FOUNDRY TRADE ASSISTANT

Hamilton Jet; Hawke's Bay; On-site; NZD 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamilton Jet in Christchurch, NZ, is hiring 16 Metal Casting and Foundry Workers. Roles involve forming moulds, fettling, inspection, and safe operation of foundry equipment across shifts. NZQA-recognised or 5+ years of experience required; hourly rate $35.00–$41.00, guaranteed 40 hours weekly, overtime may apply.

Applicants must be able to work across all listed shifts and demonstrate practical casting experience, tool use, and safety compliance in a foundry environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience across metal casting and foundry operations.
• Trade qualification or 5+ years in metal casting and foundry processes.
• Ability to work safely across multiple shift patterns.

Responsibilities

• Forming moulds and cores across varied processes.
• Floor and track moulding using green sand.
• Knock-out of sand moulds and removal of castings.
• Water blasting and cleaning castings.
• Fettling and finishing castings to quality standards.
• Inspect castings and identify defects.
• Use measurement tools for quality checks.
• Operate foundry equipment and cranes safely.

Skills

Core making

Moulding – green sand

Resin sand moulding

Lost wax casting

Fettling and knock-out

Casting inspection

Measurement instruments

Workshop equipment operation

Safety-focused

Overhead gantry cranes

Education

NZQA-recognised trade qualification in Metal Casting and Foundry Operations

Equivalent overseas qualification

Tools

Bandsaws

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Metal Casting Trade worker (16 Positions)

The Opportunity

We are seeking 16 skilled Metal Casting and Foundry Workers to join our Foundry team in Christchurch, New Zealand. These roles are integral to our manufacturing operations and require experienced tradespeople who can work safely and effectively across a variety of foundry processes and shift patterns.

The successful applicants will be employed on a full-time, permanent basis and will be guaranteed a minimum of 40 hours per week.

The hourly rate for these positions ranges from $35.00 to $41.00 per hour, depending on qualifications, skills, experience, and demonstrated competency. Trade-qualified applicants with NZQA-recognised or equivalent qualifications may be eligible for remuneration at the upper end of the range. Overtime rates and shift allowances also apply where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

• Forming moulds and cores.
• Floor and track moulding processes.
• Knock-out of sand moulds and removal of castings.
• Water blasting and cleaning castings.
• Fettling and finishing castings.
• Repairing minor casting defects and surface porosity.
• Inspection of castings and defect identification.
• Use of measurement tools and foundry equipment.
• Safe operation of overhead gantry cranes and powered foundry machinery.

Hours of Work and Shift Patterns

Successful applicants must be available to work across any of the following shifts as required by operational and production needs:

Shift/Days

• 6:00am – 2:30pm Monday to Friday
• 7:00am – 3:30pm Monday to Friday
• 2:30pm – 10:30pm Monday to Friday
• 3:30pm – 11:30pm Monday to Friday
• 10:30pm – 6:30am Sunday to Friday
• 11:00pm – 7:00am Sunday to Friday

A minimum of two weeks' notice will be provided before any change to an employee's shift pattern.

Additional overtime opportunities may be available from time to time, depending on production requirements.

About You

To be considered for this role, you must be willing and able to work across the shift patterns outlined above and demonstrate the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications to perform the role successfully.

You will possess either:

• A NZQA-recognised trade qualification in Metal Casting and Foundry Operations (or an equivalent overseas qualification); or
• A minimum of five years' relevant experience across all aspects of metal casting and foundry operations.

You will also be able to demonstrate practical experience in:

• Core making.
• Floor and line moulding using green sand.
• Resin sand moulding.
• Lost wax casting processes.
• Fettling and knock-out operations.
• Casting inspection and defect recognition.
• Use of basic measuring instruments.
• Operation of bandsaws and other workshop equipment.
• Safe use of hand tools and powered foundry machinery.
• Operation of overhead gantry cranes.

The successful applicant will demonstrate:

• The ability to work effectively within a multicultural team environment.
• Physical fitness and the ability to undertake demanding manual work using both hand and powered tools, including sledgehammers, disc grinders, and water-blasting equipment.
• The ability to safely work in a foundry environment involving molten metal processes and radiant heat associated with temperatures of up to 1600°C.
• Effective verbal and written English communication skills to understand safety procedures, work instructions, technical documentation, and workplace communications.
• Strong self-motivation and the ability to work with minimal supervision while achieving production targets.
• A commitment to producing high-quality workmanship within required timeframes.
• A thorough understanding of, and commitment to, workplace health and safety requirements within a foundry environment.

Applications close Tuesday 28th July 2026.