Jobs › Pentair

Sustaining Engineering Manager

Pentair · Hanover Park, IL · $95,500–$177,300 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 24, 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

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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The full job description

As published by Pentair.

Job Description: Sustaining Mechanical Engineering Manager - Hanover Park, IL 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. Based out of Hanover Park, IL, we have an opportunity for a Sustaining Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead our Commercial Water Filtration Sustaining Engineering team, providing both technical and people leadership to drive portfolio optimization, design for manufacturability, and value-driven product improvements. The Manager will set priorities, coach and develop talent, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned to Pentair leadership competencies, while partnering cross-functionally to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, and scalable solutions to the business. You will: • Lead and mentor a team of mechanical engineers and designers at varying levels of experience and follow & sustain existing portfolio using best practice through Pentair processes. • Coordinate, assign, and monitor work to ensure scope, schedule, and quality goals are achieved. • Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking, Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders. • Define project scope and engineering approach; allocate staff and resources to meet project objectives. • Experience in Derivative, CI & VA/VE projects, should be well versed with Engineering change notice process. Lead Engineering change notices ECR/ECN and drives the process. • Drive DFMEA sessions and derive DVPR, Carry out and lead design reviews regularly. Develop and carry out test plans, matrices, and reports. • Evaluate performance and recommend development or training opportunities to enhance technical capability and career growth. • Work with specialized vendors to perform manufacturing analysis and determine design optimizations. • Excellent communication (technical and executive level). Key Qualifications: • Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline. • 8 to 12+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, design, and analysis, preferably within a Food service/Water industry. • Strong fundamentals in mechanical design, materials, and manufacturing processes, Experience with CAD tools (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, etc.) • Experience designing components for mass production including, but not limited to, injection molding, casting, extrusion, sheet metal, or fabrication. • Experience working with manufacturing to deploy launches, NPD understanding is an added advantage. • Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for field issues, failures, and quality concerns. Manage Engineering changes through ECR/ECN Process. • Identify and implement cost reduction (VA/VE) initiatives without compromising value or performance. • Understanding of Fluid Dynamics and integration of electromechanical and pneumatic components. • Knowledge of sealing design, actuation mechanisms, and tube fittings. • Ability to identify root causes of issues (RCA) and bring design and/or process solutions to the table. • MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook). Compensation: For this full-time position, the anticipated annualized base pay range will be $ 95,500 – $177,300. 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 and/or long-term incentives. 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. Pentair is an Equal Opportunity Employer 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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