Communication Skills, Continuous Improvement, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Energy Efficiency, Engineering Management, Environmental Impact, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Marketing, Mentoring, Performance Management, Process Improvement, Product Design, Product Development, Product Lifecycle, Product Lifecycle Management, Product Support, Product/Service Launch, Project/Program Management, Quality Management, Regulations, Requirements Management, Requirements Validation/Verification, Risk Management, System Integration (SI), Talent Management, Team Lead/Manager, Technical Delivery, Trend Analysis, User Interface/Experience (UI/UX), Willing to Travel
Location: Onsite, four days per week - Kohler, WI
Opportunity
Kohler is transforming everyday routines into restorative wellness rituals. We are seeking a visionary Engineering Manager to lead the development of next-generation wellness products that deliver measurable physical, mental, and sensory benefits.
In this role, you will lead a team of engineers responsible for designing innovative, high-performance products that elevate Kohler Wellness experiences. You will drive the integration of engineering excellence with user-centered wellness outcomes-balancing speed, quality, and innovation to deliver category-defining solutions.
This hands-on leader will guide teams through Kohler's New Product Development process, owning product integrity from concept through launch and lifecycle. Success requires a blend of technical mastery, talent development, and the ability to translate emerging wellness insights into differentiated product experiences.
HOW YOU'LL CONTRIBUTE
Lead & Inspire Wellness Innovation
- Build and mentor a high-performing, diverse engineering team focused on delivering products that enhance physical recovery, relaxation, and overall wellbeing
- Foster a culture of ownership, experimentation, and continuous learning to unlock new wellness-driven solutions.
Advance Engineering Excellence for Wellbeing
- Lead by doing and example. Champion robust design practices that ensure safety, performance, and consistent delivery of intended wellness benefits
- Apply engineering rigor to validate indeded outcomes
- Proactively identify and mitigate technical risks
Deliver Transformational Wellness Products
- Drive execution within the stage-gate development process, ensuring speed to market without compromising quality
- Translate complex wellness needs into clear engineering requirements and product specifications
- Enable confident, data-driven decision making across the development lifecycle
Optimize the Product Experience Across Its Lifecycle
- Continuously improve products to enhance performance, reliability, cost, and user experience
- Ensure post-launch insights are captured and translated into meaningful product evolution
Stay Ahead of the Wellness Landscape
- Maintain deep awareness of emerging wellness trends, recovery science, and competitive innovations
- Act as the technical authority for the wellness product portfolio, identifying opportunities for differentiation
Think Strategically
- Enable scalable design strategies for global deployment
Build Cross-Functional Alignment
- Collaborate closely with Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Quality, and Program Management to deliver cohesive, high-impact solutions
- Ensure the customer and user experience remain central to all engineering decisions
Champion Sustainable Wellbeing
- Design with intention-minimizing environmental impact while maximizing human benefit
- Advance water, energy, and material efficiency without compromising product performance or experience
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
- Manage a dynamic portfolio of engineering work aligned to wellness innovation priorities
- Balance resources and assign work based on business impact and team capability
- Establish clear objectives that align engineering performance with broader business and wellness goals
- Lead performance management and development planning for team members
- Define and validate product requirements spanning customer needs, regulatory standards, and engineering performance
- Review and approve key technical deliverables with a focus on functional integrity and user outcomes
- Drive continuous improvement across tools, processes, and product designs
Lead cost optimization initiatives while preserving product experience and quality
- Collaborate globally to support product launches and lifecycle management across regions
- Communicate technical insights clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
- Travel as needed to engage with suppliers, customers, and global teams
K
Kohler Co
Gracious living is marked by qualities of charm, good taste and generosity of spirit. It is further characterized by self-fulfillment and the enhancement of nature. Our mission is to improve your sense of gracious living in every experience you have with a KOHLER® product or service.