Staff Engineer - Reliability Quality

Kohler Energy

Sheboygan, Wisconsin

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
8D, ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), Acceptance Testing, Analysis Skills, Best Practices, Coaching, Continuous Improvement, Corrective Action, Cost Control, Cross-Functional, Customer Experience, Data Analysis, Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Electricity, Establish Priorities, Field Trials, Heavy Equipment/Vehicles, High Reliability, Leadership, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mentoring, On Site Support, Organizational Development/Management, Performance Analysis, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Product Design, Product Development, Product Testing, Product/Service Launch, Quality Engineering, Reliability Engineering, Reliability Testing, Requirements Management, Risk, Risk Analysis, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, Six Sigma DMAIC, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Team Lead/Manager, Technical Leadership, Technical Strategy, Test Data, Testing, Trend Analysis, Validation Plan
LOCATION
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
POSTED
9 days ago

The Staff Engineer of Reliability & Customer Quality to serve as a technical leader focused on improving product reliability, enhancing customer experience, and driving warranty performance across both existing products and New Product Development (NPD).

This role combines deep technical expertise with strategic influence, leading complex problem-solving initiatives, mentoring engineering talent, and partnering cross-functionally to proactively identify and mitigate reliability risks. You will play a critical role in reducing Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ), ensuring successful product launches, and driving continuous improvement across the organization.

This opportunity is ideal for an experienced engineer who thrives in a high-impact role, enjoys solving complex challenges, and can influence outcomes across teams without direct authority.

  • Work mode: Onsite-Monday-Friday

  • Location: N7650 County Rd LS, Sheboygan, WI, 53083

  • Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring new or transfer visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Key Responsibilities

Reliability Engineering & Customer Quality Leadership

  • Lead high-impact reliability improvement initiatives addressing field, warranty, and customer issues

  • Serve as a key contributor within the NPD process, ensuring reliability requirements are defined, validated, and achieved prior to product release

  • Partner with Product Development teams to identify Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) characteristics and develop robust validation plans

  • Drive reliability growth strategies, including risk identification and mitigation for new technologies and designs

  • Act as a technical escalation point for complex reliability and customer quality concerns

  • Monitor early field performance of new products and lead containment and corrective actions as needed

Structured Problem Solving

  • Lead and facilitate advanced problem-solving efforts using methodologies such as 8D, DMAIC, and 5-Whys

  • Drive reduction of internal and external failure costs through root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions

  • Ensure disciplined execution of preventive and corrective measures across design, manufacturing, and supplier-related issues

Data Analysis & Reliability Methods

  • Analyze warranty, field, and test data to identify trends, prioritize actions, and quantify business impact

  • Apply statistical tools such as Pareto analysis, Weibull analysis, and reliability modeling

  • Support development of reliability targets, warranty projections, and product validation readiness

Product Development & Design Support

  • Influence design reviews, including DFMEA, robustness, serviceability, and safety considerations

  • Develop and execute reliability test plans aligned with real-world operating conditions and risk profiles

  • Ensure closure of all reliability and customer quality issues prior to production release

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Lead cross-functional teams across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Field Service, and Operations

  • Manage multiple concurrent initiatives of moderate to high complexity

  • Mentor and coach engineers, strengthening organizational capability in reliability and quality engineering

Continuous Improvement & Standardization

  • Drive enhancements to reliability engineering processes, tools, and standard work

  • Support development and deployment of best practices and standard operating procedures

  • Act as a champion for quality and continuous improvement across the organization

Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, or related) from an ABET-accredited institution

  • 7-10 years of experience in Reliability, Quality, Design, or Manufacturing Engineering

  • 2-5 years of direct experience in reliability or customer quality within industrial, automotive, engine, generator, or heavy equipment enviro

About the Company

K

Kohler Energy