R&D Director

Company: Illinois Tool Works
Location: Solon
Posted on: February 22, 2026

Job Description:

The Director of R&D is the senior innovation thought leader for the ITW Engine Repair Division. This individual will successfully create differentiated technology platforms and exhibit an understanding of emerging opportunities that can be turned into business solutions. They are a key member of the Leadership Team, working with cross-functional leads to identify, evaluate, develop and commercialize new products & technologies to generate organic growth. JOB DUTIES Support divisional Strategic Planning process as needed to include competitive analysis, product testing and claim development, market sizing & trend input and the evaluation and recommendation of business strategies and tactics. Supervisory responsibility over R&D including new technology development and testing, qualification, manufacturing scale-up of product formulas, and continuous product differentiation/process improvement. Creates a collaborative, learning & accountable culture, working closely with customers, and delivering speed, quality & value consistently. Chemical Engineering Expertise Ensures the R&D team has a deep understanding of chemical engineering principles, and how those principles can be applied to bring effective business solutions. Formulation Expertise Ensures the R&D team has a deep understanding of aqueous, anaerobic and silicone chemistries and how these can be applied to create new product performance attributes that bring effective solutions to the automotive market. Manages product performance testing, qualification/validation & competitive comparisons. Coordinates on product development with other divisions as appropriate. New product development, exploring solutions that create a pipeline of differentiated new products. Leverages partnership with Marketing Team regarding market knowledge, consumer & customer behavior, industry trends and advances in technology. Leads a team to explore, test, and translate knowledge into tangible solutions. Directs research and product development efforts and ensures key milestones, project timelines and approved budgets are met. Establishes and aligns business case with cross-functional Directors and VP/GM to deliver revenue & margin targets. Prioritizes by using the ITW Toolbox. QUALIFICATIONS 15 years professional business experience leading both technical and non-technical teams Must have at least 5 years experience directly managing professional managers & leaders within an organization size of $100M BS Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or applicable field required. MS preferred. Familiarity with silicone, anaerobic and aqueous Chemistries and performance properties. PhD in similar fields and/or advanced Chemistry is a plus. Outstanding leadership skills, with demonstrated success in fostering a collaborative, accountable and solution-oriented environment. Must be innovative, flexible, curious and have exhibited success by identifying and successfully translating market ideas into tangible business solutions. Must have demonstrated success in understanding and prioritizing speed and urgency based on changing market conditions. Must have proven new product launch experience, including familiarity with innovation funnel, stage gate product development processes, strong supplier relationships and effective product lifecycle planning. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Design, testing, validation process expertise Proven portfolio management and project/process management experience Strong business acumen and outstanding presentation skills Experience in the Automotive industry COMPETENCIES: Must have a solid strategic view that positions the business to win in markets Results orientation—understands the importance of tangible results and embraces accountability Develops and manages talent, including mentoring & collaborating Leads effectively—understands how to use personal influence in building great teams, leading by example, establishing cross functional reporting and consensus and collaboration Balances data, logic and intuition in decision-making Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. This job description should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this position. Incumbents are required to perform other related functions as assigned. Compensation Information: The expected base salary for this position ranges from $140,000 to $160,00 based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications. ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Keywords: Illinois Tool Works, Elyria , R&D Director, Engineering , Solon, Ohio