A method of manufacturing a substrate (16) with a ceramic thermal barrier coating (28, 32). The interface between layers of the coating contains an engineered surface roughness (12, 24) to enhance the mechanical integrity of the bond there between. The surface roughness is formed in a surface of a mold (10,20) and is infused by a subsequently cast layer of material (16, 28). The substrate may be partially sintered (76) prior to application of the coating layer(s) and the coated substrate and coating layer(s) may be co-sintered to form a fully coherent strain-free interlayer.