Head of US Operations
Coherent · Saxonburg, PA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Production
- Degree
- Preferred
- Experience asked
- 15+ years
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 30+ days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level production role at Coherent (industrial) in Saxonburg, PA. Lead a manufacturing portfolio supporting more than $250 million in annual revenue, with direct influence on performance, capability and growth.
- They ask for
- 15+ years · degree preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, ISO 9001, Automation, Machining, SAP, MES
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Production Engineer roles in Pennsylvania: typical posted base $132k–$167k.
Median of the low and high ends of 8 live postings that list pay, out of 51 production engineer openings in Pennsylvania, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Pennsylvania plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 50 other live production postings in Pennsylvania.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (15+ vs 7+)
Typical $125k–$165k, from 7 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 7+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 51%
- Team leadership 43%
- EHS / safety 31%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for ISO 9001, Machining, SAP, MES, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Coherent
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
- 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Coherent in Saxonburg
8 other open roles at this site.
- Sr. Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
- Manufacturing Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Manufacturing Technician - Rotating Shift · Manufacturing · Technician
- Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
- Process Engineer - DMG (Diamond Material Growth) · Process
- Manufacturing Electrical Maintenance Technician · Reliability · Technician
Full description from CoherentAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
requirements
U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or Protected Individual.
Why Join Coherent?
Make a significant impact. Lead a manufacturing portfolio supporting more than $250 million in annual revenue, with direct influence on performance, capability and growth.
Shape what comes next. Help translate advanced optics and materials roadmaps into manufacturing operations ready to deliver at scale.
Build lasting capability. Develop talented teams, strengthen collaboration across sites and create the foundations for sustainable operational success.
This role combines strategic leadership with an active presence in offices and on the shop floor within a fast-paced, multi-site manufacturing environment.
Coherent is a global leader in lasers, engineered materials and networking components. We are a vertically integrated manufacturing company that develops innovative products for diversified applications in the industrial, optical communications, military, life sciences, semiconductor equipment, and consumer markets. Coherent provides a comprehensive career development platform within an environment that challenges employees to perform at their best, while rewarding excellence and hard-work through a competitive compensation program. It's an exciting opportunity to work for a company that offers stability, longevity and growth. Come Join Us!
Note to recruiters and employment agencies: We will not pay for unsolicited resumes from recruiters and employment agencies unless we have a signed agreement and have required assistance, in writing, for a specific opening.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Coherent is a global leader in photonics, developing advanced laser, optical and materials technologies that enable innovation across industries.
We are seeking an experienced manufacturing leader to lead our U.S. IR Optics and Materials operations, supporting more than $250 million in annual revenue. This is an opportunity to shape manufacturing strategy, expand production capabilities and strengthen performance across three sites.
Working closely with global operations leadership, you will connect people, processes and technology to deliver for customers today while preparing our manufacturing operations for future growth.
What You’ll Be Doing
You will provide strategic direction and hands-on operational leadership across Saxonburg, Santa Rosa and Eugene, building shared standards and ensuring coordinated execution.
Your
will include
- •Leading multi-site operations: Align day-to-day performance and long-term priorities across the U.S. manufacturing footprint.
- •Building capacity for growth: Develop multi-year plans to expand production capacity and technical capabilities, supporting new products, evolving customer demand and advanced manufacturing processes.
- •Preparing for future technologies: Ensure equipment, processes and technical expertise support product roadmaps and emerging materials technologies.
- •Developing people and leaders: Build leadership and technical talent pipelines, equipping teams for increased production volumes and new capabilities.
- •Delivering operational performance: Own delivery, cost, quality, yield and productivity metrics, translating business objectives into measurable results.
- •Driving continuous improvement: Lead Lean, automation and digital transformation initiatives to improve throughput, reduce variation and optimise cycle times and first-pass yields.
- •Strengthening cross-site alignment: Connect production, planning and supply chain priorities to support consistent, scalable execution.
- •Leading change: Guide organisational transformation and cross-site standardisation while championing Coherent’s ICARE values.
What You’ll Bring
- •A bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business Management; an MBA is preferred.
- •At least 15 years of manufacturing leadership experience, including responsibility for multiple sites.
- •Proven success leading large, diverse teams and developing leadership capability.
- •Strong understanding of precision machining and optical fabrication.
- •Demonstrated experience delivering continuous improvement and operational transformation.
- •Knowledge of ISO 9001:2015 and Lean methodologies.
- •Proficiency with ERP and MES systems; SAP and Power BI experience is preferred.
- •Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present clearly at executive level.
- •Experience working with global operations, including Asia, is strongly preferred.
- •Ability to meet the stated ITAR