Tooling Design Engineer

|Industrial & Energy - Mechanical|New Zealand

Bring your tool design expertise to a stable, well-established engineering company delivering complex machinery to clients worldwide.

We’re looking for a Tooling Design Engineer to join a skilled and supportive engineering team. Based in Rotorua, you’ll design tooling sets and components that form the backbone of custom-built, heavy industrial machinery.

This is a great opportunity for a proven Tooling Design Engineer, OR someone with a practical background in machining, fitting, or manufacturing who wants to move into tooling design, OR someone early in their engineering design career ready to specialise. This will be hands-on, technical work that demands accuracy, curiosity, and a strong grasp of material behaviour, tolerances, and fit.

The Role
In this role, you’ll take ownership of tooling design work, using software like COPRA and Autodesk Inventor, working from concept and quoting stages through to final commissioning and delivery. You’ll be working on complex, high-spec projects alongside engineers, machinists, and commissioning teams, as well as supporting sales and service with your technical input.

You will:

  • Provide input during early sales and quoting phases
  • Assist with tooling and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Design tooling for custom machinery using COPRA and Autodesk software
  • Create drawings, specifications, and clear technical documentation
  • Balance design quality, cost-effectiveness, and safety in line with performance and delivery goals
  • Working closely with commissioning teams to solve design challenges in real time
  • Applying knowledge of steel behaviour, tolerances, and manufacturing limits

The Company
Our client is a trusted leader in designing and manufacturing bespoke heavy machinery, serving both local and international markets. Their strong “number 8 wire” mentality, practical problem solvers who tackle challenges head-on rather than settling for quick fixes, drives their success. This company is the perfect place for those who take pride in rolling up their sleeves and delivering exceptional results.

What’s in It for You?
With a flat structure that encourages internal growth, a focus on wellbeing, and a culture of creativity. They offer a competitive remuneration package, and a range of benefits tailored to support staff wellbeing and foster a positive workplace culture:

  • Employee Perks: Life insurance, supplier discount cards, prescription safety glasses reimbursement, branded apparel, and more
  • Wellbeing Focus: On-site physio, a $300 Wellbeing Fund for medical treatment, $200 for self-care annually, and monthly morning teas
  • Connected Team: Social events, quarterly catered meetings, a social club, and “Lunch with the Leader” sessions with the Managing Director
  • Career Growth: Opportunities to move within the organisation and develop in a flat, supportive structure
  • Family Environment: A caring culture with a strong emphasis on integrity and personalised support
  • Location Perks: Enjoy the lifestyle of the Bay of Plenty – beaches, mountains, and trails all at your doorstep, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and a great place to put down roots.

Ideal Experience

  • Proven tooling design experience
  • Strong understanding of fabrication, machining, and manufacturing processes
  • Ideally a degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, or come up through the trades
  • CAD design experience (COPRA, Autodesk, Inventor, or similar)
  • Strong maths, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
  • Understanding of dynamic tooling, steel properties, and tolerances
  • Not risk-averse, you’re someone who’s confident making decisions and learning by doing

PLEASE NOTE: We can only consider applications from people already living in New Zealand and holding valid work permits or residency.

This is the next step for someone who gets how machines work, and wants to design the tooling that makes them.

Apply now, or alternatively reach out for a confidential discussion with Bethany Craigen on +64 4 282 1563, email bethany@trs.co.nz

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All our jobs are listed at www.trs.co.nz : If this vacancy is not exactly what you are seeking, then please contact me in confidence to discuss your individual requirements.
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