Junior Engineer (Electronics and Test Automation)

ProFound People; Wellington; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

An early-career Junior Engineer (Electronics and Test Automation) role in New Zealand offers hands-on design, build, and support of automation fixtures on the production floor. You’ll work across schematic/PCB design, embedded C programming, and mechanical assembly, with training available and opportunities to grow across hardware, software, and software test areas.

The role is full-time and onsite in the Wellington region, with relocation considered for the right candidate and NZ work rights

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in electronics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or related field.
• Ability to read a schematic and explain circuit operation.
• Track record of building things through work, study, internships, or personal projects.
• Some experience with embedded C programming on microcontrollers.
• Hands-on skills including soldering and assembly.
• Ability to understand a schematic, board, or code and discuss features quickly.
• Willingness to learn across electronics, mechanical, software, and assembly work.
• Enthusiasm, curiosity, strong work ethic and practical problem-solving approach.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and commission new production test fixtures for products.
• Maintain, repair, and calibrate test fixtures for daily production.
• Create schematics and PCB layouts for test modules and fixtures in Altium.
• Design mechanical parts and enclosures for test fixtures in SolidWorks.
• Develop and test embedded C software for 8/16/32-bit MCUs.
• Write and maintain high-level test scripts and support test software.
• Assemble, solder, and wire test fixtures by hand.
• Apply measurement techniques to verify product specifications.
• Document test modules, components, functions, fabrication notes, and specs.
• Support modernisation of fixtures and greater automation in production testing.

Skills

Embedded C

Soldering

Schematic reading

PCB design basics

Hands-on assembly

Curiosity

Teamwork

Education

Diploma / degree in electronics / electrical engineering / mechatronics

Tools

Altium

SolidWorks

Python

C++

Test equipment

Job description

An established New Zealand designer and manufacturer of electronic products is investing in its production capability and is now hiring a Junior Engineer (Electronics and Test Automation) to join the small engineering team that designs, builds, and maintains the automated test equipment every product passes through before it leaves the factory. This is a genuine early career opportunity. A specific number of years of experience is not required, and the team is happy to train the right person, so curiosity and a love of building things matter far more than where you have worked.

In this role you will design, build, and support the custom test fixtures used on the production floor. These are the machines that check every circuit board and product works before it ships, and there is one for every product the company makes. The work is evenly spread across mechanical design, schematic and PCB design, embedded C programming, test software, and hands-on assembly, including soldering and wiring. You will also maintain and repair the fixtures already in use. It is a busy time to join, with plenty of new fixture development ahead alongside the ongoing work of modernising existing equipment and moving towards greater automation. The work directly improves product quality and production efficiency. You will work alongside principal level specialists in hardware, software, and mechanical design, and you may focus on different areas from project to project depending on what is needed and where your interests lie, with the longer term aim of becoming proficient across all of them. This is an early career position for someone who has been building things for as long as they can remember, whether through work, study, or personal projects. It suits someone who is enthusiastic, hands-on, and enjoys working out an unfamiliar problem rather than waiting to be shown.

This is a full time, onsite role based in the Wellington region. Candidates from elsewhere in New Zealand will be considered if they are genuinely committed to relocating to Wellington. Applicants must have full working rights in New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and commission new production test fixtures for new and existing products.
• Maintain, repair, and calibrate test fixtures in daily production use.
• Create circuit schematics and PCB layouts for test modules and fixtures in Altium.
• Design mechanical parts and enclosures for test fixtures in SolidWorks.
• Develop and test embedded C software for 8, 16, and 32 bit microcontrollers, including timing, analogue interfacing, and communication protocols such as SPI and UART.
• Write and maintain high level test scripts, and support the test software team where needed.
• Assemble, solder, and wire test fixtures and modules by hand.
• Apply instrumentation and measurement techniques to verify that products meet specification.
• Document test modules, including component selection, circuit function, fabrication notes, and specifications.
• Support the modernisation of older fixtures and the move towards greater automation in production testing.

Requirements

• A completed diploma, degree, or other tertiary study in electronics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a related discipline.
• A solid foundation in electronics, with the ability to read a schematic and explain how a circuit works.
• A track record of building things, whether through work, study, internships, or personal projects.
• Some experience with embedded C programming on microcontrollers.
• Practical hands-on skills, including soldering and assembly.
• The ability to look at a schematic, an assembled board, or a piece of code and quickly recognise and discuss its features.
• A willingness to learn and work across electronic, mechanical, software, and assembly work.
• Enthusiasm, curiosity, a strong work ethic, and a practical approach to solving problems.

Desirable but not essential

• Experience with Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Experience with SolidWorks or another 3D mechanical design tool.
• Exposure to Python or C++ for test scripting or software development.
• Experience with test equipment, test fixtures, or production testing.
• Familiarity with communication protocols such as SPI, UART, I2C, or RS-485.