Manager - Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance - (req73504)

Sterling Kohler; Bristol Township, Northern (Bucks County, KY); Hybrid; USD 136,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day 1 benefits

Job summary

Kohler Co. in Bristol, PA, onsite, seeks a Manager for Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance to lead engineering, maintenance, tooling, automation, and facilities.

You will drive reliability, capital projects, and continuous improvement for luxury mirrors, medicine cabinets, and wellness products. The role requires hands-on leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to engage cross-functionally to deliver operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering or similar.
• 8+ years of progressive engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, automation, or operational leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead high-performance teams and drive cultural transformation.
• Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, maintaining, and optimizing manufacturing equipment.
• Experience with automation, reliability programs, Lean, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance functions with goals, talent development, and accountability.
• Develop reliability strategies to maximize uptime, OEE, and asset utilization.
• Establish preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance programs.
• Drive standards for operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance management.
• Lead capital investments for safety, quality, automation, and capacity expansion.
• Implement innovative manufacturing technologies and automated solutions.
• Champion Lean/Six Sigma to reduce waste and improve productivity.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for equipment and process issues.
• Provide technical leadership for new product introductions and manufacturing readiness.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Troubleshooting

Lean Six Sigma

Automation experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Electrical/Controls knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

PLC programming

HMI systems

Robotics

Controls architectures

Job description

Manager - Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance

Work Mode:Onsite

Location:Onsite – Bristol, PA

Opportunity

Responsible for leading the Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, Tooling, Automation, and Facilities functions within the Kallista, Bristol location to support operational excellence and business growth. The incumbent is accountable for equipment reliability, manufacturing innovation, capital project execution, process optimization, and maintenance strategy to ensure the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of manufacturing assets. This position drives continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, delivery, cost, and employee engagement while supporting the manufacture of luxury mirrors, medicine cabinets, and other beauty and storage products. The role provides leadership in the planning, coordination, and execution of engineering, maintenance, automation, and manufacturing projects aligned with the Kallista’s Strategic Plan.

The Manager – Manufacturing Engineering & Maintenance serves as a key member of the Operations Leadership Team and is responsible for developing the systems, talent, culture, and technologies necessary to establish the Bristol Operations as the premier manufacturer of luxury mirrors, medicine cabinets, and connected wellness products in North America. The incumbent will lead the Maintenance, Manufacturing Engineering, Tooling, and Engineering Co-Op functions while developing and implementing strategies that improve equipment performance, operational capability, manufacturing flexibility, and long‑term business competitiveness.

This role requires a unique balance of strategic leadership and hands‑on technical execution. Given the size and agility requirements of the business, the incumbent must be comfortable serving as both leader and practitioner, actively participating in equipment installation, process development, controls integration, troubleshooting, programming, maintenance activities, and manufacturing problem solving when required. The successful candidate will build organizational capability while remaining technically engaged and capable of driving rapid resolution to manufacturing and equipment‑related challenges.

Specific Repsonsibilities

• Lead the Manufacturing Engineering and Maintenance functions by establishing goals, developing talent, and fostering a culture of accountability, safety, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Develop and execute reliability strategies that maximize equipment uptime, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), asset utilization, and manufacturing throughout while providing direct technical support for equipment commissioning and performance improvement initiatives.
• Establish and maintain preventive, predictive, and condition‑based maintenance programs that support operational objectives, improve asset performance, and reduce unplanned downtime.
• Drive a culture of ownership and operational discipline through the establishment of standards for equipment operation, care, maintenance, troubleshooting, and performance management.
• Lead the identification, justification, implementation, startup, and optimization of capital investments supporting safety, quality, productivity, automation, and capacity expansion.
• Develop and implement innovative manufacturing technologies, automation solutions, controls architectures, and advanced engineering practices that improve competitiveness and manufacturing capability.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and structured problem‑solving methodologies to eliminate waste, improve quality, and increase productivity.
• Lead and directly participate in root cause analysis, troubleshooting, diagnostics, and corrective action activities associated with equipment failures, controls issues, automation systems, process disruptions, quality concerns, and safety incidents.
• Provide technical leadership and support for new product introductions, ensuring manufacturing readiness, scalability, operational efficiency, and achievement of luxury quality standards.
• Oversee machine shop and tooling operations to support production requirements, equipment improvements, maintenance activities, and new product development initiatives.
• Provide direct technical support to manufacturing operations through hands‑on troubleshooting, equipment modification, controls programming, process improvements, maintenance support, and startup activities as business needs require.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Product Development, Finance, and Commercial teams to achieve business objectives and support strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing standards, operating procedures, training programs, and technical documentation to ensure sustainable operational performance and workforce capability development.
• Benchmark industry best practices and emerging technologies while developing long‑term manufacturing strategies that position Robern as North America’s leading luxury mirror, medicine cabinet, and wellness products manufacturer.

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related engineering discipline from an accredited institution required.
• 8+ years of progressive engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, automation, or operational leadership experience within a manufacturing environment required.
• Demonstrated leadership experience building high‑performing teams and driving cultural transformation within manufacturing operations.
• Proven ability to effectively balance strategic leadership responsibilities with hands‑on technical execution.
• Experience commissioning, troubleshooting, maintaining, modifying, and optimizing manufacturing equipment and automated systems.
• Strong aptitude for mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, controls, and process troubleshooting.
• Experience implementing manufacturing automation, equipment reliability programs, Lean Manufacturing initiatives, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Working knowledge of PLC programming, HMI systems, robotics, vision systems, controls architecture, industrial networking, or related automation technologies preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading capital projects from concept development through operational sustainability.
• Proven track record delivering productivity improvements, cost reductions, quality improvements, and equipment performance gains.
• Strong project management, technical leadership, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
• Experience with assembly manufacturing, glass processing, metal fabrication, electronics integration, or related manufacturing technologies preferred.
• Six Sigma and/or Lean Manufacturing certification preferred.
• Experience within premium consumer products, configurable products, or highly customized manufacturing environments preferred.

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.

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.