produce clear technical documentation—concepts, designs, results, assumptions, and risks—to support design reviews, downstream system specification, and IP capture.
• Identify scaling, throughput, and safety considerations early to ensure testbeds have a clear path to production systems.

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Optical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related technical field with 2–4 years of relevant experience; or MS with relevant internships or research experience (0–2 years).
• Strong fundamentals in engineering mechanics and basic electrical circuits.
• Hands‑on proficiency in a lab environment—working with tools, alignment fixtures, basic electronics, and prototype hardware.
• Ability to write scripts or programs for data acquisition or motion control (e.g., Python, MATLAB) and aptitude to learn new tools quickly.
• Demonstrated ability to reason from first principles and draw sound engineering conclusions from limited data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation, diagrams, and design reviews.
• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Hands‑on exposure to laser processing, adhesive bonding, precision dispensing, optical alignment, or similar material‑transformation technologies; basic optics or opto‑mechanics knowledge is a plus.
• Mechanical design experience in Solid Works or equivalent CAD software.
• Experience with motion control, machine vision, or sensor integration.
• Experience using MATLAB or Python for engineering analysis, data analysis, or simulation; familiarity with structured experimentation methods (DOE, DMAIC, or Six Sigma equivalents).
• Understanding of tolerancing, alignment sensitivity, repeatability, and mechanical error‑budget concepts; prior experience building benchtop prototypes or lab apparatus in a university, internship, or work setting.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

Salary range: $85,304.00 – $ for full‑time status. Starting pay is dependent on job‑related factors such as location, market demand, experience, training, and education.

• Company‑wide bonuses and long‑term incentives aligned with key business results.
• 100 % company‑paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow over your career; combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, total contributions to retirement accounts can reach…