Lead Engineer

John Deere; Tokoroa; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Waratah NZ Limited, part of the John Deere family, seeks a Lead Engineer to advance our Smart Connected Factory journey in Tokoroa, NZ. You will develop and implement manufacturing technologies to boost safety, quality, delivery, and productivity across operations.

Collaborating with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, IT and global teams, you will translate operational needs into practical tech solutions, guiding projects from concept to implementation.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial or Mechatronics Engineering, CS or IT.
• University degree 4+ years.
• 4+ years in manufacturing/automation/tech env.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes and industrial engineering.
• Experience with automation controls, sensors and equipment integration.
• Proficiency in data analytics, reporting and visualization tools.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily technical support for manufacturing systems and automation.
• Lead Smart Connected Factory initiatives to improve safety, quality, productivity.
• Deploy automation and digital solutions across production lines.

Skills

Mechanical Eng.

Electrical Eng.

Industrial Eng.

Mechatronics

Computer Science

Information Tech

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

University Degree 4+ years

Tools

Power BI

SQL

Ignition

ERP/MES (SAP/IFS)

Job description

Who We Are

Integrity. Quality. Commitment and Innovation.

These are our values and not only what we stand by but what we stand for. We believe in empowering people. We create and deliver solutions. We give back to community. We think differently and we do it better. Our innovative spirit has driven us to continually evolve and deliver solutions to our dealers and our community and made us a business that our people are proud of and proud to work for.

Who We Are

Integrity. Quality. Commitment and Innovation.

These are our values and not only what we stand by but what we stand for. We believe in empowering people. We create and deliver solutions. We give back to community. We think differently and we do it better. Our innovative spirit has driven us to continually evolve and deliver solutions to our dealers and our community and made us a business that our people are proud of and proud to work for.

Waratah NZ Limited (a John Deere Company) has proudly served the global forestry industry for more than 40 years, pioneering mechanized harvesting with first-class products of distinct quality, durability, and reliability paired with unparalleled customer support.

With John Deere, we run so life can leap forward. This powerful purpose is our promise to humankind that we will dream, design, and deliver breakthrough products that sustain our world for generations to come. The world is counting on us to feed billions of people and build vital infrastructures in villages, towns and megacities. And we live up to the legacy our founder forged in a one-room blacksmith's shop nearly two centuries ago by creating a culture that brings out the best in all of us. A culture where great ideas thrive because every voice is heard.

The Opportunity

Title: Lead Engineer

Primary Location: New Zealand - Tokoroa

Permanent - Full time Position

Job Grade: 7

Hiring Manager: Holly MacDonell

Are you passionate about combining engineering, automation, digital technologies, and data-driven decision making to transform manufacturing performance?

As a Lead Engineer, you will play a critical role in advancing our Smart Connected Factory journey by developing and implementing innovative manufacturing technologies that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and labour efficiency. You will work at the intersection of manufacturing operations, automation, industrial engineering, data analytics, and digital transformation to solve complex operational challenges and create measurable business value.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future of manufacturing by partnering closely with Production, Manufacturing Engineering, IT, and global Smart Connected Factory teams to deliver practical technology solutions that enable smarter, more connected, and more efficient operations.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Providing daily technical support and troubleshooting for manufacturing systems, automation, and production technologies to ensure reliable factory performance.
• Identifying, developing, and implementing Smart Connected Factory initiatives that address operational challenges and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Leading the deployment of manufacturing automation and digital solutions that improve safety, quality, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Designing and developing reports, dashboards, and visualization tools using platforms such as Power BI, SQL, Ignition, and enterprise data systems.
• Partnering with Global IT and technology teams to diagnose and resolve critical system, server, and infrastructure issues impacting manufacturing operations.
• Acting as a business analyst by translating operational requirements into effective technology solutions that streamline processes and improve decision-making.
• Supporting continuous improvement initiatives through labour analysis, capacity planning, productivity enhancement, and operational optimisation activities.
• Maintaining manufacturing data integrity, routing structures, ERP/MES integrations, and production traceability systems.
• Participating in and leading capital investment projects involving factory equipment, facilities, automation, and manufacturing technologies.
• Training and supporting production teams to successfully adopt new systems, tools, and digital work practices.
• Driving root cause analysis and problem-solving activities across both manufacturing processes and digital technology environments.
• Collaborating across Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, and IT teams to ensure successful delivery of strategic business transformation initiatives.

What Will Make You Successful

You will bring:

• A degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• University Degree (4 years or equivalent)
• Demonstrated experience within a manufacturing, automation, industrial engineering, or technology environment. 4+ years
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, production systems, and industrial engineering principles.
• Experience with industrial automation technologies, controls systems, sensors, and manufacturing equipment integration.
• Proficiency with data analytics, reporting, and visualisation tools such as SQL, Power BI, Ignition, or similar platforms.
• Experience working with ERP/MES systems and manufacturing data integration platforms such as SAP or IFS.
• An understanding of Smart Connected Factory, Industry 4.0, IoT, and integrated OT/IT environments.

Leadership & Delivery Capability

Successful Candidate Will Demonstrate

• Strong project management skills and experience with the ability to deliver initiatives from concept through implementation 3+ years.
• Exceptional troubleshooting and problem-solving capability across both operational and technical systems.
• The ability to translate complex business challenges into practical technology solutions.
• Experience supporting automation, digital transformation, or capital investment projects.
• A collaborative approach and the ability to influence across multiple functions and stakeholder groups.