Sr Staff Embedded Systems Engineer, Wellness
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite 4 - Kohler, WI
Opportunity
Shape the future of at-home wellness—where water, hardware, firmware, and environment come together to restore, recover, and re-energize.
As a Senior Staff Embedded Systems Engineer, you will turn emerging technologies into real, physical experiences — systems that can be felt, not just described. You will define architecture, build working solutions, and prove performance in the environments where it matters most. This is a role for a hands-on leader who creates momentum through action, bringing Kohler’s vision for elevated daily rituals to life.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead by doing. Define system requirements, design, build, test, and refine working hardware and firmware from first concept through validation, creating tangible wellness experiences that perform in the real world.
- Define system architecture. Architect robust, end-to-end embedded systems that unify electronics, firmware, sensing, and controls with water, steam, thermal, lighting, and air. Establish scalable platforms that enable consistent, elevated experiences across products.
- Engineer systems that are felt. Design and develop integrated hardware (PCBAs, control systems, sensor networks, and electro-mechanical interfaces) that deliver comfort, precision, and reliability in demanding bathroom environments.
- Own electronics execution. Lead schematic design, PCB layout, component strategy, and bring-up, driving hardware from concept into validated, production-ready systems.
- Design for real-world conditions. Create solutions that perform under heat, humidity, and water exposure, balancing durability, safety, and long-term reliability through strong engineering fundamentals.
- Integrate firmware with intent. Ensure responsive, intuitive control, translating hardware capability into seamless user experience.
- Prototype the experience. Build early and test often using hands-on iteration to validate not only function, but how the system restores, relaxes, and performs.
- Prove feasibility. Bring clarity to ambiguity, defining requirements, identifying risks, and validating solutions through structured testing, tolerance analysis, and costed execution plans.
- Drive manufacturability. Translate complex systems into scalable, buildable solutions aligned with supplier capability and production realities.
- Protect and create IP. Develop hardware innovations that are both differentiated and defensible, strengthening Kohler’s leadership in wellness.
- Stay ahead. Continuously explore advancements in sensing, control, and environmental systems to inform what comes next.
- Communicate with clarity. Deliver focused, technically grounded insights that accelerate decisions and de-risk execution.
What Success Looks Like
- Embedded systems that don’t just function, but elevate daily ritual into meaningful wellness experiences
- Scalable platforms that bring consistency and differentiation across product lines
- First-to-market innovations that integrate seamlessly into real environments
- Patented technologies that define Kohler’s leadership in wellness
Skills/Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or equivalent
- 8-10+ years delivering consumer product NPD
- Hands-on builder with a strong sense of ownership and follow-through
- Deep expertise in embedded systems (electronics + firmware integration) including architecture and design of complex electromechanical products
- Strong mixed-signal analog and digital circuit design fundamentals
- Board-level design and validation of electronic circuits including component selection, schematic capture, and PCB layout (Altium preferred)
- Experience developing and leading implementation of test plans for hardware/firmware, and to ensure regulatory compliance (EMC, FCC, CE, UL, etc)
- Real-time embedded systems experience with microprocessors and microcontrollers
- Demonstrated experience in firmware design and documentation practices
- Strong knowledge in embedded C/C++ and object-oriented programming
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in writing firmware for applications incorporating RTOS
- DfX and quality management methodologies (FMEA, DFMEA, DFM/DFA)
- Strong root cause analysis and debugging capabilities of both hardware and firmware
Preferred
- Power electronics and power conversion
- Environmental sensing (temperature, humidity, flow, air)
- Connected systems (BLE, Wi-Fi, MQTT, Matter)
- Exposure to biometrics or machine learning
#LI-Onsite
#LI-SC2
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 $118,650 - $183,650. 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 [email protected]. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
