Overview

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 documentati