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 proactive and detail-driven Product Engineer to support the development and continuous improvement of our manufacturing products. This person will join an R&D team specializing in value-added coatings for glass, acrylic and other polymer products. This role plays a critical part in bridging the gap between design and production—ensuring products are engineered for functionality, manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and quality. You will work cross-functionally with design, operations, quality, and supply chain teams to bring products from ideation to manufacturing certification.
Responsibilities
Support projects through new product introduction (NPI) processes including prototyping, testing, and production validation.
Analyze product performance and production issues including performing defect analysis (e.g. streaking, orange peel, adhesion issues, poor curing).
Evaluate and improve existing manufacturing processes for efficiency, quality, and cost reduction.
Evaluate and qualify alternative materials for cost, performance, or sustainability goals.
Work with suppliers and customers to ensure component compatibility and quality standards.
Support root cause analysis and corrective action for product quality issues (CAPA, FMEA, etc.).
Ensure products comply with industry standards and safety regulations.
Provide technical support to manufacturing, quality, and maintenance teams (substrate preparation coating application, curing, and environmental controls).
Assist in design, development, and optimization of vacuum deposition and sputtering processes for coatings on various substrates (glass, acrylic, polycarbonate).
Conduct thin film characterization (optical, mechanical, structural) and interpret data to drive continuous improvement.
Maintain and improve vacuum deposition equipment; assist with preventive maintenance and calibration of tools as needed.
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
Required Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Physics, Engineering or a related field.
Proficiency in data analysis, DOE (Design of Experiments), and process optimization.
Experience with optical, mechanical, or chemical characterization techniques (e.g., UV-Vis, ellipsometry, SEM, profilometry).
Strong technical writing and documentation skills.
Preferred Experience
Preferred experience in coatings research and development for glass, acrylic and other polymer products.
Preferred experience in one or several coatings technologies:
Vacuum deposition, sputtering, or thin film process development.
Wet-film coatings technology (UV-Blocking, Protective, weatherable, hydrophobic, etc).
Coating processes for polymer substrates (e.g., adhesion layers, temperature control)
Preferred experience with PLC or HMI-based process control systems.
Preferred experience in new product introduction and project management
Preferred experience with application of pressure-sensitive adhesives
Salary: $65k-72k
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.