Operator Lead

Koch; Naperville (IL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex in Naperville, IL, is seeking a Fiber Optics Group Lead for the second shift. This hands-on technical leader will guide production personnel, provide training, and resolve issues to ensure safe, efficient manufacturing aligned with quality standards and customer requirements.

You will collaborate with the Production Supervisor, Engineering, Quality, and Technicians to advance capability, support NPI, and maintain clear shift handoffs between first and second shift, ensuring delivery and

Qualifications

• Ability to train, coach, and communicate with personnel across varying skill levels.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to work the assigned second-shift schedule (2pm-12am) and support shift coverage based on business needs.
• 5+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Experience reading engineering drawings and process documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, support, and direction to second-shift production personnel
• Coordinate work activities to support production priorities and customer schedules
• Train new operators and technicians on manufacturing methods and standard operating procedures
• Serve as a technical expert for fiber optic assembly and manufacturing processes
• Promote compliance with work instructions, workmanship standards, and customer requirements
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Lead by example for safety culture and compliance

Skills

Leadership

Training & coaching

Troubleshooting

Reading drawings

MS Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

SAP

Job description

Your Job

The Fiber Optics Group Lead - Second Shift is a hands-on technical leader responsible for supporting second-shift fiber optic manufacturing operations while providing direction, training, and technical guidance to production personnel.

This role serves as the primary technical resource on the production floor during second shift, ensuring products are manufactured safely, efficiently, and in accordance with quality standards and customer requirements. The Group Lead works closely with the Production Supervisor, Engineering, Quality, and Technicians to advance team capability, support new product introductions (NPI), resolve technical issues, and drive operational excellence. The position also maintains clear communication and continuity between first- and second-shift operations.

Our Team

You will join a collaborative operations team focused on delivering innovative optical connectivity solutions through operational excellence, continuous improvement, and principled entrepreneurship.

What You Will Do

Production support:

• Provide day-to-day technical guidance, support, and direction to second-shift production personnel

• Assist in coordinating work activities to support production priorities and customer schedules

• Monitor workflow and help address barriers impacting production, quality, safety, and delivery

• Serve as the first point of contact during second shift for operational issues, escalating matters that require supervisor, engineering, quality, or other cross-functional support

• Facilitate effective shift handoffs between first and second shift, including clear communication of production status, priorities, quality concerns, material constraints, equipment issues, and open actions

• Review second-shift staffing, work readiness, and available resources; communicate gaps that may affect safety, quality, or delivery

• Document unresolved issues and open actions to ensure appropriate follow-up by the Production Supervisor or supporting departments

Training and development:

• Train new operators and technicians on manufacturing methods and standard operating procedures

• Assess and provide feedback on operator and technician competency and process understanding, recommending readiness for independent operation

• Support and promote cross-training initiatives to increase workforce flexibility

• Own the creation, revision, and continuous improvement of work instructions, ensuring they are accurate and reflect current manufacturing processes and product requirements

Technical leadership:

• Serve as a technical expert for fiber optic assembly and manufacturing processes

• Troubleshoot process, equipment, tooling, and quality issues

• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions

• Recommend improvements to processes, fixtures, tooling, and workflow

• Collaborate with engineering to identify and evaluate alternate components and material substitutions and resolve component-related issues

Quality responsibilities:

• Promote compliance with work instructions, workmanship standards, and customer requirements

• Ensure quality concerns, process deviations, and nonconformances are identified, communicated, and escalated promptly while supporting containment and recommending corrective actions

• Serve as a technical resource during quality investigations, helping evaluate potential causes and recommending actions to prevent recurrence

Continuous improvement:

• Participate in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives

• Support the implementation of process improvements, standardized work, organization, and visual management practices to improve operational efficiency and consistency

Safety and compliance:

• Promote a strong safety culture and lead by example

• Identify and communicate safety concerns

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Ability to effectively train, coach, and communicate with personnel across varying skill levels

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Ability to work the assigned second-shift schedule (2pm-12am) and support shift coverage based on business needs

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

• Experience reading engineering drawings and process documentation

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications

What Will Put You Ahead

• Experience in fiber optic manufacturing

• Experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement practices

• Technical certification or equivalent experience

• Bilingual proficiency is highly desirable (English and Spanish preferred)

• SAP experience

For this role, we anticipate paying $22 - $26 per hour. 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.

In order to comply with U.S. export control laws and regulations, this position requires applicants to either provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status or be eligible to receive an export authorization (a license) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and/or the Export Administration Regulations.

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.

Who We Are

As a Koch company, Molex is a leading supplier of connectors and interconnect components, driving innovation in electronics and supporting industries from automotive to health care and consumer to data communications. The thousands of innovators who work for Molex have made us a global electronics leader. Our experienced people, groundbreaking products and leading-edge technologies help us deliver a wider array of solutions to more markets than ever before.

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

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.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify.