Manager - Coating Technologies & Development

Job Summary

The Manager – Coating Technologies & Development is responsible for the safe, efficient, and effective leadership of the company’s coating and associated manufacturing operations, including High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF), cladding, laser processing, and related machining activities.

This position leads departmental employees and oversees production scheduling, equipment readiness, process control, quality, product and process development, and continuous improvement. The Manager – Coatings & Development works closely with Engineering, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, cost, capacity, and customer requirements.

What You'll DoOperations and People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop employees within the coating, cladding, HVOF, laser, and associated manufacturing areas.
• Plan labour, equipment, materials, and production priorities to meet operational and customer commitments.
• Own departmental schedules, workflow, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
• Monitor performance and address issues affecting safety, quality, productivity, cost, or delivery.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, technical training, cross-training, performance development, and succession planning.
• Coordinate overtime and off-hour operational support when required.

Health and Safety

• Act as a visible safety leader and ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and applicable health and safety requirements.
• Promote safe work practices, strong housekeeping standards, and timely hazard correction.
• Participate in risk assessments, inspections, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
• Ensure contractors are approved and compliant before beginning work.

Production and Equipment

• Oversee the daily operation, availability, and readiness of coating, cladding, HVOF, laser, CNC, and supporting equipment.
• Ensure required tooling, programs, powders, wires, gases, and consumables are available for scheduled work.
• Coordinate equipment diagnostics, troubleshooting, repairs, and preventative maintenance with internal personnel, vendors, and contractors.
• Lead the development and maintenance of critical-spares and shop-supply programs for coating and related manufacturing equipment.
• Support equipment selection, installation, commissioning, qualification, and capacity expansion.

Process and Quality Management

• Oversee the development, qualification, implementation, and control of coating, cladding, HVOF, laser, and related manufacturing processes.
• Ensure approved procedures, specifications, drawings, parameters, and work instructions are available and followed.
• Work with Engineering and Quality to establish process controls, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Support the qualification of materials, powders, wires, consumables, equipment, and application processes.
• Lead or support investigations involving non-conformances, rework, process failures, warranty claims, and customer concerns.
• Ensure root causes are identified, and corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
• Maintain accurate and complete technical, quality, and production documentation.

Product Research and Development

• Lead research and development involving new coatings, powders, materials, cladding applications, laser technologies, products, and manufacturing methods.
• Work with Engineering, Quality, Sales, and Operations to identify product-development opportunities based on customer requirements, field performance, and market needs.
• Define and coordinate prototypes, product trials, test plans, technical assessments, and process-validation activities.
• Evaluate manufacturability, production cost, equipment requirements, operational risks, and capacity implications.
• Lead the transition of new or improved products and processes into safe, controlled, repeatable, and commercially viable production.
• Monitor newly introduced products and processes and coordinate adjustments when required.

Planning and Cross-Functional Support

• Lead the technical and operational review of internal and customer job requests to confirm scope, drawings, specifications, materials, powder requirements, estimated hours, tooling, and equipment needs.
• Resolve missing or conflicting information before work enters production.
• Collaborate with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Project Management to support accurate quotations and achievable delivery commitments.
• Provide technical and operational guidance within the position’s area of responsibility.
• Communicate operational risks, technical concerns, capacity limitations, and potential schedule impacts.
• Support capital planning, coating and machining capacity growth, cost-reduction initiatives, and continuous improvement projects.

What You'll Need

• Diploma or degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a related discipline is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of technical education and relevant industry experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in coatings, cladding, HVOF, laser processing, welding, metallurgy, machining, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Previous experience supervising or managing employees in a technical production environment.
• Experience with process development, qualification, process control, production planning, equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and quality systems.
• Experience with HVOF, thermal spray, laser cladding, laser welding, weld overlay, automated cladding systems, or CNC machining is preferred.
• Familiarity with applicable CWB, ASME, API, or customer-specific requirements is an asset.
• Professional Engineer designation is an asset but is not required unless the position holds formal engineering approval authority.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, material requirements, and manufacturing procedures.

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