Process Engineering Leader

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Date: Aug 10, 2026

Location: Christiansburg, VA, US, 24073

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 77000

 

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.

 

Role Purpose:

 

Lead and direct a team of Process Engineers and Technicians responsible for the capability and continuous improvement of production processes across the facility. Build deep understanding of how the processes behave, diagnose deviations, and eliminate the drivers of OEE loss (availability, performance, quality). Establish and execute a process improvement portfolio that advances yield, cost, quality, and capacity, and grow technical talent that solves problems methodically using sound engineering principles.

 

 

Key Responsibilities:

 

  • Lead, develop, and grow a strong team of Process Engineers and Technicians – build engineering bench strength and instill rigorous, disciplined adherence to sound engineering methodologies as the standard way the team solves problems.
  • Coach engineers on their problem-solving approach and personal development; set expectations for deep process knowledge and build the next generation of technical leaders through formal and informal development.
  • Secure, motivate, and integrate people into project teams (direct reports and matrix members) on the most critical opportunities; translate business needs into clear, executable goals and engage stakeholders to adjust direction.
  • Manage, through subordinate supervisors, the activities of a section or department with responsibility for results in cost, methods, quality, and people; own department and project budgets and forecasts with monthly finance reviews.
  • Champion Performance Excellence (PEx), Manufacturing Engineering Excellence (MEE), and Project Management tools to bring rigor and structure to projects and process improvements.
  • Build and institutionalize deep understanding of the manufacturing processes – the physical phenomena, key inputs, and cause-and-effect relationships that govern product characteristics and process performance – and drive learnings into manufacturing and engineering systems to sustain them.
  • Detect, investigate, and resolve process deviations; lead structured root-cause analysis and drive corrective/preventive actions that restore and sustain process control.
  • Identify and quantify the drivers of OEE loss (availability, performance, quality); prioritize the improvement portfolio to attack the largest losses and translate them into measurable gains in yield, throughput, and cost.
  • Ensure products can be produced readily and reliably, improving process effectiveness and cost through decisions on methods, equipment, layout, workflow, and capacity utilization – balancing conflicting requirements and evaluating the economics of methods.
  • Establish, monitor, and improve process control strategies and specification limits, directing the tests and measurements needed to hold key process variables (e.g., temperature, pressure, density, viscosity) in control.
  • Partner with Division Engineering & Technology to transfer new products and processes into production, and advocate to pull in new technologies where they address process gaps.

 

Competencies (knowledge, skills and behaviors):

 

  • Fundamental process understanding and root-cause problem solving – reasons from first principles, diagnoses deviations, and identifies the true drivers of process and OEE performance.
  • Process capability and statistical methods – process capability analysis, statistical process control, designed experiments, Six Sigma DMAIC, Lean, MSA, PQA, and the Scientific Method.
  • Financial analysis and management for engineering.
  • Acts with integrity and authenticity; champions change and flexibility.
  • Communicates and engages across a matrix; forms strong working relationships.
  • Forms and executes engineering strategy; sets objectives and works effectively with ambiguity.
  • Leverages and develops talent; provides technical coaching and assembles strong teams.
  • Deploys and transfers technology; generates and protects intellectual property (IP).

 

 

Education:

 

  • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Chemical, or Materials Science Engineering or a related engineering discipline required.
  • Master of Science in Engineering (or equivalent) preferred.

 

 

Experience: Required:

 

  • 5+ years of manufacturing / process engineering experience, including supervisory or technical leadership responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated ability to diagnose process deviations and lead structured root-cause analysis to a verified, sustained resolution, applying methodologies such as process capability analysis, statistical process control, designed experiments, Six Sigma DMAIC, Lean, MSA, and PQA.
  • Experience analyzing large sets of process-performance data (e.g., OEE, yield, and quality drivers) to guide decisions.
  • Successful technical project management, with evidence of a progressive increase in responsibilities.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and written/verbal communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to coach and develop people.

 

 

Experience: Desired:

 

  • Experience leading new product/process transfers into manufacturing.
  • Collaborates across organizational boundaries to integrate solutions.
  • Self-motivated, results-oriented self-starter who works independently with high energy, thrives in any stage of innovation, and learns new technologies and processes quickly.
  • Balances the pursuit of fundamental understanding with driving forward business needs.

 

Travel Requirements:

 

Negligible.

 

 

Hours of work / work schedule / flextime:

 

M-F. 40+ hours including off hours and periodic Weekend Team coverage to support 24/7 manufacturing operation.

 

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.  

 


The range for this position is $147,927.00 - $203,400.00 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. 


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, Corning provides company matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan of up to 4% of pay when you contribute at least 6% of pay.
  • 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. 

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 accommodations@corning.com.


Nearest Major Market: Blacksburg
Nearest Secondary Market: Virginia

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