Sr. Mechanical Engineer - United States

Location(s): Lisle, IllinoisCompany: MolexCareer Field: EngineeringJob Number: 192919Apply: JobAs part of Molex's strategic investment in CAEPlus and the ongoing development of next-generation AI data center thermal management solutions, this position will operate in a unique collaboration model between the two organizations. While employed by Molex and receiving all Molex employment benefits, the successful candidate will work closely with the CAEPlus team and focus primarily on advancing CAEPlus technologies, products, and innovation initiatives. This role offers the entrepreneurial environment of a growing technology venture combined with the resources, stability, and engineering expertise of a global industry leader.This role leads the mechanical design, product validation, and manufacturing development of BoundaryCool thermal management solutions for the CAEPlus Phase I program. The engineer will own the detailed design of cold plates, active module integration geometry, and manufacturing drawings — driving the full product development lifecycle from concept through prototype validation. Working directly with the CAEPlus founder and cross-functional program team, this individual will apply expertise across precision machining, materials, and thermal hardware design to bring a breakthrough active cooling platform to market.What You Will DoLead the design and development of cold plates and thermal management solutions for AI accelerator and CPU chip cooling applicationsCollaborate with cross-functional teams, including mechatronics engineer, thermal engineer, PCB designer, CAD designer, and CNC machinist, to ensure seamless integration of mechanical and electromechanical componentsDevelop manufacturing drawings and CAD models for CNC operations on copper, aluminum, and plastic componentsPerform tolerance analysis on all mating interfaces of cold plate and thermal solution external and internal components.Evaluate fastener and sealing options for cold plate and thermal solution assembliesConduct DFM and DFMEA review targeting initial prototype quantities scaling to high-volume productionDefine machining parameters and CNC operations in collaboration with the CNC machinist and CM partnerPerform engineering calculations and provide input for numerical simulations to validate design concepts and optimize thermal and mechanical performanceConduct feasibility studies and risk assessments to identify potential design limitations and propose effective solutionsCollaborate with vendors and suppliers to source components and materials in compliance with cost and quality targetsConduct thorough testing and validation of prototypes, analyzing test data, and implementing design improvements as necessarySupport special manufacturing processes for cold plate prototyping including micro-channel machining, skiving, brazing, laser cutting, laser welding, laser etching, additive manufacturing, and other related operationsFollow a structured product development process to bring new products to market on time and per industry standardsCollaborate directly with customer engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycleSupport customer-facing technical presentations with engineering drawings and manufacturability documentationWho You Are (Basic Qualifications)BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent5+ years of experience in product design, design verification & validation, and manufacturing engineeringProficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA, or equivalent) and CAM workflowsExperience with CNC machining, laser cutting, laser welding, laser etching, sheet metal fabrication, and additive manufacturingExperience producing manufacturing drawings with GD&T and working with machine shops and fabrication vendorsStrong understanding of metallurgical concepts and material properties, including copper, aluminum, brass, other relevant engineering alloys, as well as polymers.Experience with tolerance analysis and DFM for precision machined componentsWhat Will Put You AheadMS in Mechanical Engineering or Material Science (Metallurgy background is a plus)Experience designing liquid cooling hardware (cold plates, manifolds, heat exchangers)Experience with micro-channel or micro-feature CNC machiningExperience with failure analysis (FA) methods, root cause investigation, and metallography sample preparation including sectioning, mounting, polishing and etchingExperience with material characterization and non-destructive testing (NDT), including X-ray inspection and optical or electron microscopyFamiliarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) toolsFamiliarity with Open Compute Project (OCP) standard protocolsFamiliarity with BSPP, NPT, Universal Quick Disconnect (UQD) fluid connector standardsSix Sigma or DFM/DFMEA certificationFor this role, we anticipate paying $100,000 - $130,000 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 PhilosophyAll 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 AreAt 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 BenefitsOur 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 OpportunitiesEqual 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).#LI-RL1