Senior Manager Quality – Garnet at Coherent in Easton, PA

Job description

Build and lead the Garnet Quality function. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced quality professional who can establish the department while directly supporting manufacturing quality at Easton PA and Hillsborough NJ. The successful candidate will create the initial quality systems, standards, inspection and testing controls, metrics, prevention culture, continual improvement activities, and corrective-action processes needed to support Garnet growth. In addition, they will be responsible for cost reduction, profit improvement, elimination of waste, increasing speed of execution, employee satisfaction and customer satisfaction. As the organization develops, this role is could expand into leadership of the full Garnet Quality Department. Primary responsibilities Build the function: Define the Garnet Quality organization, staffing plan, responsibilities, procedures, training requirements, and implementation roadmap. Establish the quality system: Develop and maintain practical QMS processes, document control, record retention, and metrics . Achieve ISO 9001:2026 certification for the Garnet operations. Own manufacturing quality: Create inspection standards, control plans, sampling plans, acceptance criteria, hold/release practices, and product-release controls across Easton and Hillsborough. Improve process capability: Use SPC, data analysis, capability studies, yield analysis, defect Pareto analysis, and Gemba observations to improve process repeatability and product consistency. Lead problem solving: Own or facilitate root-cause analysis, containment, corrective and preventive actions, effectiveness checks, and escalation of significant quality issues. Support customers and suppliers: Lead customer complaints, RMAs, supplier quality issues, corrective actions, quality documentation, and communication of quality requirements. Standardize the network: Create common Garnet quality standards and best practices for Easton, Hillsborough, ensuring alignment with existing Coherent Global Quality Manuals, Procedures, and Processes. Required qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, quality, science, manufacturing, mathematics, statistics, or a related technical field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered. Typically 10 or more years of progressive quality, manufacturing, or operations experience, including leadership of quality systems and problem-solving activities. Demonstrated experience building or materially improving a quality organization, QMS, inspection system, or manufacturing quality process. Hands-on experience with root-cause analysis, 8D corrective action, nonconformance control, audit preparation, SPC, process capability, and continuous improvement. Experience working directly with production personnel and operating effectively in a developing, technically complex manufacturing environment. Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, test data, process requirements, and customer quality requirements. Strong communication, organization, judgment, and follow-through, with the ability to make timely quality decisions in a growing operation. Ability to balance financial and quality objectives. Preferred qualifications Experience in semiconductor, optical, crystal growth, thin-film, ceramics, precision fabrication, or other high-precision manufacturing. Experience supporting multiple manufacturing sites or standardizing quality practices across a manufacturing network. Working knowledge of ISO 9001, customer audits, supplier quality, and formal quality-management systems. Experience with Oracle, ERP/MES systems, electronic quality records, or manufacturing data systems. Lean, Six Sigma, ASQ, CQE, or similar quality certification or formal training. Leadership profile The ideal candidate is a builder who is comfortable moving between strategy and the manufacturing floor. This person must be willing to perform or directly observe inspections, review data, work through defects with