Software Engineer I

We’re Watts. Together, we’re reimagining the future of water.

We feel proud every day about what we do. We're all part of the same crucial mission, no matter what function we support -- it's to provide safe, clean water for the world, and to protect our planet's most valuable resource.

What we do:

For 150 years, Watts has built best-in-class products that are trusted by customers in residential and commercial settings across the world. We are at the forefront of innovation, working with cutting-edge technology to provide smart and connected, sustainable water solutions for the future. Watts is a leading brand with a quality reputation - and we have a dynamic future ahead.

Watts Heating & Hot Water Solutions platform is seeking a highly-motivated Controls Engineer to be part of their team at Blauvelt, NY. Under the direction of Controls Engineering Manager, the Controls engineer will work cross-functionally to execute and deliver New Product Development (NPD) projects on time, within budget, and with adherence to the commercial specification.

The Controls Engineer is responsible to design, development, and application of proprietary controls for hydronic heating and water heating systems from concept to acceptance working within the Heating & Hot Water Solutions (HHWS) business unit and collaborating with other controls groups within Watts Water Technologies, Inc. The Controls Engineer will also be responsible to lead their assigned NPD projects.

Scope of Position

Watts Water Technologies is seeking a highly motivated Software Engineer I to support New Product Development (NPD) initiatives. In this on-site role, the Software Engineer will collaborate cross-functionally to design, develop, integrate, debug, and test embedded software for proprietary electronic control systems used in hydronic heating and water heating products. The engineer will contribute throughout the product development lifecycle, including requirements analysis, software architecture, implementation, verification, validation, and product release, helping bring innovative solutions from concept to market within the Watts Applied Solutions (WAS) business unit.

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

The Software Engineer I reports to the Embedded Software Engineering Manager. This is an on-site position located in Blauvelt, New York.

Primary Job Duties and Responsibilities

· Develop and maintain C++20 / Qt 6 applications for ARM-based embedded Linux controllers used in commercial hydronic and water heating products.

· Implement new features and resolve defects across the firmware stack, including UI screens, control logic, and I/O handling for analog inputs, RTDs, flow sensors, relays, and touchscreens.

· Write clean, deterministic C++ code suitable for real-time control, avoiding dynamic memory allocation in time-critical paths.

· Integrate device communication over Modbus, BACnet, RS-485/RS-232, CAN bus, and Ethernet.

· Build and cross-compile firmware using CMake and Yocto toolchains; deploy binaries to target hardware via SSH for on-device debugging in Qt Creator.

· Write and maintain unit tests (Qt Test / GoogleTest) and Doxygen documentation per team coding standards (. clang-format, license headers, enum constants).

· Contribute to Jenkins CI/CD pipelines for automated builds, testing, and packaging.

· Use Git/GitHub for version control; triage issues, reproduce reported bugs, and submit changes through pull requests and code reviews.

· Utilize AI-assisted development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot) effectively and responsibly to streamline development, increase efficiency, and strengthen code quality.

· Read schematics and PCBs to support hardware/software integration and lab validation against test benches.

· Collaborate cross-functionally with Controls, Hardware, QA, and Product teams on NPD projects from concept to acceptance.

· Assume responsibility for other projects assigned by the Embedded Software Engineering Manager or Company management.

· Responsibility directly tied to Watts Values (Integrity, Accountability, Continuous Improvement, Transparency)

· Travel up to 5%.

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics and communications, software engineering, computer science/engineering or related field.

· 1+ years of experience developing production-level code using C++ (C++17 or newer preferred).

· Experience with software development in a Linux desktop environment

· Experience with version control using Git & GitHub

· Working knowledge of industrial communication protocols such as Modbus, BACnet, CAN bus, Ethernet/IP, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, MQTT, and Cellular.

· Familiarity with Schematic design and PCB layout

· Excellent interpersonal skills, maintain strong working relationship with all internal groups

· Proficient in business applications - MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, etc.

· Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations and safety practices and procedures, as applicable.

· Must successfully establish employment eligibility and satisfactorily complete background checks, including drug screening, and required pre-employment testing as a condition of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

· 2+ years of experience in C++ software development.

· Experience with Qt framework for GUI development .

· Expert in C++20, strong knowledge of CI/CD pipelines (Jenkins), and unit testing frameworks (Qt Test, GoogleTest).

· Experience developing user-space C++ applications targeting ARM-based embedded Linux platforms

· Past exposure to building and deploying Yocto-based kernel images with Jenkins

· Development experience with AI Agents/LLMs for code generation, review, and productivity tooling; Machine Learning exposure a plus.

· Familiarity with Doxygen documentation standards and clang-format-enforced coding styles.

General Applicable Company Competencies

· Commitment to Watts’ values of integrity, accountability, continuous improvement and innovation, and transparency.

· Punctuality and dependability.

· Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful conditions.

· Adherence to all personnel policies, procedures, and standards of process as implemented by Watts.

· Maintain productive and collaborative relationships with other Watts employees.

· Adherence to Watts’ seven cultural beliefs: Growth Mindset, Customer-Focused Innovation, Constant Communication, Clear Goals, Collaborate Globally, Be Inclusive, and Take Action.

Working Conditions:

While performing the job duties, you will be working on-site at a manufacturing facility and will perform the majority of your duties in an office environment. You may, at times, be required to be present on the manufacturing floor and will be required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. You will be required to work in the office at the Blauvelt, NY location (Monday - Friday). Your scheduled work hours will be communicated to you by your manager.

Physical Requirements: Specific physical abilities required for this position include, but are not limited to:

· Ability to stand for long periods of time.

· Ability to lift and carry up to [insert amount] pounds.

· Ability to push and pull up to [insert amount] pounds.

· Ability to physically move around manufacturing floor.

· Ability to read documents and communicate clearly with management and coworkers.

· Ability to wear personal protective equipment, which may include, but is not limited to, safety shoes, hearing protection, and safety glasses.

Pay Range:

The expected salary range for this position is $88K - $95K annually. Actual compensation will be dependent upon individual skills, experience, qualifications, and applicable law.

Nothing in this job description restricts Watts’ right to assign or reassign duties, responsibilities, and working hours/conditions to this position at any time. This position is “at will,” which means that either the employee or Watts may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without notice, and for any lawful reason.

#LIOnsite

Watts in it for you:

Please note that the followingbenefits apply only to permanent roles and do not apply to internship roles.

• Competitive compensation based on your skills, qualifications and experience
• Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits
• Family building benefits, including paid maternity/paternity leave
• 10 paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Continued professional development opportunities and educational reimbursement
• Additional perks such as fitness reimbursements and employee discount programs
• Learn more about our benefit offerings here: https://tapintowattsbenefits.com/

How we work:

At Watts, our culture is team-oriented and supportive. Employees here genuinely care about the quality of their work, and about each other. Our people are the heart of who we are and contribute to our longevity and continued success.

And this is a place where you can have a big career. No matter your role, there are opportunities for learning and development, and your daily contributions make a meaningful impact on the lives of people who use our products and on the future of water.

Watts is committed to equal employment opportunity. We follow a policy of administering all employment decisions and personnel actions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, genetic disposition or carrier status, marital status, military or veteran status, minorities, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Consistent with the obligations of state and federal law, Watts will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Any employee who needs a reasonable accommodation should contact Human Resources.