Manager - Engineering, Wellness

Location: Onsite, four days per week - Kohler, WI Opportunity 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. HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE 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 indeded 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 wellness innovation 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