Lead Mechanical Design Engineer

Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs in Christchurch, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced mechanical design engineer to join our design team. You will design and detail custom wheelchairs and components using Autodesk Inventor, develop iLogic master models, and manage engineering data with Vault.

You will produce manufacturing files, create CNC toolpaths, and lead design solutions from concept to production while mentoring a junior designer.

Qualifications

• Has strong experience with Autodesk Inventor and Vault.
• Solid understanding of mechanical design and manufacturing.
• Confident designing for CNC machining and fabrication.
• Enjoys developing new products and solving practical problems.
• Able to balance a varied workload in a changing environment.
• Can mentor a junior designer and provide technical leadership.

Responsibilities

• Designing and detailing custom wheelchairs and components using Autodesk Inventor.
• Developing and maintaining iLogic master models and design systems.
• Managing engineering data and drawings using Autodesk Vault.
• Producing and releasing DXF, STP and other manufacturing files.
• Developing new products and improving existing designs and manufacturing processes.
• Creating CNC toolpaths using CAM software for a range of CNC machines.
• Leading design solutions from concept through to production.
• Mentoring a junior mechanical design engineer.

Skills

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Vault

iLogic

CAM

Mechanical design

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

Autodesk Vault

iLogic

CAM

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.

Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs – Christchurch, South Island

If you are passionate about mechanical design, enjoy solving practical engineering problems, and want your work to make a genuine difference in people's lives, we have an exciting opportunity for you.

Melrose Kiwi Concept Chairs has been designing and manufacturing custom lightweight wheelchairs in Christchurch for more than 30 years. We have grown from a small garage operation into a medium-sized company of around 50 staff. Our wheelchairs are manufactured from aluminium and titanium and are individually designed to meet the needs of each customer.

We currently use Inventor Cam for our parts manufactured on the CNC machines. We also use Inventor to draw up each individual wheelchair specifications prior to its manufacture. However the most interesting and exciting part of the job is new designs and development of our processes to enable our customers to see what they will be getting

The Role

This is a hands-on and varied engineering role covering custom product design, CAD, CNC manufacturing, new product development and engineering leadership.

You will be responsible for:

Designing and detailing custom wheelchairs and components using Autodesk Inventor.

Developing and maintaining iLogic master models and design systems.

Managing engineering data and drawings using Autodesk Vault.

Producing and releasing DXF, STP and other manufacturing files.

Developing new products and improving existing designs and manufacturing processes.

Creating CNC toolpaths using CAM software for a range of CNC machines.

Working closely with engineers and fabricators to ensure designs are practical and efficient to manufacture.

Leading design solutions from initial concept through to production.

Managing and supporting a junior mechanical design engineer, providing technical guidance, reviewing work and helping develop their skills.

Developing product testing schedules and documentation to applicable standards.

About you

We are looking for an experienced mechanical design engineer who:

Has strong experience with Autodesk Inventor and Vault.

Has a solid understanding of mechanical design and manufacturing.

Is confident designing for CNC machining and fabrication.

Enjoys developing new products and solving complex, practical problems.

Is comfortable working in a changing environment and balancing a varied workload.

Can take ownership of projects and provide technical leadership.

Can effectively mentor and support a junior designer.

Has excellent attention to detail and takes pride in producing high-quality work.

Ideally has experience with i-Logic, CAM and product testing against relevant standards.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys more than simply producing drawings. You will have the opportunity to develop new products, improve our manufacturing systems, support the development of a junior designer and see your designs go from an idea on the screen to a finished product being used by a customer.

Most importantly, the work you do will directly contribute to helping people with disabilities achieve greater independence and mobility.

If you're an experienced mechanical design engineer looking for a varied role where your skills can have a real-world impact, we'd love to hear from you.