Orion Senior Product Engineer

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water.

We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support -- it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.

What we do:

For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation — and we have a dynamic future ahead.​

As a Senior Product Engineer, you will be a technical expert for a Watts Process and Drainage Piping product category and lead the new product development activities required to deliver on the strategic product roadmap, as well as contribute to the technical vision for the product category. You will leverage a deep understanding of customer needs and product applications to launch innovative products that will ensure Watts’ position as a market leader. In this role you will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing new products, across a variety of applications and industries. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including product management, sourcing, production, and quality assurance to deliver high-quality products and solutions. It requires practical technical judgment, decision-making using standard procedures and sophisticated methods and adaptability to evolving business demands.
This position reports to General Manager, Drains. This role is Hybrid and based out of North Andover, MA with travel expected to St. Paul, North Carolina.

Scope of Position

As a Senior Product Engineer, you will be a technical expert for a Watts Process and Drainage Piping product category and lead the new product development activities required to deliver on the strategic product roadmap, as well as contribute to the technical vision for the product category. You will leverage a deep understanding of customer needs and product applications to launch innovative products that will ensure Watts’ position as a market leader. In this role you will be responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing new products, across a variety of applications and industries. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including product management, sourcing, production, and quality assurance to deliver high-quality products and solutions. It requires practical technical judgment, decision-making using standard procedures and sophisticated methods and adaptability to evolving business demands.  
This position reports to General Manager, Drains. This role is Hybrid and based out of North Andover, MA with travel expected to St. Paul, North Carolina.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Define and drive technical deliverables for Stage-Gate NPD projects.

• Solicit direct customer feedback on products and applications using a variety of methods, including structured VOC interviews, customer visits, tradeshows and conferences, and Watts training seminars

• Responsible for investigating new technologies, developing product architectures, specifications and generating technical roadmaps.

• Responsible for design process from requirements gathering to final product specifications, including testing and validation plans.

• Experienced in establishing work breakdown structure for Engineering projects; use information to drive design priority needs.

• Negotiate with Product Management to define viable product development expectations and timelines to meet perceived market needs

• Proficient managing workload and priority to support multiple design projects, ensuring they are completed on schedule.

• Effectively communicate and influence within the engineering organization to solicit the resources required to deliver on goals and objectives

• Responsible for accurate project documentation and preparation of comprehensive technical reports and presentations to support product launches, updates and lessons learned.

• Ability to iterate quickly, and rapidly prototype designs for requested product ideas, and enhancements.

• Assist engineering team in resolving interdepartmental technical questions, document results, and troubleshoot design-related challenges.

• Stay updated with industry trends and advancements to incorporate best practices into product development.

• Promote and maintain a team environment with open communication to ensure continuous and efficient productivity.

• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.

• Assume responsibility for other projects and duties as assigned by Company management.

• Travel Requirements: 20%

Required Qualifications

• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, materials science, and mechanical engineering principles.

• Familiarity with relevant industry standards such as IPC, UPC, NPCC, ASME B31.3, ISO 10931, ASTM 1412

• Proficient understanding of Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and Design for Assembly (DFA) approaches.

• Highly skilled in the use of 3D CAD solid modeling software, Auto Desk Inventor preferred.

• Practical knowledge in material properties, fluid mechanics, and analysis experience such as, FEA, Simulation, Design of Experiments.

• Ability to demonstrate decision making, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

• Work effectively in a collaborative team environment with a focus on advancing technical proficiency.

• Results-oriented, ability to work independently on multiple projects with periodic supervision and guidance.

• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communications, including good technical writing and presentation skills.

• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft 365 Applications.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field; master’s degree a plus.

• Technical Engineering Certification that encompasses competence and theoretical knowledge equivalent to a standard curriculum of an accredited BS degree in Engineering.

• 7+ years of experience in product engineering, sustaining engineering, or a related field.

• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures, as applicable.

• Must successfully establish employment eligibility and satisfactorily complete background checks and required pre-employment testing as a condition of employment.

Preferred Qualifications​

• 3+ years of prior supervising or mentoring technical staff a plus.

• Previous engineering experience in a manufacturing environment a plus.

• Previous experience managing remote contract engineering resources is a plus

• Previous experience in a customer-facing role is a plus (i.e. technical sales, customer service, field service.

Watts in it for you:

Please note that the following benefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.

• Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
• Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
• 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
• Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
• Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/

How we work:

At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.

And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.

Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.