R&D Engineer, Instrumentation

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

The Engineer’s general function is to build, maintain, and improve laboratory and plant-level equipment (including equipment for sample preparation, test, and measurement), and develop new experimental methods, in support of R&D and non-R&D customers. The Engineer also own process and product improvement projects that may have visibility beyond R&D.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate, closely with the building and facilities services group, to improve and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Under supervision from a scientist or higher-level colleague, the individual may be responsible for designing new products and processes involving technology and improving and maintaining existing products.
• The individual may conduct design analysis on components or assemblies to assist in the development process by ensuring designs are cost efficient, manufacturable, and reliable.
• Define process improvements that yield results in safety, quality, cost, and control.
• Responsible for working independently with known technologies; will further develop new technologies under supervision.
• The incumbent does not direct the work of others but may offer technical information or opinion toward solutions.
• Initiate and maintain relationships with vendors and purchase equipment and supplies to ensure efficiency and continuity of laboratory operation.
• Assist other professionals in performing assigned phases of work, ranging from the use of defined methods to exercise of some degree of technical judgement.
• Provide limited technical guidance to more junior professionals or technicians.
• Lead and manage HOSHIN level projects focused on product or process improvement.
• Analyze and evaluate current equipment and measurement protocols for new products; identify gaps and areas for improvement; design and develop instrumentation to meet those needs.
• Collaborate with other engineers to develop accurate, efficient instrumentation, and data interfaces in accordance with safety and usability standards, customer expectations, and controls methodologies.
• Design and test prototypes of equipment. Develop statistically robust measurement process.  Leverage external resources and designs as appropriate.
• Creates basic schematics and simulated models to test designs; modify designs to meet specifications and budget requirements.
• Working with internal and external resources, oversee the implementation of new measuring devices and control systems, ensuring devices are correctly installed and properly tested at the production location. Demonstrate statistically robust measurement process.
• Draft and present formal technical documents, reports, and testing results to manager for approval.
• Draft technical and user manuals for instrumentation.
• Provide training related to devices to employees and/or customers.
• Work collaboratively with controls, production, and quality engineers to implement process control protocols and tools.

Qualifications:

• B.S. in technical field plus 3 years relevant experience.
• M.S. in technical field plus 1 year relevant experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to plan, organize and share information in interactions with management, peers, associates, and vendors.
• Ability to troubleshoot, analyze and resolve problems.
• Must be able to work autonomously as well as in a team setting.
• Computer knowledge required for use of Microsoft Office products.
• Working knowledge of computer-aided design equipment and computerized processes preferred.
• Desired: Coding skills in at least two programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, C++, C#, VB, MATLAB, Python, etc. Fundamental understanding of statistics and process engineering. Technical knowledge and experience in Wonderware InTouch, Allen Bradley PLC, and/or other types of control systems. Experience with SQL, OSISoft-PI, and Azure Platform and familiarity with artificial intelligence and machine learning concepts and implementation. Demonstrated proficiency with two or more programming (e.g., C, C++, Python) languages and SQL.  Experience with data interfaces and communication protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) between data acquisition equipment systems.