Automation Engineer

|Industrial & Energy - Automation|New Zealand

Automation Engineer – Turnkey Materials Handling & Packaging Systems | Hastings

Join a leading New Zealand equipment manufacturer, designing and delivering world-class robotic and materials-handling systems for the dairy, meat, and food sectors. Based in Hastings, this site develops and exports full turnkey solutions across New Zealand, Australia, and global markets including the US, UK, China, and Japan.

You’ll be part of a capable automation team delivering everything from electrical design and build through to commissioning, testing, and operator training. Projects typically range from 14 weeks to 12 months and involve high levels of technical ownership and collaboration across disciplines.

The Role
You’ll:

  • Take projects from handover through commissioning and customer sign-off
  • Develop and commission PLC, HMI, and SCADA systems (Rockwell / Allen Bradley)
  • Program and integrate robotic systems (ABB, Fanuc)
  • Conduct FAT testing and prepare operator documentation and drawings
  • Commission systems on customer sites overseas (up to 4 trips per year, 1-3 weeks)
  • Train operators and support site acceptance testing
  • Collaborate closely with mechanical and electrical engineering teams

About You
You’ll have:

  • 3-5+ years’ experience as an automation engineer in materials handling, packaging, or system integration
  • Strong knowledge of Rockwell / Allen Bradley platforms (Studio 5000, FactoryTalk ME & SE, Ignition SCADA)
  • Robotics experience (ABB / Fanuc) and understanding of drive systems
  • Proficiency in Ladder Logic; Structured text, Python, C or C++ is a bonus
  • Excellent communication and documentation skills, including operator training experience
  • Willingness to travel and take ownership of project outcomes

What’s on Offer

  • Hourly rate equivalent to $110K-$120K per annum for 40 hours / week, plus paid overtime
  • Travel allowance ($95 per day), paid travel hours (up to 10 per day), and all expenses covered
  • Real project ownership, technical variety, and long-term development opportunities
  • Supportive, collaborative team culture with mentoring from experienced engineers

This is a hands-on role suited to an automation engineer who enjoys seeing their work come to life in complex, high-performance automation systems – both in the workshop and on-site.

If you would like to join this growing company, then please apply for the role. If you would like some more information, then please reach out to me: Luke Atkinson on 04 333 0383 or luke@trs.co.nz

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