Jobs › Pentair

Product Manager

Pentair · North Aurora, IL · $82,300–$152,800 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a product you took from idea to launch. What decisions were yours?

What they are checking: Whether they have truly owned launch decisions, not just supported someone who did.

Tell me about a cross-functional initiative where engineering, operations and sales disagreed. How did you get to a decision?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead without authority and move a group to a decision.

Tell me about a time a product of yours was underperforming. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they take business ownership and act on poor results instead of explaining them away.

What would you do

You think a low-volume product should be discontinued, but sales says a key customer still buys it. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can make product line optimization calls with data while managing customer impact.

How do you learn what customers need when they are contractors and distributors rather than end users?

What they are checking: Whether they have practical ways to gather voice of customer through the channel.

This role offers visibility across a global organization. How do you present a portfolio recommendation to senior leaders?

What they are checking: Whether they can make a clear, data-backed business case to executives.

About the work

You will own the product lifecycle for portfolios in the fire suppression vertical. What do you know about how fire suppression products are bought and specified?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the channel, codes and specifiers that drive demand in this market.

How would you decide whether to raise the price on a mature product line?

What they are checking: Whether they weigh margin, competition, volume risk and customer relationships in pricing decisions.

How do you measure whether a product launch was successful a year later?

What they are checking: Whether they evaluate post-launch results against the business case, which the posting asks for.

Fire suppression products must meet certifications like UL and FM. How would that affect your launch planning?

What they are checking: Whether they plan for long approval timelines and regulatory requirements in this market.

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The full job description

As published by Pentair.

Job Description: At Pentair, you will work alongside passionate problem-solvers who are committed to the future of our planet. We put our mission into practice, helping the world sustainably move, improve, and enjoy water, life's most essential resource. From our residential water filtration to industrial water management to pool products and more, our 9,000 global employees serve customers in more than 150 countries, working to help create a better world for people and the planet through smart, sustainable water solutions. We have an opportunity for a Product Manager to join our North Aurora, IL team. You will own the business performance of key product lines in our Blue Pump portfolio — pumps and accessories serving the Commercial and Industrial markets. You will make critical decisions on pricing, material approvals, and project selection while driving portfolio growth and leading cross-functional initiatives that impact the broader business. This is an ideal opportunity for a collaborative professional with broad functional experience who is ready to take on true business ownership and visibility across a global organization. ** You will work a hybrid work schedule (at least 3 days/week on-site) in North Aurora, IL. ** LI-Hybrid You will: · Lead, oversee, and communicate all product portfolio strategic initiatives & opportunities, portfolio optimization, channel expansion opportunities, maintenance of current products, pricing, and lead time/stocking strategy for assigned product lines. · Execute strategic initiatives to successfully drive sustainable organic growth (identify, prepare, execute, and track plans to grow the business), and to achieve profit margin expectations. · Collaborate with all cross-functional and category leadership teams (sales, finance, marketing, engineering & manufacturing operations) to establish and execute channel strategy, develop demand plans, deliver on financial targets, and participate in SIOP processes. · Partner with Operations, as well as Finance, Supply, and Engineering, to optimize product cost and customer pricing to maximize revenue and margin. · Serve as subject matter expert (SME) for assigned product lines to support internal teams, field sales, channel partners, and end-users as required, including supporting the development of training materials for the assigned product lines, and providing collateral support for specifying Engineers, such as launch kits, competitive alerts, sales communications, instruction sheets, etc. Key Qualifications: · Have earned a bachelor’s (B.A. or B.S.) degree in Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA preferred. · Have 6+ years of progressive, cross-functional experience across areas such as product management, operations, strategic marketing, finance, and/or engineering, in a manufacturing or engineering environment. Strong preference for experience with pumps in commercial and industrial applications. · A passion for innovation, customer experience, and operational excellence · Demonstrated technical aptitude and ability to manage a portfolio of engineered products. · Commercial acumen: comfortable working with pricing, margins, forecasts, and business cases · Excellent organizational, communication, relationship-building, and project management skills; including experience coordinating multiple, time-sensitive projects. · Proven ability to analyze, interpret, and draw meaningful and accurate conclusions from large data sets. · Travel between 15-25% (including international as needed) for tradeshows, conferences, customer visits, and other business-related needs. Compensation: For this full-time position working at this location, the anticipated annualized base pay range will be from $82300 - $152800 / year. At Pentair, it is not typical for an individual to be hired near the bottom or top of the pay range. Pentair considers various factors in determining actual compensation for this position at the expected location. Actual compensation will be commensurate with demonstrable level of experience and training, pertinent education including licensure and certifications, work location, and other relevant business or organizational needs. This position may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as, annual incentive bonus. Benefits: As a Pentair employee, you would enjoy a wide array of benefit options to help keep you and your family healthy and protected, health benefits, a generous 401(k), employee stock purchase program, disability benefits, life insurance, critical illness insurance, accident insurance, parental leave, caregiver leave, tuition reimbursement, plus paid time off and wellness programs to encourage a healthy work/life balance. Equal Opportunity Employer Pentair is an Equal Opportunity Employer. With our expanding global presence, cross-cultural insight and competence are essential for our ongoing success. We believe that a diverse workforce contributes different perspectives and creative ideas that enable us to continue to improve every day.

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