Mechanical Engineering Technician (Farms)

The Sunpork Group; Western Downs Regional; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional learning and development

Competitive salary

Staff discounts

Base salary range: $79,500 - $80,000 +

Job summary

SunPork Group is seeking a Mechanical Engineering Technician (Farms) to directly support our Queensland piggery operations. The role is full-time, based at Warra, QLD, and focuses on maintaining complex mechanical systems to ensure 24/7 production and animal welfare.

The successful candidate will perform preventive and emergency maintenance, review blueprints, coordinate with farm managers, and contribute to cost control and continuous improvement of farm infrastructure.

Qualifications

• AQF Certificate III or equivalent in industrial technology, mechanical engineering, or similar with mechanical or electrical background.
• At least 1 year full-time, recent experience in related occupation and demonstrated safety leadership.
• Experience in farming environment with exposure to intensive animal production is advantageous.
• Hands-on delivery of scheduled and emergency maintenance in an agribusiness environment.

Responsibilities

• Review complex blueprints, piping, sketches, schematics, and wiring diagrams to define test specs and objectives.
• Confer with farm production managers to determine when maintenance will least interfere with piggery operations and welfare.
• Perform timely repair, routine maintenance, and preventative maintenance on mechanical equipment across farm unit systems.
• Diagnose mechanical problems and determine corrective action.
• Inspect drives, motors, belts, and other operating devices.
• Maintain records of maintenance and cost analyses; track parts and budget needs.

Skills

Safety leadership

Budget planning

Maintenance planning

Hands-on maintenance

Education

AQF Certificate III or equivalent

Alternative degree in industrial technology/mechanical engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Job description

Mechanical Engineering Technician (Farms)

Job Type: Permanent position | Full time position

Job Description

Who We Are SunPork Group is dedicated to delivering the finest quality fresh Australian pork to market.

We are proud to be the largest Australian farmer owned and operated producer of quality Australian pork products. Employing 1,800+ employees across 52 locations in Australia and NZ. SunPork is committed to animal welfare and the responsible, ethical care of animals to ensure their comfort, health, and welfare.

Together with our dedicated specialist veterinary health, nutrition, research and development teams, and farm and production teams, the person in this position is committed to the care of our pigs and the production of high quality, sustainable pork.

What We Offer

By joining us, you will become part of an ever-growing family – passionate about producing the best quality Aussie pork for Aussie plates. At SunPork we provide:

• Professional learning and development opportunities;
• Competitive salary;
• Enjoy staff discounts on a range of products;
• Base salary range: $79,500 - $80,000.00 + Superannuation

The Opportunity SunPork Consolidated Pty Ltd requires a Mechanical Engineering Technician (Farms) to directly support our Queensland piggery operations. This position is full time and will be based out of our piggery in Warra, QLD. Our farms depend on functional and reliable mechanical systems at all times to ensure farms are operational, safe, and in service at all times – 24/7 and 365 days per year to support positive animal welfare outcomes, optimal environmental conditions and sustained and efficient production.

Responsibilities, tasks, and duties: Reporting to the Unit Manager, the Mechanical Engineering Technician (Farms) will be required to carry out the following tasks:

• Review complex blueprints, piping, sketches, schematics, and wiring diagrams to ascertain test specifications, procedures, and objectives, and test nature of technical problems such as redesign
• Confer with farm production managers to determine when maintenance will least interfere and disrupt piggery operations and livestock health and welfare
• Perform timely repair, routine maintenance, and preventative maintenance on various mechanical equipment in each farm unit system used during regular operations including Penguin rotational feeders, feeder lines and tubes, mainline drinking lines/hose lines, environmental systems including flush systems, ventilation, heat mats, misting/cooling, air conditioning systems (evaporative cooler and pumps), curtain cables, rollers, and weaner shutters
• Recognise and diagnose mechanical problems, and determine corrective action needed
• Inspect drives, motors, belts, and other operating devices.
• Check fluid levels, clean, or lubricate shafts, bearings, gears, replace filters, or perform other maintenance actions following established checklists
• Disassemble, recondition, and re-install reconditioned or new, or modified mechanical assemblies, components, machine tools and controls, and hydraulic power systems
• Observe and understand the flow of all products at specified stages in the production process or adherence to specifications that are delivered to and from the feed mill
• Develop an understanding of all mechanical and automated systems that control areas of the farm unit production facility including dry sow, breeding, farrowing, weaning and grower units
• Identify opportunities for improvements in quality, costs, or efficiency of mechanical and automated equipment, by developing a full understanding, internally and externally, of the facility
• Maintain records of planned and completed maintenance utilising work orders and maintenance logs to verify that records adhere to equipment specifications
• Analyse or estimate maintenance costs, such as production equipment, and plant space
• Maintain a high level of quality control in accordance with the quality assurance standards adopted by the Company with a focus on continual improvement of systems
• Develop, implement, and maintain an agreed process for purchase of spare parts, consistently ensuring an efficient and cost-effective outcome
• Assist with the identification of any problems and non-conformities and process, providing cost effective business solutions;
• Use tools and equipment ranging from common hand and power tools, such as hammers, hoists, saws, drills, and wrenches, precision measuring instruments and testing devices
• Actively support, lead, and take part in Work Health and safety initiatives across the site; and
• Other duties as requested by management that are within your expertise and skill set.

Qualifications and Experience:

• AQF Certificate III or equivalent OR alternative degree/qualification in industrial technology, mechanical engineering, or similar qualification with mechanical or electrical background
• At least 1 year of full time, recent & relevant experience in a related occupation in the last 5 years Demonstrated safety leadership in the past and will strive to maintain a safe and healthy workplace
• Experience working in a farming environment, with exposure in intensive animal production an advantage
• Demonstrated expertise in the hands‑on delivery of both scheduled and emergency maintenance in an agribusiness environment
• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word and Excel an advantage
• Capability to assist with and develop yearly budget planning including shed and equipment upgrades