Kohler Development Program - Accelerated Engineering

Kohler Co.; Kohler (WI); On-site; USD 76,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision & 401k

Job summary

Kohler Co. is seeking early-career engineers for the Accelerated Engineering Development Program in Kohler, Wisconsin.

This two-year, full-time rotation program develops future engineering leaders through 3-4 cross-functional rotations, with mentorship, onboarding, seminars, and exposure to senior leaders. Participants tackle innovative product challenges, collaborate across marketing, design, program management, and manufacturing, and progress toward full-time roles aligned to strengths and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical preferred) or related technical discipline by June 2027
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship on an ongoing basis

Responsibilities

• Create, refine, and implement new product solutions with cross-functional teams to define product specs grounded in research and business needs
• Analyze competitive products, warranty insights, sales feedback to benchmark and inform design approaches
• Conduct feasibility assessments of early concepts for technically viable, cost-effective solutions
• Develop product concepts using 3D modeling, engineering analysis tools, FEA/CFD and design critique
• Utilize prototyping and test labs to build and validate physical prototypes
• Apply DFMEA, tolerance analysis, GD&T and engineering standards to improve quality
• Collaborate with internal manufacturing and external suppliers to optimize design, cost, quality and timing
• Develop verification plans, support regulatory compliance, and assist during pre-production and ramp-up

Job description

Early Talent at Kohler

Kohler's Leadership Development Programs are designed to accelerate the development of future leaders through structured, cross-functional rotational experiences that drive meaningful business impact. Participants join as full-time associates, gaining broad exposure across the organization while being supported through intentional development, mentorship, and a strong cohort experience.

Work Mode: Onsite

Location: Onsite - 4 days, Kohler, WI

Program Overview

Are you ready to accelerate your career in engineering? Join our dynamic Accelerated Engineering Development Program and embark on a transformative journey toward becoming a future engineering leader. Our mission is clear:
Accelerate the growth of our engineers through focused training, mentorship, and hands-on experience in diverse product categories, to drive leading edge innovation at Kohler.
Our vision is to build a world class team of engineers equipped with the skills and network to develop meaningful products and innovations that will shape the future of Kohler.

We are looking for early-career engineers who bring curiosity, creativity, and a strong desire to solve meaningful business and product challenges. Successful participants will be innovative thinkers who can translate ideas into cost-effective, functional solutions that reflect Kohler's brand values, while collaborating effectively across marketing, program management, industrial design, manufacturing operations, and other cross-functional partners. This program is designed for individuals who are passionate about innovation, eager to identify opportunities for transformative product solutions, and able to contribute within a diverse, global engineering organization by leveraging both their technical foundation and the collective expertise of the broader team.

What You’ll Do

• Create, refine, and implement new product solutions by: Collaborating with Product Marketing, Industrial Design, Program Management, and other cross-functional partners to define product specifications grounded in consumer research, market data, and business needs.
• Analyzing competitive products, warranty insights, sales feedback, and technical data to benchmark performance and inform new design approaches.
• Conducting feasibility assessments of early product concepts to evaluate technical viability, cost, manufacturability, and alignment to customer expectations.
• Developing and refining product concepts using 3D modeling software, engineering analysis tools, FEA, CFD, and design critique processes.
• Leveraging advanced prototyping and test lab capabilities to build, evaluate, and validate physical prototypes through hands-on experimentation.
• Applying engineering tools such as DFMEA, tolerance analysis, technical drawings, engineering standards, and GD&T to strengthen product quality and mitigate potential failure modes.
• Partnering with internal manufacturing teams and external suppliers to optimize design performance, cost, quality, timing, reliability, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Developing verification plans, supporting regulatory compliance, and providing hands-on engineering support during pre-production builds and manufacturing ramp-up.

Program Structure & Experiences

Kohler's Leadership Development Programs are designed as two-year, full-time rotational experiences that provide broad exposure to the business while accelerating leadership readiness. Participants complete 3-4 cross-functional rotations, each lasting 6-8 months, where they contribute to impactful work aligned to business priorities.

Beyond on-the-job experience, participants engage in a structured, enterprise-wide development journey that includes:

• A week-long immersive onboarding experience with their cross-functional cohort Intentional semi-annual seminars and quarterly learning sessions throughout the program
• Exposure to senior leaders and key stakeholders across the organization
• Ongoing mentorship, coaching, and performance feedback
• Opportunities to build community through a cohort-based experience and networking events

The program culminates in a formal graduation experience, positioning participants for strategic placement into full-time roles aligned to their strengths, interests, and business priorities.

Skills/Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Must have obtained a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Engineering (Mechanical preferred), or a related technical discipline no later than June 2027
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship on an ongoing basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrate a working knowledge of CAD modeling.
• Hands-on fabrication and prototyping skills.
• Intern and/or co-op experience exhibiting these skills.

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

The salary range for this position is $76,050 - $96,050. 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.

• medical
• dental
• vision & 401k

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 [e-mail] . Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.