Manager, Engineering, CPD Sanitary presso Kohler Co.

Manager, Engineering, CPD Sanitary

Work Mode: Onsite

Location: Kohler, WI - Onsite 4 days per week

Opportunity

Kohler is excited to announce an opening for a key technical leader.  As engineering manager, you will be responsible for the ongoing support, improvement, and optimization of existing products in the Toilets, Intelligent Toilets, Toilet Seats, and Bidet Seats categories in North America. This role leads a team of engineers and CAD associates focused on sustaining engineering, cost reduction, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. You will drive continuous improvement initiatives, resolve field issues, and ensure product performance throughout the lifecycle.

This position leads a North American team of engineers and CAD associates responsible for the mechanical design and ongoing support of regional and global sanitary products. The leader will guide their team through Kohler’s sustaining engineering processes to ensure continued product performance, quality, and cost-effectiveness throughout the product lifecycle. They will own functional design updates, validation of changes, implementation of cost reductions, and resolution of field issues by applying robust engineering principles. Ideal candidates thrive in a dynamic environment, balancing structure and adaptability. Success will require a combination of talent development, technical leadership, and cross-functional influence.

How you’ll contribute:

• Mentor and Develop a Team of Associates.  Focus on building a diverse and adaptable organization where associates can achieve their full potential.  Attract, recruit, and retain talented associates to further strengthen the team and build capability for the future.
• Manage Product Lifecycle. Own the engineering aspects of sustaining the product portfolio, including product migrations, obsolescence management, part substitutions, and documentation updates.
• Support Manufacturing and Supply Chain. Collaborate with operations, suppliers, and quality teams to resolve production issues and implement design changes.
• Drive Product Improvements. Lead efforts to improve product quality, reduce warranty, and enhance customer satisfaction through root cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Optimize Cost and Performance. Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives through VA/VE, material changes, and process improvements.
• Ensure Compliance and Reliability. Maintain compliance with evolving regulatory standards and ensure product reliability through testing and validation.
• Build Strong Relationships.  Collaborate with global engineering peers.  Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Industrial Design, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Quality, Customer Service, and Program Management to ensure business goals are achieved.  Communicate clearly and professionally.
• Embrace Sustainability.  Foster new solutions which enhance our products while minimizing the impact on the environment.

Specific Expectations:

• Manages portfolio of engineering work.  Monitors resource capacity.  Prioritizes and assigns projects or tasks based on business needs and associate competency.
• Establishes department objectives to support broader engineering and business objectives. 
• Conducts performance management reviews to establish, review, and evaluate personal and team progress.
• Engages team members in personal development planning. Supports career growth and competency development through intentional assignments, training, and coaching.
• Works through the team to establish and achieve product specifications: customer, regulatory, and technical requirements.
• Reviews and approves key engineering deliverables, assuring functional acceptability through application of engineering tools, analysis, and testing.
• Initiates and/or executes continuous improvement activities to enhance our systems, tools, products, and processes in conjunction with other teams or leaders.  Generates and executes product cost reduction initiatives.
• Actively partners with cross-functional peers (Industrial Design, Program Management, Product Marketing) to review project status and guide decision making. 
• Collaborates globally to obtain necessary information and support required to launch or maintain product in different global markets. 
• Documents and presents key technical updates within and outside the department. 
• Occasional travel to visit suppliers, customers, tradeshows, and other Kohler locations as required. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills/Requirements

• This position requires 7 years of product design engineering and 3 years of experience proactively teaching/ coaching less experienced engineers.
•  Candidates to hold a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET accredited university.

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

We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period. The salary range for this position is $132,350 - $205,850. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.

Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.

About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected].  Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.