Process Engineering Manager
nLIGHT · Hillsboro, OR
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Process
- Base pay
- $100k–$140k
- Travel
- 10%
- Degree
- Required
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Industrial
- Posted
- 18 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A management process role at nLIGHT (industrial) in Hillsboro, OR.
- They ask for
- degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Black Belt, Root cause, SPC, FMEA
- Base pay
- $100k–$140k
- Day to day
- some off-shift / weekend coverage · about 10% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Process Engineer roles in Oregon: typical posted base $100k–$140k. This one lists $100k–$140k.
Median of the low and high ends of 5 live postings that list pay, out of 21 process engineer openings in Oregon, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Oregon plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 20 other live process postings in Oregon.
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ SPC 48%
- DOE 38%
- Minitab 24%
- ✓ Python 24%
- ✓ Root cause 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Black Belt, Control plans, ISO 9001, AS9100, 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 Process team at nLIGHT
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?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How does off-shift and weekend coverage work?
- The posting says about 10% travel. Between which sites?
- 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.
Full description from nLIGHTAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Job Summary
The Process Engineering Manager leads the Hillsboro site’s engineering team and is accountable for developing people, strengthening manufacturing processes, and delivering safe, reliable production performance. This onsite, actively engaged technical leader combines technical depth, sound judgment, and cross-functional collaboration to solve complex manufacturing challenges, advance operational improvements, and successfully transition new products into production.
Responsibilities
- ◆Leads, develops, and coaches engineers and technicians while setting clear priorities, accountability, and development plans.
- ◆Works alongside the team in production and engineering areas to solve complex technical and manufacturing problems, remove barriers, and reinforce disciplined execution.
- ◆Establishes and sustains ISO 9001/AS9100-compliant systems and uses data-driven methods, including PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, measurement system analysis, and root-cause/corrective action, to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and process performance.
- ◆Leads process, yield, cost, capacity, and equipment improvements from concept through sustained production performance.
- ◆Partners with design and product-development teams to improve manufacturability, testability, reliability, serviceability, and scalability and transition products from prototype through volume production.
- ◆Applies systems-engineering methods to integrate optical, mechanical, electrical, thermal, software, and test elements into robust, high-yield production processes.
- ◆Manages the production-equipment life cycle, including requirements, procurement, installation, qualification, calibration, maintenance, spare parts, and obsolescence.
- ◆Partners across functions and sites, evaluates relevant external technologies, communicates risks and trade-offs, and ensures engineering work and process changes follow applicable EHS requirements.
and Experience
- ✓Bachelor's degree in engineering, physics, or a related technical field and 6 or more years of increasingly responsible manufacturing or engineering experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
- ✓At least three years of engineering leadership experience, including hiring, developing, prioritizing work, providing feedback, and sustaining accountability.
- ✓Direct manufacturing engineering experience with equipment, tooling, test systems, data analysis, production processes, and interpretation of engineering drawings and technical documentation.
- ✓Experience developing products or processes involving lasers, optics, opto-mechanical systems, electronics, precision mechanical systems, power electronics, or hybrid microelectronic assembly and transitioning prototypes or pilot processes into stable volume production.
- ✓Demonstrated technical problem-solving and process-control experience using tools such as PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, measurement system analysis, capability analysis, and root-cause/corrective-action methods.
- ✓Situational leadership and communication skills, including the ability to build consensus and explain technical risks, priorities, and decisions across functions, sites, and audiences.
- ✓Working knowledge of manufacturing financial drivers, including labor, material, yield, scrap, cycle time, capacity, and equipment cost, and familiarity with ITAR, EAR, and controlled technical data requirements.
- ✓Ability to travel up to 10%, including occasional overnight travel to customers, suppliers, training, or company locations.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Graduate degree in engineering or applied science, or equivalent industrial experience.
- ✓Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean certification, or demonstrated success applying Lean and Six Sigma methods.
- ✓Direct technical experience with optical fibers, optical alignment, lasers, optical testing and metrology, precision assembly, complex test equipment, power, cooling, and tightly controlled mechanical or optical interfaces.
- ✓Experience with engineering and data tools such as JMP, SQL, LabVIEW, MATLAB, Python, Power BI, or equivalent platforms.
- ✓Experience in regulated, ISO-certified, or high-reliability manufacturing environments.
Work Environment and Physical
Requirements
This onsite role is performed in office, laboratory, cleanroom, and production environments and requires compliance with applicable safety and PPE requirements.
The physical
below are representative of the essential functions of the position
- ◆Ability to work in a cleanroom environment and follow all gowning, cleanliness, contamination-control, safety, and quality requirements.
- ◆Ability to move throughout the work areas and sit, stand, or walk for extended periods.
- ◆Ability to frequently perform computer-based work, document review, and data entry.
- ◆Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds.
- ◆Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Salary, level based on experience, education and skills
- ✓Process Engineering Manager: $100,000 - $140,000 annually
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Who We Are
At nLIGHT , we are constantly extending the cutting-edge of laser technology in multiple dynamic and growing markets. We are a leading provider of high-power semiconductors and fiber lasers for industrial, microfabrication, and aerospace & defense applications, to name a few. Our lasers are changing not only the way things are made, but also changing the things that can be made.
Headquartered in Camas, Washington, nLIGHT is a publicly listed company (NASDAQ: LASR).
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