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Principal Foundry Quality Engineer

Coherent · Fremont, CA

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Level
Senior
Team
Quality
Experience asked
5+ years
Industry
Industrial
Posted
30+ days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A senior quality role at Coherent (industrial) in Fremont, CA. A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome.

They ask for
5+ years
Tools it names
Root cause, FMEA, Casting, EHS / safety

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Quality Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $100k–$153k.

Median of the low and high ends of 119 live postings that list pay, out of 235 quality engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 234 other live quality postings in California.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $100k–$149k, from 115 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Typical (5+ years)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Root cause 76%
  • ✓ FMEA 48%
  • Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 43%
  • Supplier quality 43%
  • AS9100 40%
  • ISO 9001 35%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Casting, EHS / safety, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Promotion path mentioned

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. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Quality 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. 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. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
    • How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 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. 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 Fremont

6 other open roles at this site.

Full description from CoherentAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

  • ◆Lead the development of predictive quality methodologies that align supplier PCM data with Coherent device designs, wafer-level test results, reliability performance, and factory yields. Identify yield and performance issues not detected by foundry PCM monitoring and partner with foundries to implement enhanced test structures, monitoring strategies, and process controls that improve correlation and early detection of manufacturing risks.
  • ◆Partner with internal engineering teams and external wafer foundries to develop and implement comprehensive foundry quality processes and procedures for Coherent Silicon Photonic PIC Products.
  • ◆Utilize Quality Metrics and KPIs from die testing and transceiver assembly/test sites to derive predictive quality metrics (e.g. defect density, yield, escapes, corrective action effectiveness) and drive preventive measures internally and from the PIC foundries.
  • ◆Participate in the Materials Review Board with factory quality and engineering partners to disposition discrepant material and document routine troubleshooting process flows for improved efficiency.
  • ◆Apply AI and big data techniques to analyze foundry quality data, predict trends, and recommend corrective actions.
  • ◆Perform quality and process audits of new and existing foundries to assess compliance to industry standards and assess product quality and reliability risk.
  • ◆Lead root cause investigations and collaborate with process integration, device engineering, reliability, and foundry teams to implement corrective actions, drive specification changes, resolve process issues, and manage material disposition through the CCB process.
  • ◆Participate in new product design for quality and reliability (DfQnR) reviews and Failure Mode Effects and Analysis (FMEA).
  • ◆Support PIC qualification activities for new PIC products, foundry qualifications, and ongoing improvements.

Education & Experience

  • ✓BS/MS/PhD in Material Science, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent field.
  • ✓5+ years of experience in CMOS or Silicon Photonics foundry process technology development, foundry technology interface, or related fields and technology nodes.

Requirements

  • ✓Ability to work in laboratory and manufacturing environments, including extended periods of sitting, standing, and use of standard lab equipment.

Safety

Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental

Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and

responsibilities

within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

I ntegrity – Create an Environment of Trust

C ollaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

A ccountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

R espect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

E nthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

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 ↓

Skills

  • •Strong interpersonal, teaming, and problem-solving skills.
  • •Work effectively with other members of Coherent Corp within the US and Asia counterparts.
  • •Excellent communication skills and ability to influence individuals with diverse backgrounds.
  • •Proficiency in Semiconductor Device Physics and Defect Mechanism analysis.
  • •Proficiency in analytical tools for data analysis and MS Office
  • •Familiarity with optical device manufacturing preferred, including:
  • •Lasers
  • •Modulators
  • •Photodetectors
  • •Optical switches
  • •Co-packaged optics
  • •Optical transceivers

Working Conditions

  • •Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
  • •Office environment with regular interaction in laboratory and manufacturing settings.
  • •Occasional domestic and international travel to suppliers and manufacturing sites may be required.

Physical

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