Senior Safety Specialist – Laser Manufacturing

IPG Photonics is revolutionizing the laser industry as the pioneering developer and leading producer of fiber lasers and amplifiers. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, IPG has over 4,800 employees in more than 25 locations around the world. We aspire to work together with our employees and customers to apply light in ways that improve life.

Our mission is to develop innovative laser solutions to make the world a better place. To accomplish this mission, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent and an engaged, and thriving workforce that drives a sustainable future for our company and society.

Working at IPG Photonics you can expect challenging projects, a motivating and friendly environment, and competitive benefits.

IPG Photonics is seeking a Safety Specialist to support and help drive Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) initiatives across our manufacturing and operational facilities. This role is a step above the Safety Coordinator level and is intended for an experienced safety professional capable of working more independently, leading initiatives, conducting investigations, and partnering directly with leadership to improve safety performance and regulatory compliance.

The Safety Specialist will play a key role in supporting laser manufacturing operations, laboratories, engineering spaces, clean rooms, and production environments by identifying hazards, driving corrective actions, conducting training, supporting industrial hygiene activities, and helping strengthen the overall safety culture across the organization.

• Support day-to-day administration and execution of Environmental, Health & Safety programs across manufacturing and operational environments.
• Assist in ensuring compliance with OSHA, EPA, state, local, and company safety regulations and standards.
• Conduct routine facility inspections, safety audits, hazard assessments, and behavioral observations.
• Identify unsafe conditions and behaviors and partner with leaders to implement corrective actions.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of SH&E procedures, SOPs, and safety programs.
• Lead or support incident, injury, near miss, and property damage investigations.
• Utilize root cause analysis methodologies to identify contributing factors and corrective actions.
• Track corrective actions to closure and support trend analysis reporting.
• Participate in emergency response activities and support emergency preparedness initiatives.

• Support manufacturing operations involving lasers, optics, electronics, cleanroom processes, chemicals, compressed gases, soldering, and high-voltage equipment.
• Assist with industrial hygiene monitoring and sampling activities including noise, air quality, ventilation, and chemical exposure assessments.
• Support machine guarding evaluations, lockout/tagout (LOTO) compliance, PPE assessments, and ergonomic reviews.
• Participate in contractor safety oversight and laboratory safety compliance activities.

• Conduct safety training sessions for employees, supervisors, contractors, and new hires on a variety of SH&E topics.
• Help promote a proactive safety culture through employee engagement initiatives, safety meetings, toolbox talks, and awareness campaigns.
• Serve as a resource to employees and managers regarding SH&E concerns and best practices.
• Provide guidance and coaching to supervisors regarding safe work practices and regulatory expectations.

• Maintain safety records, training documentation, inspection reports, and compliance tracking systems.
• Support OSHA logs, incident reporting, and audit preparation activities.
• Assist with internal and external SH&E audits and corrective action follow-up.
• Prepare reports, summaries, and recommendations for leadership review.

• Associate degree in Safety, Environmental Health & Safety, Industrial Hygiene, Engineering Technology, or related field preferred.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• 5+ years of safety experience in a manufacturing, industrial, engineering, or technical environment preferred.
• Experience in high-tech, electronics, semiconductor, medical device, optics, or laser manufacturing environments preferred.

• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations, industrial hygiene principles, and manufacturing safety practices.
• Understanding of:
  • Machine guarding
  • Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)
  • Electrical safety
  • Hazard communication
  • Industrial hygiene sampling methods
  • PPE requirements
  • Incident investigation and root cause analysis
• Strong training, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and safety tracking/reporting systems.
• Demonstrates positivity,…