New

Strategic Sourcing Engineer, Fiber Optics (Regional Category Management)

Molex
life insurance, parental leave
United States, Illinois, Lisle
2222 Wellington Court (Show on map)
Mar 04, 2026
Job Title: Strategic Sourcing Engineer, Fiber Optics (Regional Category Management) Business Unit: Global Procurement \| Datacom & Specialty Solutions (DSS) Location: Lisle, IL \| Travel: 20-30% Your Job As the Strategic Sourcing Engineer for Fiber Optics, you will own regional category strategy and new product introduction (NPD) execution across a high-growth fiber optic portfolio supporting next-generation datacom and specialty connectivity solutions. You will serve as the single point of procurement accountability for assigned fiber optic programs, leading supplier selection, cost strategy, risk mitigation, and lifecycle performance from concept through full production. This role blends long-term category ownership with hands-on NPI execution, giving you early-stage design influence and direct impact on product cost, speed-to-market, supply continuity, and margin performance. You will manage regional spend across fiber optic components and assemblies supporting data center, hyperscale, and advanced connectivity markets. This role reports to the Director of Regional Category Management and is an individual contributor position with significant cross-functional influence. Why This Role Direct impact on next-generation fiber optic product launches Early design-stage influence with engineering teams Visibility with senior procurement and business leadership Opportunity to shape regional supplier strategy in a growing technology segment Clear path toward broader global category leadership Our Team You will join the Datacom & Specialty Solutions (DSS) Procurement organization during a period of accelerated growth driven by expanding demand across data centers, hyperscale infrastructure, and advanced connectivity. Molex is a global electronics leader serving customers across multiple industries worldwide. As a subsidiary of Koch, Inc., one of the largest privately held companies in the world. Molex combines global scale and long-term investment strength with an entrepreneurial, high-performance culture guided by Principle-Based Management (PBM). In this role, you will collaborate globally with Engineering, Product Management, Operations, and key suppliers to shape sourcing strategy and directly support next-generation fiber optic product launches. What You Will Do Strategic Category Leadership Develop and execute regional sourcing strategies for fiber optic components and assemblies Drive supplier optimization, dual-sourcing strategies, and risk mitigation planning Lead executive-level supplier relationships and performance governance Identify innovation opportunities within the supply base to support product roadmaps New Product Development (NPD) Execution Lead RFQ strategy, supplier benchmarking, and commercial negotiations for new programs Own detailed cost modeling and should-cost analysis Manage BOM cost across the full product lifecycle with strong Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) discipline Embed Design-to-Value principles early in product development to influence cost, manufacturability, and quality Support aggressive commercialization timelines across multiple concurrent launches Operational & Continuous Improvement Partner with Supply Chain on capacity planning, demand alignment, and inventory optimization Oversee supplier scorecards and collaborate with QA/SQA to elevate capability Lead VA/VE and continuous cost improvement initiatives Support business continuity planning and resolution of critical supply constraints Who You Are (Basic Qualifications) 5+ years of procurement experience in direct materials within technical or engineered product environments Experience negotiating with global suppliers and managing international supply markets Strong analytical skills including cost breakdowns and financial modeling Proven ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders without direct authority SAP proficiency and advanced Excel capability Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related field Willingness to travel 20-30% What Will Put You Ahead Demonstrated experience supporting New Product Development (NPD) programs Experience in Fiber Optic Manufacturing operations and related components Experience supporting datacom, telecom, or hyperscale infrastructure markets Executive-level supplier relationship management experience MBA or advanced technical degree For this role, we anticipate paying $100,000 - $110,000 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 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, aqui, or tu). #LI-LAL #LI-ONSITE