Manager NPI Engineering, Finish Development

Manager - NPI Engineering Finish Development

Work Mode:Onsite

Location:Onsite 4 days/week in Kohler WI

Opportunity

The Manager NPI Engineering Color/FinishDevelopment serves as the technical and organizational leader responsible forthe industrialization of advanced decorative functional and Color Material& Finish (CMF) technologies across Kohlers product portfolio. This roleleads Color/Finish development activities from concept throughcommercialization ensuring design intent is translated into scalable robustand cost-effective manufacturing processes.

The position acts as the primary integration point betweenStyling Product Engineering Manufacturing Quality Supply Chain andexternal technology partners to develop breakthrough finish capabilitiesaccelerate innovation and deliver successful product launches. The leader isaccountable for manufacturing readiness process capability risk managementand continuous advancement of Kohlers finish technologies and competitivedifferentiation.

Key Responsibilities:

Color/Finish Technology Development & Industrialization

• Lead development and commercialization of decorative and functional finish technologies across faucets showering sanitary and premium product categories.
  
• Drive advanced process development activities from proof-of-concept through production implementation.
  
• Establish scalable finishing processes that meet performance quality sustainability and cost objectives.
  
• Evaluate and implement emerging technologies coatings materials and application methods that enhance product differentiation and customer value.
  
• Develop manufacturing readiness strategies for new finish platforms and innovations.

New Product Integration Leadership

• Provide NPI leadership for finish-related product launches and innovation initiatives.
  
• Ensure manufacturing requirements are incorporated early through Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.
  
• Lead risk identification mitigation planning and launch readiness reviews.
  
• Drive successful transfer of finish technologies into stable production environments.
  
• Establish launch metrics capability plans validation protocols and production ramp-up strategies.

Cross-Functional Business Partnership

• Partner closely with Industrial Design Product Engineering Marketing Program Management and Operations teams.
  
• Collaborate with suppliers technology partners and research organizations to expand color/finish capabilities.
  
• Provide technical leadership during design reviews innovation workshops and product development gate assessments.
  
• Organizational Leadership & Capability Building
  
• Lead coach and develop a high-performing Finish Development engineering team.
  
• Establish technical standards best practices and knowledge-sharing mechanisms across global NPI organizations.
  
• Build succession bench strength and strengthen finish engineering expertise across the enterprise.
  
• Foster a culture of innovation accountability experimentation and continuous improvement.
  
• Ensure operations & product competitive benchmarking of our development methodologies production/process competitors and product competitors

Manufacturing Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve quality reliability productivity and cost performance of finish operations.
  
• Champion Lean Six Sigma and structured problem-solving methodologies.
  
• Standardize finish development practices globally where appropriate.
  
• Capture and institutionalize lessons learned from product launches and process development initiatives.

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Engineering Chemical Engineering Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline.
  
• 6 - 8 years of experience in manufacturing engineering product industrialization finishing processes coatings plating paint systems surface treatments or related technologies.
  
• Demonstrated experience leading complex product launches and process development initiatives.
  
• Experience leading technical teams and cross-functional project organizations.

Preferred:

• Experience with decorative coatings physical vapor deposition (PVD) plating painting electrophoretic coating powder coating or advanced surface technologies.
  
• Global manufacturing and supplier development experience.
  
• Lean Six Sigma certification.

#LI-SW1

#LI-Onsite

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 youll 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 $135600 - $211000. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidates experience their education and the work 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 30000 bold leaders across the globe were driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious healthy and sustainable lives.

About Us
It is Kohlers 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 . Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

Required Experience:

Manager