Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Product Engineering

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.

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.

We are seeking a highly skilled and innovative Senior Manufacturing Engineer to join our Manufacturing Engineering Team. This role combines expertise in manufacturing processes with lean manufacturing tools to eliminate waste, improve productivity, and enhance product quality. The Senior Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in the New Product Development process, ensuring products are accelerated to market without compromising cost or quality in the manufacturing of wholesale construction materials, hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies.

Under the guidance of the Manufacturing Engineering Manager, this individual will research, justify, and manage capital equipment purchases, lead Kaizen teams, and develop manufacturing methods that drive efficiency and safety. This position reports to the Manufacturing Engineering Manager. This role is onsite and is based in St. Pauls, NC.

• New Product Development
  • Participate in the new product development process to ensure all manufacturing engineering deliverables are met in a timely manner.
  • Design machinery, tools, and fixtures using 3D solid modeling software.
  • Initiate and implement productivity projects, including capital equipment purchases.
  • Develop, evaluate, and refine manufacturing methods, leveraging knowledge of product design, materials, processes, and tooling.
  • Assist in creating process control plans and work instructions, ensuring adherence to quality control standards.
  • Evaluate best available technologies.
  • Provide input (labor, materials, utilities, consumables, etc.) for use in financial models.

• Post-Launch Support
  • Provide daily technical support for operations involving machining, metal fabrication, assembly, and valve testing.
  • Provide necessary support to resolve any field complaints.
  • Apply Six Sigma tools to improve process capability, repeatability, first-pass yields, and conformance to quality requirements.
  • Lead Kaizen and continuous improvement events to enhance quality, productivity, and safety outcomes.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Proficiency in solid modeling and CAD software, with tool and fixture design experience.
• Hands-on skills using basic mechanical tools for assembly/fabrication tasks.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma principles and tools.
• Experience with injection molding and Injection molding tool design required.
• Experience with new product development process via a stage gate process required.
• SAP knowledge a plus.
• Knowledge of Autodesk Inventor a plus.
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to travel up to 25%

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience managing capital equipment projects from concept through implementation.

• Commitment to Watts' values of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, and transparency.
• Punctuality and dependability.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful conditions.
• Adherence to all personnel policies, procedures, and standards of process as implemented by Watts.
• Maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other Watts employees.
• Adherence to Watts' seven cultural beliefs:
  Growth Mindset, Customer-Focused Innovation, Constant Communication, Clear Goals, Collaborate Globally, Be Inclusive, and Take Action.

While…