Factory Engineer

Sanford Limited; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford Limited is seeking an experienced Factory Engineer to join our Engineering Maintenance team based in Havelock, Marlborough. This hands-on role focuses on fault finding, keeping machinery running, and supporting a busy seafood processing operation.

You’ll work across mechanical equipment, carry out preventative maintenance, and respond to breakdowns to keep production moving safely and efficiently. Strong safety awareness is essential.

Qualifications

• A Mechanical Engineering trade qualification or equivalent.
• At least 3 years’ experience in factory or industrial maintenance, ideally within manufacturing, food or beverage.
• Strong mechanical skills, including experience with rotating machinery, hydraulics and pneumatics.
• Strong fault‑finding and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience working with automated production equipment.
• Welding and fabrication experience would be an advantage.
• A strong focus on safety and attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work Saturdays, overtime or support other shifts when required.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining, repairing and troubleshooting production equipment and plant.
• Carrying out preventative maintenance and equipment inspections.
• Diagnosing faults and responding to breakdowns.
• Working across pumps, motors, gearboxes, conveyors, valves and other mechanical equipment.
• Completing mechanical fitting, welding and fabrication work.
• Supporting shutdowns, projects and equipment upgrades.
• Keeping accurate maintenance records and identifying recurring issues.
• Working closely with production, quality and engineering teams.
• Contributing to improvements in equipment reliability, safety and performance.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Fault finding

Maintenance

Teamwork

Education

Mechanical Engineering trade qualification

Job description

Sanford is looking for an experienced Factory Engineer to join our Engineering Maintenance team based in Havelock, Marlborough.

If you’re a hands‑on engineer who enjoys fault finding, solving problems and keeping machinery running, this is an opportunity to put those skills to work in the heart of a busy seafood processing operation.

About the role

Our Havelock mussel processing factory is a fast‑paced production environment, and keeping our plant and machinery running safely, reliably and efficiently is critical to what we do.

As a Factory Engineer, you’ll work closely with our engineering and production teams, responding to breakdowns, carrying out preventative maintenance and finding practical solutions to keep production moving. There’s a strong focus on preventative maintenance, but when something does go wrong, you’ll need to be comfortable getting hands‑on, fault finding and getting equipment back up and running.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll work across a variety of mechanical equipment and machinery, giving you plenty of opportunity to use your existing skills while building your knowledge of our plant and production environment.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Maintaining, repairing and troubleshooting production equipment and plant.


• Carrying out preventative maintenance and equipment inspections.


• Diagnosing faults and responding to breakdowns.


• Working across pumps, motors, gearboxes, conveyors, valves and other mechanical equipment.


• Completing mechanical fitting, welding and fabrication work.


• Supporting shutdowns, projects and equipment upgrades.


• Keeping accurate maintenance records and identifying recurring issues.


• Working closely with production, quality and engineering teams.


• Contributing to improvements in equipment reliability, safety and performance.


• Accurate maintenance records, communication between shifts and working around the production plan are also important parts of the role.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who is practical, reliable and comfortable getting stuck in within a busy factory environment.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• A Mechanical Engineering trade qualification or equivalent.


• At least 3 years’ experience in factory or industrial maintenance, ideally within manufacturing, food or beverage.


• Strong mechanical skills, including experience with rotating machinery, hydraulics and pneumatics.


• Strong fault‑finding and problem‑solving skills.


• Experience working with automated production equipment.


• Welding and fabrication experience would be an advantage.


• A strong focus on safety and attention to detail.


• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.


• Flexibility to work Saturdays, overtime or support other shifts when required.

Why Sanford?

Based in Havelock, at the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, you’ll be joining one of New Zealand’s leading seafood businesses and working right at the heart of our processing operation. This is a role where you can see the impact of your work every day. When production is moving, machinery is performing and problems are being prevented before they turn into breakdowns, you’ve played a direct part in making that happen.

If you enjoy being hands‑on, solving problems and working in an environment where good engineering really matters, we’d like to hear from you.

For consideration, you will need to be eligible to work in New Zealand. Pre‑employment checks may include a criminal history check, drug and alcohol testing and a medical assessment.