Jewelry Plating Engineer Full Time NEW

Position Overview

We are seeking a strategic and highly experienced Director of Jewelry Plating & Surface Engineering to lead the vision, development, and global execution of all metal finishing processes across our product portfolio.

This role is responsible for defining plating strategy, elevating product quality and durability, driving innovation in materials and finishes, and ensuring scalable, sustainable operations across internal and external manufacturing partners. You will serve as the technical authority on plating and surface engineering, while also acting as a key cross-functional leader influencing product development, sourcing, quality, and operations.

Responsibilities
 Strategic Leadership & Ownership

• Define and execute the global plating and surface engineering strategy aligned with brand standards, growth goals, and product innovation
• Establish long-term roadmaps for technology adoption, sustainability, and process excellence
• Serve as the company’s subject matter expert on all plating and finishing technologies

Process Excellence & Innovation

• Lead the development, optimization, and industrialization of plating processes (gold, silver, rhodium, PVD, e-coating, and emerging technologies)
• Set enterprise standards for finish quality, durability, color consistency, and performance
• Drive innovation in eco-friendly coatings, alternative materials, and next-generation finishing technologies

Global Manufacturing & Supplier Leadership

• Oversee plating capabilities across global suppliers and contract manufacturers, ensuring consistency and compliance
• Partner with sourcing and supply chain teams to select, develop, and audit vendors
• Lead efforts to scale new processes across multiple sites with speed and precision

Quality & Customer Experience

• Establish and govern quality frameworks to reduce defects and improve product longevity
• Leverage customer feedback, returns data, and field performance insights to drive systemic improvements
• Ensure alignment between design intent and real-world product performance

Operational Excellence

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and best-in-class operational practices across plating operations
• Define KPIs and performance metrics for plating quality, efficiency, and sustainability

Chemical Management, Compliance & Sustainability 

• Ensure global compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations (OSHA, EPA, REACH, RoHS)
• Lead initiatives to reduce environmental impact through safer chemistries, waste reduction, and sustainable processes
• Oversee chemical management standards across all facilities and partners

Teamwork

• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning
• Act as a coach and thought partner to cross-functional leaders

Cross-Functional Influence

• Partner with Product Development, Design, Sourcing, to balance aesthetics, cost, manufacturability, and durability
• Play a key role in speed-to-market initiatives and product commercialization
• Influence executive decision-making through data-driven insights and technical expertise

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgy, or related field required; advanced degree (MS, PhD, or MBA) preferred
• 12–15+ years of progressive experience in electroplating, metal finishing, or surface engineering
• 5–10+ years of leadership experience managing teams and/or global operations
• Proven track record of:
  • Leading and scaling plating operations in jewelry, luxury goods, or precision manufacturing
  • Driving innovation and process transformation across complex supply chains
  • Implementing global quality and operational excellence frameworks
• Deep expertise in:
  • Electrochemistry and advanced plating technologies (gold, silver, rhodium, PVD, e-coating)
  • Process development, validation, and industrialization at scale
  • Quality systems, defect reduction, and performance optimization
• Strong knowledge of global EHS and regulatory standards
• Experience managing global suppliers, multi-site manufacturing, and outsourced production models
• Demonstrated success driving strategic initiatives (cost optimization, sustainability, new technology adoption)
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to influence trade-offs across quality, cost, and speed
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Passion for design, craftsmanship, and innovation within the fashion or jewelry space