Engineering NPD Manager, Water Safety

Overview

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water. The Engineering NPD Manager, Water Safety is a highly technical leader responsible for driving new product innovation with a deep focus on mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, and pressure-balancing valve design. This role requires mastery of advanced engineering analysis tools, strong system engineering capabilities, and the ability to lead complex programs from concept through launch.

This position partners closely with Product Management and leads a cross-functional engineering team to deliver NPD programs on time, on budget, and at exceptional technical quality. The ideal candidate is a flexible, hands-on leader who thrives in a dynamic environment with shifting customer and business priorities. This position reports to the Director of Engineering and is based in our North Andover, MA office.

• Lead full‑lifecycle project execution including planning, risk assessment, team formation, milestones, reporting, and escalation, while managing NPD schedules, budgets, and deliverables from concept through pilot builds and driving effective program meetings, accountability, and action‑item closure.
• Communicate effectively across all business levels; technical and non-technical, tailoring complexity to audience needs.
• Influence and motivate teams through empathy, credibility, and collaborative leadership.
• Support Product Management through Stage‑Gate, recommending technical value propositions and balancing customer requirements with engineering constraints to define optimal solutions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product Management, Sourcing, Operations, Finance, and Manufacturing to achieve program objectives.
• Integrate mechanical, electrical, and software elements into cohesive product‑level designs and benchmark new concepts against legacy designs.
• Approve engineering deliverables; specs, drawings, material requirements, DFMEAs/PFMEAs, and verification reports, while organizing and documenting all analytical and experimental results.
• Proficient in CFD for flow modeling, pressure‑drop analysis, cavitation prediction, and valve optimization, with the ability to interpret, challenge, and generate simulations that correlate with test data.
• Expert in force‑balance calculations and sealing technologies, including O‑rings, bellows, diaphragms, and compatibility and failure modes across temperature, chemical, and pressure ranges.
• Coach junior engineers in advanced mechanical and fluid‑dynamic principles and translate tribal knowledge into clear, teachable engineering practices.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• All other duties as required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field required, Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of product development experience, preferably in fluid-handling or valve applications.
• Proven engineering project/program management experience, with the ability to independently manage cross‑functional projects and processes beyond immediate responsibilities.
• Proficient knowledge in the use of 3D CAD solid modeling software, Auto Desk Inventor preferred.
• Experience with cost estimations, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA) approaches, and program accounting.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills for interaction with various engineering teams, suppliers, customers, regulatory personnel, and management.
• Experience collaborating with overseas development teams and manufacturing partners, as well as familiarity with copper alloy and iron casting/forging, plastics, and plastic molding for water systems, is a plus.
• Practical experience and knowledge of compliance, test standards, and third-party certification requirements.
• Strong decision making, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage projects or processes that span outside of immediate responsibilities and work independently with little supervision in an effective manner.
• Comprehensive…