Manager - Engineering, Wellness - (req72071)

Sterling Kohler; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 135,600 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day 1 benefits access

Performance bonus eligibility

Job summary

Sterling Kohler is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead innovative wellness product development. This role requires a visionary leader to manage high-performance engineering teams and integrate engineering excellence with user-centered wellness outcomes.

The ideal candidate should have a passion for wellness innovation and the ability to translate wellness insights into differentiated product experiences. Join us to improve everyday routines into restorative wellness rituals.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in product design engineering.
• 3+ years experience in coaching and developing engineering talent.
• Proven ability to lead complex product development programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of next-generation wellness products.
• Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team.
• Drive execution within the stage-gate development process.

Skills

Product design engineering experience

Coaching and developing engineering talent

Human-centered design

Passion for wellness innovation

Systems thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Manager - Engineering, Wellness

Work Mode: Onsite

Location: Onsite, four days per week - Kohler, WI

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.

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 intended 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 wellnessinnovation 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

Skills / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (ABET accredited)
• 7+ years of product design engineering experience and 3+ years of experience coaching and developing engineering talent
• Proven ability to lead complex product development programs from concept to launch
• Passion for wellness innovation, human‑centered design, and experiential product development

Ideal Profile

• Systems thinker with the ability to connect engineering performance to human outcomes
• Strong bias for action balanced with disciplined execution
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity while driving clarity for the team
• Deep curiosity for how water, heat, steam, and sensory elements can improve wellbeing

#LI-Onsite #LI-SC2

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 $135,600 – $211,000. 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.

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.