Director – Mechanical Engineering, Design & Advanced Development

At Badger Meter, we're more than a leading global water technology company - we're innovators with a mission: to preserve and protect the world's most precious resource. For over 120 years, our trusted solutions have enabled our customers to optimize the delivery and use of water, maximize revenue and reduce waste.

Every employee at Badger Meter is an important part of our success. Here, your work doesn't just move a business forward - it shapes a more sustainable future. We are committed to building a workplace where we celebrate differences, empower voices, and encourage fresh ideas that drive innovation.

When you join us, you'll find:

• Purpose-driven work that makes a real difference in communities around the globe.

• Career growth and development opportunities designed to help you achieve your potential.

• A supportive, inclusive culture where collaboration and creativity thrive.

Be part of something bigger. At Badger Meter, your contributions will ripple far beyond the workplace - creating lasting change for people and the planet.

About the Opportunity:

Badger Meter's technology measures and manages water — accurately, reliably, and at scale — for utilities and municipalities across the country. As Director of Mechanical Engineering, Design & Advanced Development, you'll lead the teams that make that possible.

This is a leader-of-leaders role sitting at the center of our engineering organization, with direct influence over mechanical engineering, product design, and the advanced development work that defines our next generation of products. If you thrive at the intersection of technical depth, strategic thinking, and people leadership — this role was built for you.

What you'll lead:

• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team across Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Design, and Advanced Development — setting clear expectations, coaching managers, and building organizational depth.
• Set technical direction that connects to business strategy — translating product roadmap priorities into executable plans across all three disciplines.
• Guide Advanced Development to evaluate and pursue emerging technologies that strengthen our product portfolio and long-term roadmap.
• Champion DFM and Design for Automation, and lead capital planning for engineering tools, lab equipment, and CAD infrastructure.
• Partner with Regulatory Compliance and Quality teams to uphold design quality, PLM discipline, and standards adherence — ensuring seamless development-to-production transitions and that regulatory requirements are embedded into design and material selection from the start.

What We're Looking For:

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or similar) required; Master's preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive engineering experience in mechanical design, product development, or related disciplines required.
• 5+ years leading engineering managers and building high-performing, multi-functional teams required.
• Proven track record leading engineering organizations through the full product development lifecycle (concept to production) required.
• Background in flow measurement, fluid handling, water infrastructure, or instrumentation strongly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong command of mechanical design principles, GD&T, CAD tools (CREO or equivalent), and PLM/PDM systems required.
• Familiarity with DFM and Design for Automation in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience with FMEA, design reviews, reliability engineering, and root cause analysis required.
• ERP platform experience (IFS, SAP, or similar) required.
• Working knowledge of water industry standards: NSF/ANSI 61 & 372, AWWA, ISO 4064, and PFAS/EPA frameworks preferred.
• Understanding of materials science for wetted components — lead-free brass, polymer compliance, potable water contact preferred.

Who You Are

You're a leader who builds trust up, down, and across the organization. You know how to hold people accountable without micromanaging, and how to set a technical direction that others want to follow.

• Leading Leaders - You develop and coach the managers who run each discipline — and build the bench around them.
• Establishing Strategic Direction - You connect long-term technical vision to near-term execution, grounded in business and market realities.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration - You build real partnerships with Electrical, Software, Regulatory, and Operations — not just coordination.
• Technical Breadth - You maintain enough command across mechanical engineering, design, and advanced development to lead and evaluate the work credibly.
• Inspiring Excellence - You set high expectations, reinforce engineering rigor, and recognize achievement.

#SP123

• Competitive Pay

• Annual Bonus

• Eligible for Annual Pay Increases

• Comprehensive Health, Vision, and Dental Coverage 

• 15 days Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays  

• Two Ways to Save for Retirement: Badger Meter contributes 25 cents for every dollar you contribute to the plan, up to 7% of your eligible compensation.  In addition to the match, the company will also contribute 5% of your eligible compensation to your Defined Contribution account on an annual basis. Additional access to a certified financial planner to help ensure your money is working for you, at no cost!

• Employer Paid benefits including: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Basic Group Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, and more 

• Educational Assistance – Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 

• Voluntary benefits including: Additional Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Accident and Critical Illness coverage

• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Applicants can learn more about their rights regarding equal opportunity in employment by viewing the federal "EEO is the Law" poster and the “EEO is the Law” poster supplement at http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm

Badger Meter complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local disability laws. This means that we will reasonably accommodate qualified employees with a disability if accommodation would allow them to perform the essential functions of their job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship.  

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