Test Engineer

Flint Hills Resources; Lisle (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex, part of the Koch family, is seeking a hands‑on Test Engineer focused on optical fiber and high‑speed cable testing to support product development, reliability, and manufacturing validation efforts.

You will evaluate and execute mechanical and optical test plans for cable assemblies, coordinate lab activities with cross‑functional teams, analyze test data, and produce clear technical reports that drive product and process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (e.g., mechanical/electrical engineering or physics).
• Experience in product testing, lab operations, or reliability testing.
• Ability to create and execute test plans and document findings clearly.

Responsibilities

• Create, plan, and execute test plans to qualify optical fiber cable assemblies.
• Perform environmental, mechanical, and functional tests on cable assemblies.
• Coordinate lab activities with cross‑functional teams.
• Operate and maintain lab equipment and ensure calibration.
• Analyze test data and prepare technical reports and presentations.
• Identify quality-critical design aspects and drive corrective actions.
• Create and maintain test process docs and work instructions.
• Support verification and validation including requirements reviews.

Skills

Test planning

Data analysis

Lab operations

Verbal communication

Microsoft Office

Travel up to 10%

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Tools

Force measurement systems

Flex test equipment

Environmental chambers

Optical backscatter reflectometers

Interferometers

SQL databases

Job description

We are seeking a hands‑on Test Engineer focused on optical fiber and high-speed cable testing to support product development, reliability, and manufacturing validation efforts. This role will evaluate and execute mechanical and optical test plans for cable assemblies, coordinate lab activities with cross‑functional teams, analyze test data, and produce clear technical reports that drive product and process improvements.

Our Team

Molex’s Optical Connectivity Group and Datacom & Specialty Solutions Division design and deliver cutting-edge optical and high-speed data cable solutions for data centers, telecom infrastructure, and next‑generation computing. As part of Koch Industries, we foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and high technical standards across global markets.

What You Will Do

• Create, plan, and execute test plans to qualify and validate optical fiber cable assemblies (environmental, mechanical, and optical aspects).
• Perform hands‑on environmental, mechanical, and functional testing of cable assemblies and connectors according to established procedures.
• Coordinate laboratory activities with product development, manufacturing, signal integrity, and quality teams.
• Operate and maintain laboratory and test equipment; ensure test fixtures and instrumentation are calibrated and ready for use.
• Record, analyze, and interpret test data; prepare detailed technical reports and presentations summarizing methods, results, and recommendations.
• Identify critical‑to‑quality aspects of product design and manufacturing processes and work with teams to implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Create and maintain test process documentation, specifications, and work instructions.
• Support verification and validation activities, including requirements reviews and test execution tracking.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Hands‑on lab environment; ability to work with environmental and mechanical test apparatus.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs and stand for extended periods when performing hands‑on test setup and troubleshooting.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Practical experience in product testing, lab operations, or reliability testing.
• Working knowledge of standard mechanical test equipment and test procedures.
• Ability to create and execute test plans, analyze results, and document findings clearly.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for data analysis and reporting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; able to convey complex technical concepts clearly to global teams.
• Analytical thinker with the ability to apply logical reasoning, test assumptions, observe results, and make informed corrections.
• Willing and able to travel up to 10%.

What Will Put You Ahead (Preferred Qualifications)

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Familiarity with Telcordia and/or IEC fiber optic testing standards. GR-1435-CORE, GR-326-CORE, IEC 61300, etc.
• Experience with Python or similar tools for data analysis and automation.
• Experience with mechanical test equipment such as force measurement systems and flex test equipment.
• Working knowledge of environmental chambers, optical backscatter reflectometers, interferometers, single and multimode insertion loss and return loss testing.
• Familiarity with fiber optic cables and connectors, fiber cleaving/splicing, and connector end face inspection and cleaning.
• Experience using relational databases (Microsoft SQL, MySQL) for test data management.
• Understanding of ISO/IEC 17025, calibration, measurement uncertainty, test method verification, lean / six sigma training (yellow/green Belt), quality assurance/control practices, process capability, MSA/GR&R, and other process improvement tools.

For this role, we anticipate paying $90,000 - $140,000 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 .

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 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 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. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E‑Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).