Process Technology Lead - Laser Technologies

Roche • Indianapolis, IN

9d

About The Position

At Roche you can show up as yourself, embraced for the unique qualities you bring. Our culture encourages personal expression, open dialogue, and genuine connections, where you are valued, accepted and respected for who you are, allowing you to thrive both personally and professionally. This is how we aim to prevent, stop and cure diseases and ensure everyone has access to healthcare today and for generations to come. Join Roche, where every voice matters. The Position Doing now what patients need next. The customer area Near Patient Care (NPC) unites Roche’s Point of Care and Diabetes Care portfolios. Our ambition is to improve disease management by enabling critical answers and personalized care, closer to the people we serve. With our passion we bring testing closer to patients and empower people to better monitor their own health and help healthcare professionals make faster, more confident decisions closer to the patient. Within NPC Operations, we are globally accountable for the end-to-end production of solutions for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), blood glucose monitoring (BGM), and insulin delivery (IDS), as well as Point-of-Care (POC) products. The most relevant internal manufacturing sites are Mannheim in Germany and Indianapolis in the USA. Your new team As Manufacturing Science and Technology in NPC Operations, we bridge the gap between development and manufacturing. With around 200 colleagues across Mannheim, Indianapolis, and Rotkreuz, we lead technology strategy, product design industrialization, and collaboration with external partners throughout the product lifecycle. As a project-based organization, we enable scalable product designs ready for mass production, ensure robust processes and equipment for excellent yields, and ensure scalable QC processes. Partnering with external networks, we secure competitive manufacturing costs and reliable production. We are committed to building a global, diverse and inclusive team, bringing together various perspectives and skills to foster innovation and create a great place to work for all. The Opportunity As a Process Technology Lead - Laser Technologies, you will take on a highly specialized role in our organization and ensure the successful development and transfer into series production of laser beam microstructuring processes (especially with USP lasers, i.e., Ultrafast Short-Pulse lasers) based on a deep understanding of cold ablation process and extremely precise material removal rates.

Requirements

• Completed degree (Master/Diploma/PhD) in Physics, Photonics, Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a comparable engineering discipline.
• At least 3–5 years of practical experience in the development of laser processes, ideally in the field of microstructuring or micromachining.
• Expert knowledge in laser physics and deep understanding of laser-matter interaction, especially with short-pulse (ns) and ultra-short-pulse lasers (ps/fs) and their influence on various materials (metals, ceramics, glass, polymers).
• Demonstrable experience in statistical experimental design (DoE) and data evaluation (e.g., with Minitab, JMP, or Python/Matlab).
• Knowledge of optics & beam guidance. Confident handling of optical components, scanner systems (Galvo), and understanding of beam shaping and focus positions.
• Experience with analytics & metrology - Routine handling of surface measuring instruments (confocal microscopes, profilometers) to validate the processing results.
• Structured way of working with a distinct analytical mindset and the ability to translate complex physical relationships into stable industrial processes.
• Understanding of industrial requirements (cycle time, OEE, process capability, CPK) is essential.
• Fluent English for reading scientific papers and communicating with international suppliers/customers.
• Location Mannheim or Indianapolis - Please be aware that the position requires a commitment to spend 30% on business trips.

Responsibilities

• Conducting feasibility studies and developing robust processes for laser ablation, cutting, and drilling in the micrometer range.
• Systematic process window determination based on the application of scientific methods (e.g., DoE – Design of Experiments) to define stable process parameters (pulse energy, repetition rate, scanning speed).
• Selection and qualification of laser sources - Evaluation and selection of suitable beam sources (e.g., picosecond or femtosecond lasers) and optical components for specific material requirements.
• Analysis of ablation results using high-resolution measuring technology (e.g., light microscopy, white light interferometry, SEM) to ensure the quality of the microstructuring.
• Optimization of beam guidance and shaping - Adaptation and adjustment of optical systems (scanners, objectives, beam expanders) to achieve optimal focus diameters and beam profiles.
• Transfer to series production - Transferring the developed processes from laboratory status to industrial series maturity, including the creation of necessary documentation and work instructions.
• Identification of the causes of process deviations (Root Cause Analysis) and development of corrective measures for existing manufacturing processes.
• Technology scouting: Monitoring current trends in laser research and examining new technologies for their applicability in the company.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Close coordination with design engineering (mechanical engineering), software development, and product management for the integration of the processes into the overall system.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level