Location: Doylestown, PA
Department: Production - Coating
Reports to: Production Manager - Coating

We are seeking a highly experienced and innovative Thin Film Engineering Technician to work with the R&D Engineering team on the design, hands-on development, and optimization of advanced optical coatings for electronic display, touchscreen, precision optics, and aerospace applications (including satellites and interplanetary spacecraft). This role is pivotal in supporting high-performance and high-reliability aerospace, defense, avionic, medical, and industrial markets.

This is an excellent opportunity for an energetic, forward-thinking individual to work in a fun, fast-paced environment.

• Collaborate with engineers, technicians, and production staff to ensure successful transfer of coating designs and process details to manufacturing.
• Help create and optimize processes for complex thin film coatings (e.g., AR, dichroic short wave pass filters, dielectrically enhanced ITO coatings) using industry-standard software (TFCalc, FilmStar) and through hands on processing of batch and roll-to roll thin film coating systems.
• Operate and help maintain thin film vacuum deposition systems (e-beam, ion-assisted deposition, sputtering) in a cleanroom environment. Prepare, run, and monitor thin film coating processes, including multilayer stacks for reflection, transmission, and conductivity performance.
• Measure and evaluate coatings using optical and physical metrology tools (e.g., spectrophotometers, profilometers, ellipsometers, adhesion and abrasion resistance).
• Troubleshoot coating runs/defects and assist with root cause analysis for process deviations.
• Help perform preventive maintenance on vacuum pumps, chambers, and associated equipment.
• Support fixture design and provide input on process improvements.
• Help develop and maintain process documentation including best practice work instructions, engineering-to-production work order conversions, FMEA, control plans, and PPAPs.
• Mentor less experienced technicians and provide technical leadership across coating operations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate customer specifications into manufacturable coating solutions.
• Maintain accurate documentation of processes, runs, and test results.
• Support production as needed.
• Safely handle equipment and materials in accordance with company policies and industry standards.

Since 1971, Dontech has been at the forefront of engineering and manufacturing advanced optical coatings, filters, and assemblies that solve mission-critical challenges in aerospace, avionics, military, medical, and high-reliability industrial applications. We innovate solutions for problems worth solving - whether it’s creating conductive optical filters for cockpit displays, thermal coatings for satellites, or transparent heaters for medical imaging systems.

As a Thin Film Engineering Technician, you’ll be part of a close-knit, results-driven team dedicated to innovation, continuous improvement, and customer satisfaction. At Dontech, you won’t just be operating equipment—you’ll be contributing to the performance and reliability of systems that matter.

We are a privately held, family-owned company with a 50+ year track record of growth, teamwork, and integrity. If you value hands-on problem-solving, technical excellence, and a collaborative culture, we’d love to have you apply to be considered for our team.

• Associate’s degree in a technical discipline (physics, engineering technology, optics, or similar) or high school diploma with equivalent relevant technical experience – combination of hands on and formal education towards a Bachelor of Science in Optical or Electrical Engineering, or towards a Bachelor of Science in Physics. We value high skill level and relevant experience over only having the formal education. Candidates with significant relevant experience are encouraged to apply.
• 5–10 years of experience in high-performance optical thin film coating design and manufacturing. Hands-on experience with thin film vacuum deposition processes (electron beam, ion-assisted, DLC, sputtering, and IBS).
• Deep understanding of high vacuum systems, deposition physics, and thin film characterization. Familiarity with optical test equipment and coating evaluation methods. Proficiency in coating design software and optical simulation tools.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience in low to mid-volume, high-mix production environments.
• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and problem-solving s