Senior Thermal Equipment Engineer

Requisition Number: 78879

The company built on breakthroughs. ​  
Join us.​    

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​  

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​  

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​   

Come break through with us.  

Corning's Manufacturing, Technology and Engineering division (MTE) is recognized as the leader in engineering excellence & innovative manufacturing technologies by providing diverse skills to Corning’s existing & emerging businesses.

We anticipate & provide timely, valued, leading edge manufacturing technologies and engineering expertise.  We partner with Corning’s businesses and the Science & Technology division. Together we create and sustain Corning’s manufacturing as a differential advantage.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead thermal equipment engineering projects, or work closely with the design lead, from concept development and process definition through equipment specification, vendor selection, procurement support, factory acceptance testing (FAT), installation, startup, and commissioning.
• Translate process and manufacturing requirements into functional and technical specifications for new thermal equipment and modifications to existing systems.
• Design, specify, and support the application of industrial thermal equipment, including furnaces, ovens, kilns, lehrs, dryers, and other heat-treatment systems.
• Provide independent engineering judgment in the design, specification, evaluation, and troubleshooting of thermal equipment.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles, including heat transfer, combustion, fluid mechanics, and mechanical design, to evaluate equipment performance and resolve technical issues.
• Apply combustion engineering knowledge to support the design, specification, evaluation, and troubleshooting of combustion-based thermal equipment.
• Evaluate thermal equipment as integrated systems, including heating methods, burners, fuel delivery systems, insulation, refractory design, airflow, exhaust, controls, instrumentation, safety interlocks, and utility interfaces.
• Review and interpret engineering deliverables such as P&IDs, heat and mass balances, mechanical drawings, equipment specifications, layouts, and 3D models.
• Work with equipment vendors and OEMs to communicate technical requirements, review proposals, identify technical gaps and risks, perform technical and commercial comparisons, and support final equipment selection.
• Review combustion system designs and vendor proposals to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient equipment performance.
• Support the selection and integration of burners, fuel-air control systems, combustion controls, and exhaust systems for high-temperature manufacturing equipment.
• Own the technical scope of assigned projects and ensure alignment with process requirements, manufacturing needs, safety standards, and project objectives.
• Provide engineering oversight during detailed design, fabrication, factory acceptance testing, on-site installation, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Troubleshoot thermal equipment and manufacturing issues, perform root cause analysis, and recommend design or operating improvements to enhance process capability, equipment reliability, maintainability, fuel efficiency, product quality, and safety.
• Troubleshoot combustion-related issues such as unstable heating, poor temperature uniformity, excessive fuel consumption, ignition problems, or exhaust imbalance.
• Support the integration of thermal equipment with controls, instrumentation, alarms, and safety interlock systems, working closely with controls and automation engineers as needed.
• Incorporate safety, operability, and maintainability considerations into equipment design, specification, review, and implementation.
• Develop and maintain engineering documentation related to equipment design, procurement, project execution, testing, and commissioning.
• Coordinate with project leadership, manufacturing teams, process engineers, maintenance teams, and other stakeholders across Corning locations to meet project objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment performance, standardization, reliability, maintainability, energy efficiency, and operational efficiency across projects and manufacturing sites.
• Provide technical guidance and share best practices with less experienced engineers and project team members, as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications and Skills

• BS or MS degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Minimum 5+ years of professional, non-academic engineering experience delivering equipment engineering projects in manufacturing environments, including direct experience with industrial thermal process equipment.
• Experience with one or more of the following equipment types: furnaces, ovens, kilns, lehrs, dryers, or other heat-treating systems.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical design, heat transfer, combustion systems, and fluid mechanics as applied to high-temperature process equipment.
• Strong knowledge of combustion systems, burner applications, fuel-air control, and exhaust management as applied to industrial thermal equipment.
• Demonstrated ability to independently execute thermal equipment engineering work in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing equipment specifications, reviewing vendor proposals, and supporting equipment selection and procurement.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting engineering documentation such as mechanical drawings, equipment specifications, layouts, P&IDs, heat and mass balances, and 3D models.
• Ability to independently create and modify 2D and 3D drawings.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root cause problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with controls, instrumentation, alarms, and safety interlocks used in thermal process equipment.
• Understanding of equipment safety, operability, maintainability, and lifecycle performance considerations.
• Proficiency in English with strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be available for significant travel to multiple locations based on business needs. International travel may also be required.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Experience in glass, ceramics, advanced materials, metals processing, or other high-temperature manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting equipment through factory acceptance testing, installation, startup, and commissioning.
• Experience troubleshooting furnaces and other high-temperature manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with industrial combustion systems, including burners, gas trains, ignition systems, flame monitoring, and combustion safety interlocks.
• Familiarity with combustion tuning, thermal efficiency improvement, and exhaust system optimization.
• Knowledge of batch raw material handling systems.
• Experience improving equipment reliability, maintainability, and energy efficiency.
• Familiarity with hazard reviews, design risk assessments, or equipment safety reviews.
• Experience working in a global or multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Experience providing technical guidance or mentoring less experienced engineers.
• Strong project execution, stakeholder management, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [email protected].