Staff Engineer, NPI - (req73782)

Kohler Co.; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 104,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Kohler Co. is seeking a Staff Engineer, New Product Integration (NPI) to lead manufacturing readiness and execution for new products at the Kohler, WI site.

The role emphasizes systems thinking, DCMA, and collaboration with Product Development, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality to ensure Right the First Time launches. Responsibilities include shaping manufacturing strategy, leading DFMA and risk analysis, and standardizing processes.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 8+ years in industrial, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering, project management, or NPD.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes (casting, stainless steel, acrylics, epoxy resins, thermoforming).
• Experience communicating across functions and levels, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Act as the manufacturing authority on NPD/NPI programs, shaping strategy and execution to ensure Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Lead DFMA, FMEA, process capability analysis, and design reviews; identify risks and recommend changes.
• Define and standardize manufacturing process requirements, tooling, and specs with global standards.

Skills

ABET-accredited engineering

Design for Manufacturability

DFMEA

Cross-functional communication

Project management

Microsoft Office

SAP

ProE/CREO

Education

B.S. in engineering (ABET accredited)

Tools

Microsoft Projects

ProE/CREO

Job description

Staff Engineer, NPI

Work Mode: Onsite

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

Opportunity

As a Staff Engineer, New Product Integration (NPI) providetechnical and operational leadership for New Product Integration (NPI)initiatives, serving as a manufacturing subject matter expert and thoughtpartner to Product Development, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality teams.This role will drive outcomes through influence, deep expertise, andsystems-level thinking rather than positional authority, while synchronizingwith plant NPI and Operations teams to ensure new products are “Right the FirstTime,” achieving Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

Specific Responsibilities

• Act as the primary manufacturing engineering authority on assigned NPD/NPI programs, shaping manufacturing strategy, process design, and execution models to ensure products are Right the First Time across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Lead advanced Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA), FMEA, process capability analysis, and design reviews, identifying systemic risks and recommending design or process changes with enterprise impact.
• Define and standardize manufacturing process requirements, tooling concepts, and engineering specifications, ensuring alignment with global manufacturing standards and regulatory expectations.

End-to-End NPI Ownership

• Own and integrate Operations deliverables within the Global Kitchen & Bath NPD process, ensuring manufacturing readiness, launch robustness, and proactive risk mitigation across all phases of development.
• Serve as the operations integrator across quality, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, data services, and materials, resolving complex cross-functional tradeoffs and aligning execution plans across multiple plants and regions.
• Develop and maintain plant-level execution strategies and timelines, synchronizing local manufacturing plans with enterprise program milestones and launch commitments.

Cost, Capacity & Supply Chain Strategy

• Build and maintain robust product cost models, actively influencing design, sourcing, and process decisions to meet cost, margin, and launch targets
• Cash costmodeling, capacity assessment, and global asset optimization, providing clear recommendations to operations and sourcing leadership.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Supplier Quality to define long-term fulfillment strategies, including PFEP development, supplier readiness, and supply chain resilience.

Execution Excellence & Risk Management

• Drive time-to-market improvements through process optimization, parallel development strategies, and elimination of systemic inefficiencies.
• Apply advanced engineering judgment to complex, ambiguous problems, independently making decisions, justifying risk, and escalating appropriately based on business impact.

Influence, Communication & Knowledge Leadership

• Present clear, data-driven recommendations and project status to senior operations leadership (Manager, Director, VP level), translating technical complexity into actionable insights.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and cross-functional partners, strengthening organizational capability withoutdirect supervisory responsibility.
• Improvement of engineering standards, best practices, and knowledge systems, ensuring lessons learned are captured and reused across the enterprise.
• Liaise closely with all levels of production, engineering, NPD, purchasing, and marketing providing clear information where necessary. Use relationships to maintain a network to support Production Strategies.
• Present project status and escalations to multiple levels of operations leadership including Managers/Directors/VP.
• This position will coordinate the development of systematic tool design and engineering functions required for production of products at Kohler Co. utilizing CAD technology.

Skills/Requirements

• B.S. degree from an engineering discipline from an ABET accredited engineering
• 8+ years of experience in industrial, mechanical, manufacturing engineering, project management, or new product development engineering role.
• Knowledge of or exposure to manufacturing processes that could include cast-iron, stainless-steel drawing and fabrication, acrylics, gel coats, epoxy resins, thermoforming
• Must be able to independently manage multiple projects of a complex nature that are in various stages of development.
• Experience of communicating information at all levels across various functions written & verbally, concisely and accurately.
• A tenacious, enthusiastic, results driven individual with excellent time management skills.
• Experience with Microsoft office software & SAP
• Must be structured and organized, with an ability to work on their own, within a team, and influence a small team when required. Management experience would be beneficial.
• Experience in creating and managing Microsoft Projects
• Experience in ProE/CREO is a benefit but not required.
• Must be skilled in leading conversations across platforms and driving conflict resolution.

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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 $103,900 - $160,000. 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.