Koch Industries

Innovation Engineer

Koch Industries$75K — $95K *
Lisle, IL 60532In-Person
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Expertise in Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
  • Experience in materials characterization and engineering development.
  • Strong analytical and structured problem-solving abilities.
  • Proficient in experimental design and testing methodologies.
  • Excellent communication and technical documentation skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead investigations into material behavior and performance across various materials.
  • Develop experimental plans and digital twins for new materials assessment.
  • Conduct root cause analyses and failure investigations using scientific methods.
  • Design and interpret validation tests to ensure product performance reliability.
  • Capture and share technical knowledge to enhance engineering capabilities.
  • Collaborate cross-functionally to address technical challenges and influence decisions.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance and disability coverage.
  • Retirement plan with company contributions.
  • Paid vacation and time off, including parental leave and adoption assistance.
Full Job Description
Your Job

The Innovation Engineer drives the development and application of advanced materials, testing methodologies, and engineering solutions to support product innovation, reliability, manufacturing excellence, and business growth. This role partners with product engineering, manufacturing, quality, and innovation teams to solve complex technical challenges, accelerate technology development, and generate reusable knowledge that creates long-term competitive advantage for Molex.

What You Will Do

  • Materials Innovation & Technology Development
    • Lead investigations into material behavior, performance, and reliability across metals, polymers, plating, and emerging materials.
    • Develop and execute experimental plans and material digital twins to evaluate new materials, processes, and technologies.
    • Support strategic innovation initiatives by identifying and validating technologies that improve product performance, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness.
    • Contribute technical expertise to innovation projects from concept through implementation.
  • Engineering Analysis & Problem Solving
    • Conduct structured root cause analysis and failure investigations using engineering and scientific methods.
    • Perform material characterization and laboratory evaluation using microscopy, mechanical testing, and related analytical techniques as suited.
    • Apply statistical methods and data analysis to identify trends, quantify risks, and support decision-making.
    • Use simulation and modeling tools to model product performance and validate design decisions.
  • Material Validation & Testing
    • Design, execute, and interpret product and material validation testing.
    • Develop test methods, protocols, and acceptance criteria to ensure reliable performance.
    • Support verification and validation activities in partnership with product engineering teams.
    • Document test results and communicate technical recommendations clearly to stakeholders.
  • Knowledge & Capability Development
    • Capture, organize, and share technical knowledge to strengthen Molex engineering capabilities.
    • Develop technical guidance, best practices, and training materials for engineers and technical teams.
    • Contribute to enterprise knowledge systems and material intelligence initiatives .
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration
    • Partner with product development, manufacturing, supplier quality, operations, digital and business teams to address technical challenges.
    • Provide materials and testing expertise during product development programs.
    • Collaborate with external suppliers, laboratories, universities, and industry partners as appropriate.
    • Influence technical decisions through data-driven recommendations and sound engineering judgment.


Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

  • Knowledge and expertise in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Material Science or a related technical field.
  • Experience in materials characterization, product testing, manufacturing, or engineering development.
  • Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
  • Experience in using experimental design to support engineering decisions.
  • Excellent communication, collaboration, and technical documentation skills.


What Will Put You Ahead
  • Machine learning, AI, or data science applications in engineering and materials development.
  • Digital engineering, simulation automation, and model-based engineering.
  • Experience in leading enterprise innovation, technology roadmaps, or strategic R&D initiatives.
  • Statistical analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and interpretation of engineering data using tools such as Minitab or equivalent platforms
  • Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and simulation-driven engineering fundamentals.


For this role, we anticipate paying $75,000 - $95,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here .

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

#LI-MS6

About Koch Industries

Koch Industries, Inc. is an American privately-held multinational conglomerate corporation based in Wichita, Kansas. Its subsidiaries are involved in the manufacturing, refining, and distribution of petroleum, chemicals, energy, fiber, intermediates and polymers, minerals, fertilizers, pulp and paper, chemical technology equipment, ranching, finance, commodities trading, and investing. Koch owns Infor, Invista, Georgia-Pacific, Molex, Flint Hills Resources, Koch Pipeline, Koch Fertilizer, Koch Minerals, Matador Cattle Company, i360, and Guardian Industries. The firm employs 120,000 people in 60 countries, with about half of its business in the United States. The company is the largest non-Canadian landowner in the Athabasca oil sands. With annual revenues of $110 billion by 2014, the company is the largest privately held company in the United States. In 2007, it was ranked as the largest privately held company. If Koch Industries had been a public company in 2013, it would have ranked 17th in the Fortune 500. The company was founded by its namesake, Fred C. Koch, in 1940 after he developed an innovative crude oil refining process. Fred C. Koch died in 1967 and his majority interest in the company was split amongst his four sons. In June 1983, after a bitter legal and boardroom battle, the stakes of Frederick R. Koch and William "Bill" Koch were bought out for $1.1 billion and Charles Koch and David Koch became majority owners in the company. Charles owns 42% of the company; trusts for the benefit of Elaine Tettemer Marshall and Elaine's children, Preston Marshall and E. Pierce Marshall Jr., own 16% of the company. The heirs of David Koch, who died on August 23, 2019, own the balance, 42%, of the corporation.
Learn more about Koch Industries
Industry
Founded
1940

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