Sustaining Engineering Manager
Posted Sep 24, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026
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
Tell me about a design for manufacturability change you led. What did it save?
What they are checking: Whether they have delivered measurable cost and quality improvements through DFM.
You lead engineers and designers at different experience levels. How do you develop a junior engineer?
What they are checking: Whether they invest in growing people, which the posting calls out as a key part of the role.
Tell me about a time your team missed a commitment. How did you handle it?
What they are checking: Whether they take accountability as a leader and fix the cause instead of blaming individuals.
How do you keep strong technical skills while managing people?
What they are checking: Whether they can still give real technical guidance, since the role is both technical and people leadership.
What would you do
How would you decide which value-driven product improvements your team works on first?
What they are checking: Whether they prioritize by cost savings, quality impact and customer risk with clear criteria.
A supplier part change has led to field failures in a filtration product. Walk me through how your team responds.
What they are checking: Whether they contain the problem fast, find the root cause, and manage change control carefully.
Operations wants a fast fix, but your senior engineer says it needs more testing. How do you decide?
What they are checking: Whether they weigh speed against risk and make a clear, defensible call.
About the work
You will lead the Commercial Water Filtration Sustaining Engineering team. How do you think about the difference between sustaining and new product engineering?
What they are checking: Whether they value the work of keeping existing products healthy and profitable.
How do you manage engineering change orders so manufacturing, quality and supply chain are all ready?
What they are checking: Whether they run a disciplined change process that avoids surprises on the shop floor.
Portfolio optimization might mean retiring products. How would you approach rationalizing a product line?
What they are checking: Whether they consider margins, volumes, service needs and customers before cutting SKUs.
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Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Pentair.