Staff Engineer, NPI

Kohler Co. • Kohler, WI

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Staff Engineer, New Product Integration (NPI) provides technical and operational leadership for NPI initiatives, acting as a manufacturing subject matter expert and thought partner to Product Development, Operations, Supply Chain, and Quality teams. The role drives outcomes through influence, deep expertise, and systems-level thinking, working with plant NPI and Operations teams to ensure new products are “Right the First Time” across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

The position serves as the primary manufacturing engineering authority on assigned NPD/NPI programs, shaping manufacturing strategy, process design, and execution. It owns and integrates Operations deliverables within the Global Kitchen & Bath NPD process, coordinating cross-functional readiness, launch execution, risk mitigation, and plant-level plans with enterprise milestones. The engineer also develops cost models and capacity assessments, supports sourcing and supply-chain strategies, and drives time-to-market and process improvements.

The role presents recommendations and status to senior operations leadership, mentors engineers and cross-functional partners without direct supervisory responsibility, and improves engineering standards and knowledge systems. It also coordinates development of systematic tool-design and engineering functions required for production, using CAD technology. The position is onsite in Kohler, Wisconsin, four days per week.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science degree in an engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
• At least 8 years of experience in industrial, mechanical, or manufacturing engineering, project management, or new product development engineering.
• Knowledge of or exposure to manufacturing processes such as cast iron, stainless-steel drawing and fabrication, acrylics, gel coats, epoxy resins, or thermoforming.
• Ability to independently manage multiple complex projects at various stages of development.
• Experience communicating information concisely and accurately, both verbally and in writing, across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong time-management skills and a tenacious, enthusiastic, results-driven approach.
• Experience with Microsoft Office software and SAP.
• Structured and organized, with the ability to work independently, work within a team, and influence a small team when required.
• Ability to lead conversations across platforms and drive conflict resolution.
• Authorization to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Management experience.
• Experience creating and managing Microsoft Projects.
• Experience with ProE/CREO.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary manufacturing engineering authority on assigned NPD/NPI programs, shaping manufacturing strategy, process design, and execution models.
• Lead Design for Manufacturability and Assembly (DFMA), FMEA, process capability analysis, and design reviews; identify systemic risks and recommend design or process changes.
• Define and standardize manufacturing process requirements, tooling concepts, and engineering specifications in alignment with global standards and regulatory expectations.
• Own and integrate Operations deliverables within the Global Kitchen & Bath NPD process, ensuring manufacturing readiness, robust launches, and proactive risk mitigation.
• Integrate quality, manufacturing engineering, supply chain, data services, and materials; resolve cross-functional tradeoffs and align execution plans across plants and regions.
• Develop and maintain plant-level execution strategies and timelines aligned with enterprise program milestones and launch commitments.
• Build and maintain product cost models, influencing design, sourcing, and process decisions to meet cost, margin, and launch targets.
• Perform cash-cost modeling, capacity assessment, and global asset optimization, and provide recommendations to operations and sourcing leadership.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Supplier Quality on long-term fulfillment strategies, PFEP development, supplier readiness, and supply-chain resilience.
• Improve time to market through process optimization, parallel development strategies, and elimination of systemic inefficiencies.
• Apply engineering judgment to complex and ambiguous problems, make independent decisions, justify risk, and escalate appropriately based on business impact.
• Present clear, data-driven recommendations, project status, and escalations to operations leaders, including managers, directors, and vice presidents.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineers and cross-functional partners without direct supervisory responsibility.
• Improve engineering standards, best practices, and knowledge systems, and ensure lessons learned are captured and reused across the enterprise.
• Liaise with production, engineering, NPD, purchasing, and marketing; provide clear information and maintain relationships that support production strategies.
• Coordinate development of systematic tool-design and engineering functions required for production using CAD technology.

Benefits

• Applicable benefit programs available from the first day of employment, with no waiting period.
• Competitive total rewards package supporting health and wellbeing.
• Career growth and development opportunities.
• Performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior