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Engineering & Strategic Initiatives Leader

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Date: Nov 12, 2026

Location: Kennebunk, ME, US, 04043

Company: Corning

Requisition Number: 79718

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. 

As a leading developer, manufacturer, and global supplier of scientific laboratory products for 100 years, Corning’s Life Sciences segment collaborates with researchers seeking new approaches to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and compress timelines in the drug discovery process. Using unique expertise in the fields of materials science, surface science, optics, biochemistry and biology, the segment provides innovative solutions that improve productivity and enable breakthrough discoveries.

Role Purpose

The Engineering Strategic Initiatives Leader is a senior manufacturing and engineering leader responsible for accelerating high-impact plant initiatives while building deep familiarity with Corning’s culture, technologies, operating systems, and plant priorities. The role provides leadership capacity within Engineering for strategic work that is often delayed by competing day-to-day demands. This individual will lead a portfolio of cross-functional initiatives focused on cost reduction, digital transformation, AI implementation, equipment and manufacturing-data accuracy, operational performance excellence, Lean deployment, reliability, capacity, and productivity improvement. The role will partner closely with Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, IT/OT, Finance, Supply Chain, and division resources to turn strategic opportunities into sustainable operational results.

Key Responsibilities

Lead high-priority plant initiatives that deliver measurable results, and drive cost-reduction and productivity projects from identification, validation, and financial tracking through implementation and sustainment of savings. Ensure initiatives connect to plant goals and do not create conflicting demands on manufacturing teams.
Lead cross-functional problem solving on complex operational, equipment, reliability, capacity, quality, and performance constraints. Establish strong project-management discipline, including executive updates, decision logs, risk mitigation, action tracking, and accountability mechanisms.
Lead the plant's implementation of approved digital and AI-enabled solutions that improve decision quality, productivity, reliability, quality, safety, or employee effectiveness. Identify valuable AI applications to improve decision making.
Establish governance for MES, OSI PI, and related equipment/process data to improve data accuracy, consistency, ownership, availability, and trust. Define key data-quality metrics and lead efforts to correct underlying equipment connectivity, tag structure, master-data, data-entry, and process-discipline issues.
Build working knowledge of plant operations, technology, quality systems, safety expectations, workforce practices, and Corning culture. Serve as a trusted partner to the Plant Engineering Manager and Manufacturing leaders on strategic decisions and execution challenges.
Lead through influence across organizational boundaries and develop productive relationships with frontline employees, supervisors, technical experts, and senior leaders. Provide coaching and mentorship to project team members and emerging engineering or operations leaders.

Experiences/Education - Required

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, or a related technical discipline.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing.
Demonstrated record of leading complex, cross-functional improvement programs that produced measurable results in cost, productivity, quality, safety, capacity, reliability, or service.
Experience leading teams directly and/or leading substantial initiatives through influence in a matrixed manufacturing environment.
Strong business acumen, including the ability to develop financial cases, track benefits, and prioritize investment and resource decisions.
Exceptional communication, change-management, stakeholder-management, and executive-presentation skills

Experiences/Education - Desired

Advanced degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Data/Analytics, or a related field.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent continuous-improvement leadership experience.
Experience with MES, OSI PI, industrial automation, OT/IT integration, manufacturing analytics, cloud/data platforms, AI/ML applications, or digital product deployment.
Experience leading Capital projects.

Success Measures:

Measurable improvement in cost, productivity, reliability, capacity, quality, delivery, safety, and/or workforce effectiveness.
Increased accuracy, accessibility, and utilization of MES, OSI PI, and other manufacturing/equipment data.
Successful deployment and sustained adoption of approved AI, digital, or automation solutions.

This position does not support immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $146,918.00 - $202,013.00 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: Portland Maine

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