Staff Scientist - Reliability

Requisition Number: 73878

The company built on breakthroughs. ​ 
Join us.​ 

Corning is one of the world’s leading innovators in glass, ceramic, and materials science. From the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, our technologies push the boundaries of what’s possible.  ​ 

How do we do this? With our people. They break through limitations and expectations – not once in a career, but every day. They help move our company, and the world, forward. ​ 

​At Corning, there are endless possibilities for making an impact. You can help connect the unconnected, drive the future of automobiles, transform at-home entertainment, and ensure the delivery of lifesaving medicines. And so much more.​  

Come break through with us. 

Corning’s businesses are ever-evolving to best serve our customers, industries, and consumers. Today, we accelerate and transform life sciences, mobile consumer electronics, optical communications, display, automotive, and solar markets. We are changing the world with:

• Trusted products that accelerate drug discovery, development, and delivery to save lives
• Damage-resistant cover glass to enhance the devices that keep us connected
• Optical fiber, wireless technologies, and connectivity solutions to carry information and ideas at the speed of light
• Precision glass for advanced displays to deliver richer experiences
• Auto glass and ceramics to drive cleaner, safer, and smarter transportation
• Solar polysilicon, wafers, and innovative photovoltaic modules, enabling low-cost solar energy solutions

Role Purpose

We are seeking a material scientist with experience in glass and ceramics to lead and support research and development efforts focused on the mechanical performance, durability, and failure behavior of brittle materials. The successful candidate will apply experimental and analytical methods to understand fracture, strength variability, and lifetime prediction under service conditions. This role will contribute to material design, product reliability, and risk mitigation from development through in-field deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead reliability focused projects with customers as well as internal teams
• Design and conduct experimental studies to characterize the mechanical behavior, and reliability of brittle materials (e.g., glass, ceramics).
• Analyze fracture, strength distributions, subcritical crack growth, and environmentally assisted failure.
• Develop and apply reliability models (e.g., Weibull statistics, fracture mechanics–based lifetime prediction).
• Investigate failure modes and root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (materials, design, manufacturing, quality, and reliability engineering) to translate findings into design and process improvements.
• Support qualification testing, standards development, and reliability assessments for new materials and products.
• Author technical reports, internal documentation, and peer-reviewed publications as appropriate.
• Present results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay current with advances in brittle fracture mechanics, testing methodologies, and reliability modeling.

Experiences/Education - Required

• PhD degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Strong background in fracture mechanics, brittle material behavior and glass contract mechanics including scratch.
• Experience with ion-exchange and other strengthening processes and product optimization through process.
• Experience with mechanical testing of brittle materials (e.g., flexure, indentation, fracture toughness, fatigue).
• Proficiency in statistical analysis of strength and lifetime data.
• Ability to independently plan experiments and interpret complex datasets.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Experiences/Education - Desired

• Experience with Weibull analysis, subcritical crack growth models, and lifetime prediction.
• Familiarity with fractography techniques (optical microscopy, SEM).
• Experience with interpreting finite element modeling (FEM) for stress and fracture analysis.
• Knowledge of relevant industry standards (e.g., ASTM, ISO).
• Experience working in regulated or high-reliability industries.
• Track record of publications, patents, or technology transfer.

This position supports immigration sponsorship.

The range for this position is $92,982.00 - $127,851.00 assuming full time status. Starting pay for the successful applicant is dependent on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education.

A job that shapes a life. 

Corning offers you the total package. 

Your well-being is our priority. Our compensation and benefits package supports your health and wellness, financial aspirations, and career from day one.

• Company-wide bonuses and long-term incentives align with key business results and ensure you are rewarded when the company performs well. When Corning wins, we all win.
• As part of our commitment to your financial well-being, we provide a 100% company-paid pension benefit with fixed contributions that grow throughout your career. Combined with matching contributions to your 401(k) savings plan, Corning’s total contributions to your retirement accounts can reach between 7% and 12% of your pay, depending on your age and years of service.
• Our health and well-being benefits include medical, dental, vision, paid parental leave, family building support, fitness, company-paid life insurance, disability, disease management programs, paid time off, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to support you and your family.
• Getting paid for our work is important, but feeling appreciated and recognized for those contributions motivates us much more. That’s why Corning offers a recognition program to celebrate successes and reward colleagues who make exceptional contributions.

We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Corning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and considers requests for reasonable accommodations in accordance with applicable laws. Individuals with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, perform essential job functions, or access other benefits and privileges of employment. To submit a request for reasonable accommodation related to disability or religion, please contact us at [email protected] .