Optical Thin Film Coatings Scientist (Research & Development)

Vitro is the largest glass manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the largest glass producer in North America. Vitro’s glass products can be found in some of the most iconic vehicles on the road, in countless buildings and homes around the world, and in billions of glass containers produced every year. With more than 14,000 employees worldwide, we have expanded our global footprint and cemented our leadership role in the industries in which we operate.

At Vitro, we redefine the power of partnership to create value and innovative glass solutions for our customers and communities. Together, we will realize the full potential of glass to shape how we move, build, and live in the future.

Vitro takes active steps to protect the environment and supports several initiatives that promote protection of the environment and reduction of energy consumption in the glass manufacturing process. Our products and technologies reduce energy consumption and emissions in buildings and vehicles, and we minimize the use of natural resources in manufacturing.

Together, we have the power to make more than glass. We can make the future a brighter place for years to come.

Vitro Architectural Glass

Vitro Architectural Glass manufactures a broad range of industry-leading, energy-efficient products such as Solarban®, Sungate® and Starphire Ultra-Clear® glasses. Throughout our storied history, collaboration and innovation have been central to our advancements. Today, the key to our success continues to lie in the strength of our partnerships. With a foundation formed on trust, teamwork and shared excitement, the possibilities for impactful innovations in glass are truly endless.

With manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and Mexico, Vitro Architectural Glass is committed to sustainable manufacturing processes and products. Vitro also operates one of the world’s largest glass research and development facilities in Pittsburgh, PA and has four residential glass fabrication plants in Canada.

Website: www.vitroglazings.com

Optical Thin Film Coatings Scientist (Research & Development)

The Vacuum Coatings Product Development Group at Vitro Architectural Glass (formerly PPG Industries, Flat Glass) Glass Technology Center is seeking a Ph.D.-level scientist to further its research and development activities.

This position will be focused on research and development of thin film coatings and vacuum-based vapor-phase coating deposition technologies mainly pursuant to the development of new coated glass products for various markets including architectural glazing, automotive glazing, and specialty glazing. However, this position may also involve research and development of products and/or processes for other applications.

The position will be based at the Vitro Glass Technology Center located in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania metropolitan area, but some travel is required to execute the duties of the position.

Responsibilities

Plan and conduct research and development pursuant to invention of new technologies and development of new products and processes, including but not necessarily limited to the following activities:

• On average, up to about 25% time of travel will be required
• Characterizing optical properties of thin film materials using spectroscopic ellipsometry and other optical techniques
• Transfer of output of each R&D project into Manufacturing
• Summary of results/conclusions
• Analysis/interpretation of data
• Working as a member of a diverse team, comprising R&D personnel (e.g., scientists, engineers, engineering specialists, and technicians) and non-R&D personnel as enumerated above, pursuant to aforesaid research and development activities
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 45 pounds and to walk up to about 10,000 steps per day, particularly when working at Vitro plants
• Documentation of results
• During travel and while working at Vitro plants or similar environments, overtime and/or weekend/evening hours are sometimes needed
• Modeling of optical performance/aesthetics of coating designs to identify, refine, and optimize designs for thin film interference coatings which meet performance requirements (e.g., spectral performance requirements, aesthetic requirements, durability requirements)
• Soliciting input from personnel in R&D and non-R&D functions (e.g., Sales/Marketing, Manufacturing/Operations, etc.) to define project goals and performance targets for each development project
• Conducting experiments in a laboratory environment, and in a production plant environment as-needed, pursuant to the invention, development, and commercialization of new materials/technologies/products/processes
• Communication of results/conclusions in meetings and/or presentations to stakeholders including personnel within R&D, executive-level stakeholders, and personnel in other functions (e.g., Sales/Marketing, Manufacturing/Operations, Quality Assurance, Technical Services, etc.)
• Most work will be conducted in a laboratory environment and in an office environment, but some work in a manufacturing environment (e.g., at a Vitro factory/manufacturing plant) will be required at times dictated by the needs of the projects

Qualifications

The candidate will have a Ph.D. in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field. Prior experience is preferred, preferably at least ten (10) years post-Ph.D. experience (e.g., industrial research & development experience strongly preferred, but may include some post-Ph.D. research experience at a university or a government laboratory).

The successful candidate will demonstrate proficiency in one or more of the following areas, and an ability and willingness to develop proficiency in the other areas:

• Technology and hardware of high-vacuum systems, especially vacuum-based thin-film coating deposition systems
• Physics/chemistry of thin films (e.g., thin film nucleation and growth; microstructure of thin films; optical, electrical/electronic structure, mechanical, tribological, thermodynamic, and/or chemical properties of thin films)
• Optical characterization of thin film coatings using spectroscopic ellipsometry
• Vacuum-based vapor-phase thin-film coating deposition processes (e.g., sputter deposition, etc.)
• Physics/chemistry of condensed matter (i.e., solid-state physics or solid-state chemistry)
• Design of multilayer thin film optical coatings using optical modeling software (e.g., Essential Macleod, OptiLayer, FilmStar, TFCalc, or equivalent)
• Optical physics of thin films (i.e., optical thin film interference filters)
• Surface analysis and materials characterization techniques, especially thin-film characterization techniques
• Thin film devices (e.g., semiconductor devices)

The candidate will demonstrate proven skills, and leadership potential, suitable for an industrial R&D environment, including aptitude and willingness to participate in the full product commercialization cycle including: (1) research, (2) development, (3) technology transfer/manufacturing scale-up, and (4) post-commercialization support.