diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/watch_list.helpers.ts b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/watch_list.helpers.ts
index e511dcdc58606..ca5d962e4dd21 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/watch_list.helpers.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/helpers/watch_list.helpers.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   nextTick,
 } from '../../../../../test_utils';
 import { WatchList } from '../../../public/application/sections/watch_list/components/watch_list';
-import { ROUTES } from '../../../common/constants';
+import { ROUTES, REFRESH_INTERVALS } from '../../../common/constants';
 import { withAppContext } from './app_context.mock';
 
 const testBedConfig: TestBedConfig = {
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ export interface WatchListTestBed extends TestBed<WatchListTestSubjects> {
     selectWatchAt: (index: number) => void;
     clickWatchAt: (index: number) => void;
     clickWatchActionAt: (index: number, action: 'delete' | 'edit') => void;
+    searchWatches: (term: string) => void;
+    advanceTimeToTableRefresh: () => Promise<void>;
   };
 }
 
@@ -73,12 +75,35 @@ export const setup = async (): Promise<WatchListTestBed> => {
     });
   };
 
+  const searchWatches = (term: string) => {
+    const { find, component } = testBed;
+    const searchInput = find('watchesTableContainer').find('.euiFieldSearch');
+
+    // Enter input into the search box
+    // @ts-ignore
+    searchInput.instance().value = term;
+    searchInput.simulate('keyup', { key: 'Enter', keyCode: 13, which: 13 });
+
+    component.update();
+  };
+
+  const advanceTimeToTableRefresh = async () => {
+    const { component } = testBed;
+    await act(async () => {
+      // Advance timers to simulate another request
+      jest.advanceTimersByTime(REFRESH_INTERVALS.WATCH_LIST);
+    });
+    component.update();
+  };
+
   return {
     ...testBed,
     actions: {
       selectWatchAt,
       clickWatchAt,
       clickWatchActionAt,
+      searchWatches,
+      advanceTimeToTableRefresh,
     },
   };
 };
@@ -95,4 +120,5 @@ export type TestSubjects =
   | 'createWatchButton'
   | 'emptyPrompt'
   | 'emptyPrompt.createWatchButton'
-  | 'editWatchButton';
+  | 'editWatchButton'
+  | 'watchesTableContainer';
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/watch_list.test.ts b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/watch_list.test.ts
index e436971edbb69..844493ea35261 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/watch_list.test.ts
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/__jest__/client_integration/watch_list.test.ts
@@ -6,13 +6,7 @@
 
 import { act } from 'react-dom/test-utils';
 import * as fixtures from '../../test/fixtures';
-import {
-  setupEnvironment,
-  pageHelpers,
-  nextTick,
-  getRandomString,
-  findTestSubject,
-} from './helpers';
+import { setupEnvironment, pageHelpers, getRandomString, findTestSubject } from './helpers';
 import { WatchListTestBed } from './helpers/watch_list.helpers';
 import { ROUTES } from '../../common/constants';
 
@@ -24,28 +18,29 @@ describe('<WatchList />', () => {
   const { server, httpRequestsMockHelpers } = setupEnvironment();
   let testBed: WatchListTestBed;
 
+  beforeAll(() => {
+    jest.useFakeTimers();
+  });
+
   afterAll(() => {
+    jest.useRealTimers();
     server.restore();
   });
 
   describe('on component mount', () => {
-    beforeEach(async () => {
-      testBed = await setup();
-    });
-
     describe('watches', () => {
       describe('when there are no watches', () => {
-        beforeEach(() => {
+        beforeEach(async () => {
           httpRequestsMockHelpers.setLoadWatchesResponse({ watches: [] });
-        });
-
-        test('should display an empty prompt', async () => {
-          const { component, exists } = await setup();
 
           await act(async () => {
-            await nextTick();
-            component.update();
+            testBed = await setup();
           });
+          testBed.component.update();
+        });
+
+        test('should display an empty prompt', async () => {
+          const { exists } = testBed;
 
           expect(exists('emptyPrompt')).toBe(true);
           expect(exists('emptyPrompt.createWatchButton')).toBe(true);
@@ -76,12 +71,47 @@ describe('<WatchList />', () => {
         beforeEach(async () => {
           httpRequestsMockHelpers.setLoadWatchesResponse({ watches });
 
-          testBed = await setup();
-
           await act(async () => {
-            await nextTick();
-            testBed.component.update();
+            testBed = await setup();
           });
+
+          testBed.component.update();
+        });
+
+        test('should retain the search query', async () => {
+          const { table, actions } = testBed;
+
+          actions.searchWatches(watch1.name);
+
+          const { tableCellsValues } = table.getMetaData('watchesTable');
+
+          // Expect "watch1" is only visible in the table
+          expect(tableCellsValues.length).toEqual(1);
+          const row = tableCellsValues[0];
+          const { name, id, watchStatus } = watch1;
+
+          const expectedRow = [
+            '', // checkbox
+            id,
+            name,
+            watchStatus.state,
+            '', // comment
+            '', // lastMetCondition
+            '', // lastChecked
+            '', // actions
+          ];
+
+          expect(row).toEqual(expectedRow);
+
+          await actions.advanceTimeToTableRefresh();
+
+          const { tableCellsValues: updatedTableCellsValues } = table.getMetaData('watchesTable');
+
+          // Verify "watch1" is still the only watch visible in the table
+          expect(updatedTableCellsValues.length).toEqual(1);
+          const updatedRow = updatedTableCellsValues[0];
+
+          expect(updatedRow).toEqual(expectedRow);
         });
 
         test('should set the correct app title', () => {
@@ -185,7 +215,7 @@ describe('<WatchList />', () => {
           });
 
           test('should send the correct HTTP request to delete watch', async () => {
-            const { component, actions, table } = testBed;
+            const { actions, table } = testBed;
             const { rows } = table.getMetaData('watchesTable');
 
             const watchId = rows[0].columns[2].value;
@@ -208,8 +238,6 @@ describe('<WatchList />', () => {
 
             await act(async () => {
               confirmButton!.click();
-              await nextTick();
-              component.update();
             });
 
             const latestRequest = server.requests[server.requests.length - 1];
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/public/application/sections/watch_list/components/watch_list.tsx b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/public/application/sections/watch_list/components/watch_list.tsx
index 729e37475fc99..a42704f37dc56 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/watcher/public/application/sections/watch_list/components/watch_list.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/watcher/public/application/sections/watch_list/components/watch_list.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 import React, { useState, useMemo, useEffect, Fragment } from 'react';
 
 import {
+  CriteriaWithPagination,
   EuiButton,
   EuiButtonEmpty,
   EuiFlexGroup,
@@ -57,6 +58,11 @@ export const WatchList = () => {
   // Filter out deleted watches on the client, because the API will return 200 even though some watches
   // may not really be deleted until after they're done firing and this could take some time.
   const [deletedWatches, setDeletedWatches] = useState<string[]>([]);
+  const [pagination, setPagination] = useState({
+    pageIndex: 0,
+    pageSize: PAGINATION.initialPageSize,
+  });
+  const [query, setQuery] = useState('');
 
   useEffect(() => {
     setBreadcrumbs([listBreadcrumb]);
@@ -379,7 +385,14 @@ export const WatchList = () => {
           : '',
     };
 
+    const handleOnChange = (search: { queryText: string }) => {
+      setQuery(search.queryText);
+      return true;
+    };
+
     const searchConfig = {
+      query,
+      onChange: handleOnChange,
       box: {
         incremental: true,
       },
@@ -409,29 +422,43 @@ export const WatchList = () => {
     };
 
     content = (
-      <EuiInMemoryTable
-        items={availableWatches}
-        itemId="id"
-        columns={columns}
-        search={searchConfig}
-        pagination={PAGINATION}
-        sorting={true}
-        selection={selectionConfig}
-        isSelectable={true}
-        message={
-          <FormattedMessage
-            id="xpack.watcher.sections.watchList.watchTable.noWatchesMessage"
-            defaultMessage="No watches to show"
-          />
-        }
-        rowProps={() => ({
-          'data-test-subj': 'row',
-        })}
-        cellProps={() => ({
-          'data-test-subj': 'cell',
-        })}
-        data-test-subj="watchesTable"
-      />
+      <div data-test-subj="watchesTableContainer">
+        <EuiInMemoryTable
+          onTableChange={({ page: { index, size } }: CriteriaWithPagination<never>) =>
+            setPagination({ pageIndex: index, pageSize: size })
+          }
+          items={availableWatches}
+          itemId="id"
+          columns={columns}
+          search={searchConfig}
+          pagination={{
+            ...PAGINATION,
+            pageIndex: pagination.pageIndex,
+            pageSize: pagination.pageSize,
+          }}
+          sorting={{
+            sort: {
+              field: 'name',
+              direction: 'asc',
+            },
+          }}
+          selection={selectionConfig}
+          isSelectable={true}
+          message={
+            <FormattedMessage
+              id="xpack.watcher.sections.watchList.watchTable.noWatchesMessage"
+              defaultMessage="No watches to show"
+            />
+          }
+          rowProps={() => ({
+            'data-test-subj': 'row',
+          })}
+          cellProps={() => ({
+            'data-test-subj': 'cell',
+          })}
+          data-test-subj="watchesTable"
+        />
+      </div>
     );
   }