Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Apogee is a growing, profitable company with annual revenues approaching $1.5 billion. We provide distinctive metal and glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings, and glass and acrylic solutions for picture framing and display applications. To learn more visit: www.apog.com.
The Apogee Performance Surfaces segment has grown from $100M to $200M in revenue through a recent acquisition. Our brands in the Performance Surfaces portfolio develop and manufacture high-performance coated materials for a variety of applications, including wall décor, museums, graphic design, architectural interiors, digital display, and industrial flooring markets. We are the global leader in anti-reflective, conservation grade electrostatic dissipative, high-definition, and abrasion resistance coatings, that provide protection, innovative designs, and exceptional durability.
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Thin Film Coatings Engineer to support the development and continuous improvement of our coated products. This person will lead efforts in Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) and in Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) for developing and optimizing thin-film coatings on glass, acrylic, and other polymeric substrates.
Responsibilities
Lead projects through new product introduction (NPI) processes including prototyping, testing, and production validation.
Work with suppliers and customers to ensure component compatibility and quality standards.
Design, develop, and optimize PVD and PECVD vacuum deposition and sputtering processes for coatings on various substrates (glass, acrylic, polycarbonate).
Integrate PECVD/PVD layers with multilayer stacks (e.g., AR coatings, barrier stacks, TCOs) for optical, mechanical, or barrier performance.
Conduct process stability studies to improve reproducibility and film uniformity across large-area substrates.
Conduct thin film characterization (optical, mechanical, structural) and interpret data to drive continuous improvement.
Develop and refine layer stacks, deposition parameters, and process recipes to meet optical and durability specifications.
Perform troubleshooting and root cause analysis for coating non-uniformities, adhesion issues, and equipment performance.
Maintain and improve vacuum deposition equipment; assist with preventive maintenance and calibration of tools.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams in materials science, process engineering, and product design to transition R&D processes into production.
Prepare detailed technical documentation, experimental reports, and contribute to intellectual property filings.
Support scale-up and pilot line testing of new coating technologies.
Personal Attributes and Experience
B.S. degree in Materials Science, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering or a related field required. (M.S. or Ph.D. Preferred)
5+ years of experience in PVD &/or PECVD coatings research and development for glass, acrylic and other polymer products.
Hands-on experience in vacuum deposition, sputtering, or thin film process development, especially PVD or PE-CVD processes.
Strong working knowledge of:
Vacuum system components (pumps, gauges, valves)
Process gases and pressure control
Substrate cleaning and surface preparation
Proficiency in data analysis, DOE (Design of Experiments), and process optimization.
Experience with optical, mechanical, or chemical characterization techniques (e.g., UV-Vis, ellipsometry, XRD, XPS, SEM, profilometry).
Understanding of scaling R&D processes to production environments.
Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
Demonstrated ability to innovate, file patents, and contribute to new product development.
Experience in new product introduction and project management preferred
Understanding of surface pretreatment techniques (O₂ plasma, corona, UV-ozone) to enhance adhesion on polymer or glass substrates.
Familiarity with coating processes for polymer substrates (e.g., adhesion layers, temperature control).
Preferred experience developing multi-layer optical coatings (Anti-Reflective, mirror, protective, conductive, etc.).
Preferred familiarity with adhesion-promoting interlayers and stack integration (e.g., SiO₂/SiNₓ, SiNₓ/ITO).
Salary Range
$100,000 - $115,000
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Our Benefits
We care about and invest in our employees. We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support their well-being and foster professional development. Here is a glimpse of what you can look forward to if you join our team.
Competitive Benefits Package for employees and their dependents (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability)
Incentive Plans
401(k) with employer contribution and match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with employer match
Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick Time)
Paid Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Wellness Program
Training and Career Progression
Apogee and our brands are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Apogee Enterprises Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Apogee Enterprises and has not been reviewed or approved by Apogee Enterprises.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Ownership via an Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a company match is positioned as a core element of total rewards, enhancing long‑term value beyond base pay. Plan updates and corporate materials emphasize this equity component as a meaningful part of compensation.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with employer contribution and match is consistently highlighted, signaling solid support for long‑term savings. Job materials and corporate content frame retirement plans as a key pillar of the package.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellness and mental‑health resources include screenings, flu shots for employees and dependents, and an EAP with multiple counseling visits plus an online CBT tool. These offerings indicate tangible investment in wellbeing beyond core medical coverage.
Apogee Enterprises Insights
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What We Do
By definition, Apogee means "highest point." It's no coincidence that it's also the name of our company. For over 70 years it is a name that has inspired and driven us to achieve a higher level of excellence in all we do. We are not satisfied with the status quo. We aim higher, think bigger, and endeavor to create even more value for every Apogee stakeholder. We strive to create peak value. Apogee is a leader in architectural products and services. Our glass and aluminum window, storefront and curtainwall systems make buildings look great, reduce energy consumption, and protect occupants and property. Our highly skilled team designs glass and metal building façades, completes massive orders for skyscrapers on time, and manages complex window, curtainwall and storefront installation projects. We are also a leader in the protection and conservation of all things framed and displayed. Our Tru Vue business provides high-performance glass and acrylic products for the custom framing, fine art, and technical glass markets.
