Job Description

 

Project Manager R&D (gn)

 

Are you passionate about advanced materials, thin-film technologies, and turning innovative ideas into high-performance coating solutions?
Join our international R&D team and help shape the next generation of surface solutions for demanding industrial applications. In this role, you will drive development projects from concept to implementation, work closely with experts across functions and regions, and collaborate directly with internal and external customers to create solutions with real impact.

 

 

Your Responsibilities

 

  • Take ownership of product development projects focused on PVD wear protective surface solutions, from understanding application requirements to defining coating properties and evaluating optimal pre- and post-treatment processes
  • Create and verify innovative, high-performance, and cost-effective surface solutions that help our customers improve productivity, reliability, and performance
  • Plan and steer development projects, ensuring transparent communication of progress, costs, risks, and timelines in line with our project management standards
  • Validation and transfer of new processes into production in close cooperation with internal teams and external customers
  • Contribute with your technical expertise during product launches and implementation, working closely with Marketing, Sales, and Production

 

 

Your Profile

 

  • Master’s degree or PhD in physics, materials science, engineering, or a comparable technical discipline
  • Several years of experience in the development and characterization of wear-protective nitride, carbide, oxide, boride, or comparable hard coatings
  • Knowledge of thin-film deposition technologies, ideally including PVD arc, sputtering, and/or PACVD processes
  • Experience with suitable pre- and post-treatment techniques is a strong advantage
  • Experience leading or contributing to development projects in an industrial or applied R&D environment
  • Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical topics into clear messages for different audiences
  • A proactive, structured, and collaborative working style, combined with curiosity and a hands-on mindset
  • Willingness to travel internationally up to 20%
  • Fluent written and spoken English; German language skills are an advantage


We offer

 

  • An international R&D environment where you can shape future coating technologies and contribute to solutions used in demanding industrial applications
  • Close collaboration with experienced experts across technology, production, sales, and customer-facing teams
  • The opportunity to take ownership, bring in your ideas, and see your developments move from lab-scale concepts to real-world implementation

 

 

Can you identify with this position and are you looking for a new challenge? Then we are eager to meet you! Please apply online.

 

 

Contact

 

Barbara Scherrer

Phone: +4233886688

 

 

About Oerlikon

 

Oerlikon is a global leader in surface technologies and advanced materials. With a unique portfolio spanning surface engineering, high-performance materials, coating equipment and components, we make products better by enhancing performance, efficiency and sustainability. Oerlikon serves a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, luxury, semiconductors and tooling. Head-quartered in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, Oerlikon operates in 38 countries with around 10,000 employees, achieving sales of CHF 1.6 billion in 2025.

 

We offer a wide variety of job profiles in a dynamic, supportive environment where people are empowered to grow and reach their full potential — guided by our core values of integrity, team spirit, excellence and innovation.

 

Follow Oerlikon:
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www.oerlikon.com

 

Information at a Glance

Job Information

Posting Start Date:  8/28/26
ID:  104770
Job Location:  Balzers, LIE
Posting Start Date:  8/28/26
Site (Posting Location):  Balzers
Job Title:  Project Manager R&D