Sr Materials Engineer Manager; Electrical Contacts

Position: Sr Materials Engineer Manager, (Electrical Contacts)
Your Job

Lead a global R&D team within Global Materials Engineering, comprised of Metals, Tribology, and Plating subject-matter experts (SMEs), to define, develop, and deploy enterprise-wide technology roadmaps for connector contact systems. Provide technical leadership and governance across the enterprise, supporting all Business Units (BUs) and partnering with Engineering, Manufacturing/Operations, Procurement, and Quality to deliver reliable, scalable, differentiated, and cost-effective contact surface technologies.

Develop and strengthen technical talent and supervisors by coaching, mentoring, and building functional and leadership capabilities across the global team. In addition to mid to long
-range technology development, the team provides timely, request-driven technical support to address near-term program needs, manufacturing issues, supplier challenges, and customer inquiries.

Our Team

Molex is a global leader in electronic components and solutions, with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer service. The company has been in operation for over 80 years and has a strong presence in various industries, including automotive, telecommunications, consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial automation.

Candidates can expect to work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment that values creativity, collaboration, and excellence. Molex is committed to investing in its employees and providing opportunities for growth and development.

What You Will Do

Lead a global specialist team

Manage, coach, and develop a global team of SMEs in Metals, Tribology, and Plating/Surface Finishes; balance 3-5 year roadmap execution with near-term, request-driven support, while setting priorities across multiple BUs and time zones.

Establish team operating mechanisms including technical reviews, project tracking/reporting, stakeholder engagement, decision rights, standards ownership, and knowledge management; ensure lab/operations safety, compliance, and disciplined documentation.

Serve as the enterprise technical authority for contact surfaces

Own and maintain a global materials database, specifications, and guidelines for contact base alloys, finish stacks, barrier layers, and tribological strategies (e.g., fretting mitigation, lubrication, cleanliness).Partner across the enterprise-Engineering (requirements, design guidelines, qualification plans, simulation/digital twins), Manufacturing/Operations (scalability, process capability), Procurement (supplier strategy, cost, risk), Quality/Supplier Quality, and the supply base (supplier development roadmaps)-to translate BU and customer needs into standardized solutions and enterprise technology development strategies.

Develop and maintain a 3-5 year global technology roadmap for contact materials and surface engineering (performance-cost optimization, high performance metals, precious-metal strategy, new finishes, reliability improvements, and enhanced test methods).Identify, prioritize, and lead roadmap projects and external collaborations (suppliers, labs, universities/consortia) as needed.

Support supplier technical engagement-including qualification requirements, technical reviews, change control, and new technology development-in collaboration with Procurement and Supplier Quality.

Enable BU programs and resolve high-impact issues

Provide consultative and hands-on support to BU product teams for new product development, innovation platforms, and customer qualifications, including material/finish selection and validation strategy.

Lead root-cause investigations, containment, and corrective actions for contact-related failures across plants and suppliers and verify effectiveness through testing and data.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

* Masters/Ph.D. or equivalent industrial experience in Materials Science, Metallurgy, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

* Practical Engineering experience with metallurgy and plating & finish systems, including surface-driven failure mechanisms (wear, fretting corrosion, film growth, diffusion, porosity, contamination) and impacts to manufacturability and contact resistance stability.

* Demonstrated experience in electrical contacts/connector contact systems (materials selection, plating/finish stacks, tribology/fretting, and/or contact reliability), with cross-functional collaboration in a manufacturing and supplier ecosystems.

* Five (5) years or more people management experience in leading a team

* Experience with project/program management of multi-project portfolios (scope, schedule, resourcing, risk, executive reporting) across global stakeholders.

* Experience building and executing 3-5 year technology roadmaps, including business cases and transition-to-BU adoption.

What Will Put You Ahead

* Enterprise/global experience supporting multiple BUs, plants, and supplier networks-driving consistent standards, governance, and technical decision-making.

* Deep connector contact industry…