Koch Industries

Simulation R&D Engineer

Koch Industries$90K — $120K *
Lisle, IL 60532In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field.
  • Strong background in solid mechanics and finite element methods.
  • Hands-on experience with major FEA tools like Abaqus and ANSYS Workbench.
  • Proficient in Python and scientific computing libraries (NumPy, SciPy).
  • Experience with managing simulation datasets and AI/ML model workflows.
  • Excellent communication skills for interdisciplinary teamwork.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and validate next-generation simulation frameworks using AI/ML.
  • Integrate reduced-order models into existing FEA workflows for efficiency.
  • Build and calibrate surrogate models to approximate high-fidelity simulations.
  • Automate data management pipelines from FEA results to aid in model training.
  • Analyze model fidelity and computational efficiency trade-offs.
  • Evaluate and deploy emerging AI technologies for simulation optimization.
  • Design automated optimization workflows for FEA and signal integrity simulations.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • Flexible spending and health savings accounts.
  • Life insurance and disability coverage.
  • Retirement planning options.
  • Paid vacation and time off.
  • Educational assistance for professional growth.
  • Support for fertility, parental leave, and adoption.
Full Job Description
Your Job

We are seeking a highly motivated engineer to develop and apply artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) techniques to accelerate structural and electrical simulations. This role bridges product development, finite element analysis (FEA), signal integrity (SI) analysis, and AI modeling, enabling faster and smarter product design.

You will work closely with domain experts in simulation and data science to explore physics-informed AI models and hybrid simulation workflows (e.g., reduced-order modeling, surrogate modeling, or neural operators) for real-world structural applications.

What You Will Do
  • Develop, implement, and validate next-generation simulation frameworks that leverage data-driven and physics-based approaches to accelerate structural and multi-physics analyses.
  • Integrate physics-informed or reduced-order models into existing FEA workflows (e.g., Abaqus, LS-DYNA, ANSYS Workbench) to enhance speed and scalability.
  • Build and calibrate surrogate models that accurately approximate high-fidelity simulations while maintaining minimal accuracy loss.
  • Automate data generation and management pipelines from FEA results to support model training, validation, and continuous improvement.
  • Analyze and balance trade-offs among model fidelity, computational efficiency, and generalization performance for different applications.
  • Evaluate and deploy emerging AI-for-simulation technologies (e.g., Altair PhysicsAI, Ansys SimAI) to accelerate structural, thermal, and electrical co-simulation and design optimization.
  • Design and enhance automated optimization workflows that couple FEA and signal integrity simulations (e.g., using ModeFrontier, ANSYS OptiSLang, or equivalent platforms).
  • Document, publish, and communicate findings to promote adoption of advanced simulation methodologies across engineering teams.


Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)
  • B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
  • Strong foundation in solid mechanics, finite element methods (FEM), and numerical modeling for structural and multi-physics applications.
  • Hands-on experience with one or more major FEA tools (e.g., Abaqus, ANSYS Workbench, LS-DYNA), including setup, analysis, and interpretation of results.
  • Proficient in Python programming, with experience in numerical and scientific computing libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and related tools.
  • Experience with data preprocessing, model training, and validation workflows, including handling simulation datasets and building data pipelines for AI/ML applications.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts effectively to interdisciplinary teams and stakeholders.


What Will Put You Ahead
  • M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field, with a strong focus on computational modeling or AI applications.
  • Experience with advanced machine learning architectures, such as Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) etc., for physics-based modeling.
  • Prior exposure to AI-driven simulation frameworks such as PhysicsAI, SimAI, or equivalent platforms.
  • Background in reduced-order modeling (ROM), surrogate modeling, or Bayesian calibration, with experience in integrating these approaches into simulation workflows.
  • Familiarity with CAD/CAE automation and data pipelines for simulation-driven design and optimization.
  • Proven ability to translate research concepts into practical, deployable solutions in engineering or simulation contexts.
  • Strong record of technical contributions, such as peer-reviewed publications, patents, or conference presentations.


For this role, we anticipate paying $90,000 - $120,000 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.

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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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