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Innovation Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Koch Industries

Innovation Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Your Job The Innovation Engineer drives the development and application of advanced materials, testing methodologies, and engineering solutions to support product innovation, reliability ...

Koch Industries

Associate Innovation Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$60K - $80K/yr

Your Job The Associate Innovation Engineer drives the development and application of advanced materials, testing methodologies, and engineering solutions to support product innovation, reliability ...

New

Pwc

Tax Innovation - DevOps - Senior Manager

Chicago, IL · On-site

$124K - $335K/yr

Industry/Sector Not Applicable Specialism Core DevSecOps Engineering Management Level Senior Manager & Summary The Opportunity As a Tax Innovation - DevOps - Senior Manager, you will lead the charge ...

HDR

Site Civil EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL · On-site

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

HDR

Site Civil EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

HDR

Electrical EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL · On-site

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

HDR

Mechanical EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

HDR

Electrical EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL · On-site

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

HDR

Mechanical EIT/Coordinator

Chicago, IL · On-site

We believe building engineering is more than systems and structures, it's about powering progress and enabling innovation. As part of HDR's Building Engineering Services Group, you'll help design the ...

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Showing results 1-20

All JobsInnovation Engineer JobsInnovation Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Innovation Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$38.1K

$89.8K

$140.6K

How much do innovation engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for innovation engineer in Chicago, IL is $89,849.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,800.00 and $100,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an innovation engineer do?

An Innovation Engineer develops new technologies, processes, and solutions to drive business growth and efficiency. They work at the intersection of engineering, research, and business strategy to create and implement innovative ideas. Responsibilities often include prototyping, testing, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to solve complex challenges. Their goal is to improve existing systems or introduce groundbreaking advancements in their industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an innovation engineer?

To thrive as an Innovation Engineer, you need strong analytical thinking, creative problem-solving abilities, and a degree in engineering or a related technical field. Experience with prototyping tools, CAD software, rapid development platforms, and knowledge of innovation frameworks like Design Thinking are often required. Exceptional collaboration skills, adaptability, and effective communication make someone stand out in this dynamic role. These capabilities are important because Innovation Engineers are responsible for driving new product ideas from concept to execution, requiring both technical excellence and cross-functional teamwork.

What are typical challenges innovation engineers face in their daily work?

Innovation Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing open-ended creativity with practical business constraints and tight project deadlines. Navigating stakeholder expectations, integrating emerging technologies, and validating new ideas through rapid prototyping are also common hurdles. Success in this role involves staying resilient in the face of setbacks, efficiently adapting to changing project priorities, and maintaining strong collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Overcoming these challenges is part of what makes the role both demanding and rewarding, offering continuous learning and growth opportunities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Innovation Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Innovation Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Innovation Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $89,849 per year, or $43.2 per hour.

Innovation Engineer

Koch Industries

Lisle, IL • On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 17 days ago

Koch Industries rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 53 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

137th of 545 rated manufacturers

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.
Our Team
At Molex Connected Mobility, we're shaping how vehicles communicate, developing technologies that are integrated directly into next-generation vehicles, from 5G connectivity to advanced antenna systems.
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 .
Who We Are
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.
#LI-MS6
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. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here , aquí , or tu ).
#LI-MS6

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