Design Engineer IV - Simulation

About the Company

Mueller Water Products, Inc. has been building the future of water infrastructure for more than 165 years. We develop products and solutions that help cities and utilities deliver clean, safe drinking water across North America. Our purpose is to connect communities to water, life’s most essential resource, through exceptional products and people. We are united by shared values of respect, integrity, trust, inclusion, and safety, and we strive to be the leader in water infrastructure solutions—solving challenges, enriching lives, and safeguarding the future.

About the Role

As a Design Engineer IV – Simulation, you will serve as a senior technical lead in mechanical simulation (Individual Contributor – Technical Lead). You will perform and review advanced FEA and CFD analyses to support static and dynamic mechanical designs used in heavily regulated industrial applications. This role involves defining simulation approaches, reviewing and approving analysis work, and supporting high-impact or regulated design decisions across Mueller's product lines.

Responsibilities

• Independently perform complex FEA and CFD analyses evaluating mechanical components and assemblies subjected to static/dynamic loading, thermal and thermo-mechanical effects, pressure, flow, and fluid–structure interaction.
• Apply advanced modeling techniques including nonlinear material behavior, contact, large deformation, plasticity, modal/harmonic/transient dynamic analysis, buckling/stability evaluation, fatigue/life prediction, and conjugate heat transfer/turbulence modeling.
• Serve as a technical reviewer and approver of simulation work performed by other engineers.
• Define simulation strategy, assumptions, modeling approach, and level of fidelity for new or high-risk cases at the program or system level.
• Establish and reinforce best practices for modeling assumptions, meshing strategies, boundary conditions, and result interpretation.
• Ensure simulation work is defensible, repeatable, and suitable for use in regulated environments.
• Produce formal engineering analysis reports suitable for internal approval, customer review, and regulatory use.
• Lead technical discussions and influence cross-functional decisions with design, manufacturing, and project leadership.
• Own and evaluate risk acceptance and mitigation strategies for safety-critical applications.
• Act as technical lead and mentor, guiding simulation work of other engineers.
• Contribute to design margin justification and risk assessment for safety-critical applications.
• Support technical discussions with customers and auditors as a subject matter expert.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline.
• Typically 10+ years of progressive experience performing high-complexity FEA and CFD in industrial or regulated environments.
• Expert-level proficiency across multiple simulation platforms: ANSYS Mechanical, ANSYS Fluent/CFX, SolidWorks Simulation, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Abaqus, or COMSOL (breadth across multiple platforms is strongly valued).
• Demonstrated experience reviewing and approving simulation work performed by others.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Working knowledge of testing methodologies and testing processes.
• GD&T knowledge.

Skills

• Strong communication, presentation, and technical leadership skills.
• Expert-level engineering judgment on model validity, assumptions, and risk.
• Excellent design, technical, and analytical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python for post-processing, validation, or workflow efficiency.
• Working knowledge of iron casting, machining, rubber, and manufacturing processes.
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt.
• PMP certification.
• FE/EIT or PE certification.
• Knowledge of problem-solving methodologies.

Pay

$94,067 - $129,329 USD (base pay for full-time employment at 40 hours per week). Individual compensation may vary based on role, experience, skills, achievements, and work location.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k plan with 5% Company match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits.
• Vacation and 100% paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student debt retirement matching.
• Well-being program.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Company-provided life insurance.
• Supplemental insurance at group rates.