The Product Engineer leads root cause analysis for failures, drives cost reduction initiatives, supports new product introductions, and collaborates across teams to enhance product performance and reliability.
Join Energy Recovery and Help Build a Sustainable Future
At Energy Recovery, we build products that help limit global temperature rise, reduce carbon emissions, provide safe drinking water for millions of people, and bring efficiency and sustainability to a range of industries. Our products help customers avoid approximately 19.7 million metric tons of carbon emissions per year -- equivalent to removing over 4.7 million cars from the road!
In addition to innovating world-class products that help our customers and the environment, our employees enjoy a diverse, collaborative work culture, as well as extensive company benefits that support the overall wellbeing of our staff. This includes everything from generous health plans and time off, paid family leave, subsidized lunches and company events, and opportunities for charitable giving and volunteering in the community.
What You Can Look Forward To:
ERI is seeking an experienced Product Engineer to join our Product and Sustaining Engineering team, reporting to the Product and Sustaining Engineering Manager. This role is central to two complementary missions: driving root cause analysis (RCA) for field failures and production quality escapes, and leading sustaining engineering initiatives that reduce product cost (COGS) and extend product competitiveness. The successful candidate will also support new product introduction (NPI) efforts and cross-functional programs spanning R&D, manufacturing, QHSE, and our business units.
What Will You Do?
- Lead structured RCA investigations for field failures, production test escapes, and customer quality events — applying methods such as 8D, fishbone/Ishikawa, and fault tree analysis to drive to verified root cause.
- Own the full RCA cycle: failure intake, physical teardown and inspection, data analysis, corrective action development, and closeout documentation suitable for customer and internal review.
- Interface directly with field service, project engineering, and customers to gather failure context and communicate findings clearly and professionally.
- Maintain and continuously improve RCA documentation standards, failure libraries, and lessons-learned processes to build institutional knowledge.
- Lead sustaining engineering projects with explicit COGS reduction targets — including design-for-manufacturability improvements, material substitutions, component consolidation, tolerance optimization, and supplier qualification activities.
- Identify and prioritize cost-reduction opportunities through data-driven analysis of BOM costs, warranty claims, scrap/rework trends, and manufacturing non-conformances.
- Work cross-functionally with manufacturing, supply chain, and procurement to develop and validate cost-engineered solutions that maintain or improve product performance and reliability.
- Manage engineering change orders (ECOs) through drawing/BOM updates, validation testing, and manufacturing release for sustaining improvements.
- Track and report COGS improvement results against project targets and communicate status to engineering leadership.
- Support R&D NPI programs involving fluid machines — including pressure exchangers, centrifugal and reciprocating pumps, turbines, and turbochargers.
- Lead product engineering deliverables for NPI: production drawings, BOMs, performance curves, beta testing, third-party certifications, and manufacturing release.
- Perform prototype validation testing in the lab, including sensor/transducer selection, data acquisition, and test report development.
- Provide engineering support for product customization requests and respond promptly to the engineering ticketing system.
- Collaborate with project engineering, manufacturing, QHSE, and business unit teams on product-related technical issues and initiatives.
- Provide technical support to corporate development, sales, manufacturing, quality, and project engineering teams as needed.
- Other duties & projects as assigned.
Root Cause Analysis & Field Support
Sustaining Engineering & COGS Reduction
New Product Introduction (NPI) Support
Cross-Functional & General Engineering
What You Bring to the Table:
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 3+ years of relevant industry experience. An advanced degree in lieu of experience is acceptable, provided the concentration is in the area of mechanics of fluids or solids.
- Demonstrated proficiency in root cause analysis methods (8D, FMEA, fishbone, fault tree, or equivalent) with experience leading investigations from intake through corrective action closure.
- Proven track record contributing to or leading COGS reduction initiatives through design, manufacturing process, or supply chain improvements.
- Proficiency in commercial CAD packages such as SolidWorks or Onshape is required.
- Familiarity with engineering standards such as ASME/API/ANSI/NFPA etc.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present technical findings to non-engineering stakeholders and customers.
- Must possess a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, manage multiple tasks, and be goal-oriented.
- Up to 10% of domestic and international travel.
- Hands-on experience with testing and experimentation, selection and use of sensors/transducers/controls/data acquisition hardware.
- Experience with design, analysis, and testing of rotodynamic & reciprocating fluid machines.
- Familiarity with BOM cost analysis, supplier qualification, or DFM/DFA methodologies.
- Experience with engineering change management processes and PLM/ERP systems.
Required
Preferred
What's in it For Me?
- Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with options for family coverage
- Retirement Plans: 401(k) plan with company matching to help you save for the future
- Paid Time Off: Generous vacation policy, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure a healthy work-life balance
- Wellness Programs: Mental Wellness Support with therapy and coaching in addition to an employee assistance program
- Fitness Perks: Enjoy access to our on-site gym with an on-site trainer, yoga classes and gym reimbursement for remote employees
- Team Events: Regular team-building activities and social events to foster a positive work culture such as; ping-pong tournaments, gratitude lunches, and summer BBQs
- Referral Bonus: Earn up to $1,500 for referring friends
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Pre-tax savings for medical expenses, commuter, and dependent care, helping you manage out-of-pocket costs
- Tuition Reimbursement: Financial support for continuing education, including courses and degree programs to help you advance your career
- Paid Parental Leave: Generous paid leave for new parents to bond with their children and support family needs
We are an EOE/AA employer committed to workforce diversity.
No recruiters or phone calls.
Top Skills
Onshape
Solidworks
Energy Recovery San Leandro, California, USA Office
1717 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA, United States, 94577
Similar Jobs
Consumer Web • eCommerce • Food • Healthtech • Natural Language Processing • Social Impact
The Senior Product Engineer, Backend will develop scalable API services, optimize e-commerce experiences, and collaborate on architecture and code design to enhance customer satisfaction.
Top Skills:
AWSGoJavaKafkaLinuxNoSQLPHPPythonRelational DatabasesServerless
Legal Tech • Software • Generative AI
The Product Engineer will develop and maintain core software, drive product direction, integrate AI solutions, and work with customer feedback. They will own back-end systems and collaborate with design and engineering teams.
Top Skills:
AIBack-End SystemsDistributed SystemsFull-Stack Development
Legal Tech • Software • Generative AI
As a Product Engineer, you will develop and maintain Eve's core software, drive product direction, integrate AI solutions, and work collaboratively with clients. You'll own the user experience and constantly iterate based on user feedback in a fast-paced environment.
Top Skills:
AIFull-Stack DevelopmentUser Interface Design
What you need to know about the San Francisco Tech Scene
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area attracts more startup funding than any other region in the world. Home to Stanford University and UC Berkeley, leading VC firms and several of the world’s most valuable companies, the Bay Area is the place to go for anyone looking to make it big in the tech industry. That said, San Francisco has a lot to offer beyond technology thanks to a thriving art and music scene, excellent food and a short drive to several of the country’s most beautiful recreational areas.
Key Facts About San Francisco Tech
- Number of Tech Workers: 365,500; 13.9% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
- Major Tech Employers: Google, Apple, Salesforce, Meta
- Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, fintech, consumer technology, software
- Funding Landscape: $50.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
- Notable Investors: Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners, Greylock Partners, Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins
- Research Centers and Universities: Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley; University of San Francisco; Santa Clara University; Ames Research Center; Center for AI Safety; California Institute for Regenerative Medicine


