Lead Process Engineer

Aurecon Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Flexible working

Job summary

Aurecon Group seeks a Lead Process Engineer for its Energy and Industrial Manufacturing practice in Auckland or Wellington. You will lead complex dairy, food and industrial process projects, shaping practical solutions for live manufacturing environments with New Zealand’s largest dedicated industrial process engineering team.

With 10+ years’ experience, you’ll mentor engineers, manage multi‑disciplinary teams, and advance client relationships while guiding project delivery from concept through

Qualifications

• You are a seasoned Process or Chemical Engineer who understands how real plants operate, not only how studies are prepared.
• Chartered status is desirable.
• Experience leading complex industrial process projects and multidisciplinary teams.
• Industry exposure in dairy is highly preferred; food, beverage, hygienic processing or pharma also welcome.

Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: lead medium-to-large industrial process projects from concept through commissioning.
• Process Solutions: develop practical process solutions for challenging operating environments.
• Technical Delivery: review PFDs, P&IDs, calculations, equipment specs and design docs.
• Project Delivery: manage procurement, site installation, commissioning and handover.
• Client & Work Winning: build client relationships and contribute to proposals and future work.
• Team Leadership: mentor junior engineers and grow technical and leadership capabilities.
• Site Exposure: work across multiple projects and client sites with some travel.

Job description

Lead Process Engineer - Energy and Industrial Manufacturing | Auckland or Wellington

Lead complex dairy, food and industrial process projects across Aotearoa New Zealand, shaping practical solutions for live manufacturing environments with New Zealand’s largest dedicated industrial process engineering practice. Join a team with experience delivering some of New Zealand’s most significant industrial projects, including the Fonterra Clandeboye's mozzarella plants, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. Work with globally recognised clients while building your reputation as a trusted technical leader. We’re looking for Lead Process Engineers to join our Auckland, or Wellington offices and solve practical engineering challenges in complex operating environments. With significant investment across New Zealand’s dairy, food and industrial sectors, our team has a strong pipeline of work and growth opportunities.

What you’ll do

As a Lead Process Engineer in Aurecon’s Energy and Industrial Manufacturing team, you’ll combine technical leadership, project delivery and client development across a varied portfolio of live-plant work.

• Project Leadership: medium-to-large industrial process projects, ranging from $5m to $60m in capital value, and multidisciplinary teams from concept through commissioning.
• Process Solutions: Understand client production challenges and develop practical process solutions for complex operating environments.
• Technical Delivery: Deliver and review process engineering outputs, including PFDs, P&IDs, calculations, equipment specifications and design documentation.
• Project Delivery: Guide procurement and vendor interfaces, site installation, commissioning and handover.
• Client & Work Winning: Build trusted client relationships, identify opportunities and contribute to proposals, work winning and future project phases.
• Team Leadership: Mentor junior engineers and strengthen technical, project and people leadership across the team.
• Site Exposure: Work across multiple projects and client sites, with occasional travel.

What you’ll bring

You are a seasoned Process or Chemical Engineer who understands how real plants operate, not only how studies are prepared.

• Industry Exposure: Experience in the dairy industry is highly preferred, with relevant food and beverage, hygienic processing or pharmaceutical experience also welcome.
• Seniority: Proven experience leading complex industrial process projects and multidisciplinary teams, typically gained over 10+ years in industry or consulting, and people leadership.
• Client Relationships: Ideally, you’ll have proven business development, work‑winning capability and transferable client relationships.
• Project Leading and Delivery: Commercial and project-delivery judgement, including the ability to manage priorities, programmes, risks and client expectations.
• Communication: Confident communication and relationship‑building skills, with the credibility to operate independently with clients, and coordinate project delivery across multi‑disciplinary teams.
• Technical Qualifications: A relevant Process Engineering, Chemical Engineering or aligned engineering qualification from a Washington Accord-accredited university. Chartered status is desirable.

Why this is the perfect opportunity for you

Your career should be a rewarding adventure. You’ll tackle complex industrial challenges, learn from experienced technical leaders and grow your project, client and people leadership. Recognised by the AFR as a Best Place to Work in 2026, we embrace diverse perspectives and meaningful impact.

Join New Zealand’s largest dedicated industrial Process Systems practice, with a strong pipeline of dairy, food and industrial manufacturing work across Aotearoa New Zealand. Step into meaningful technical, project and client ownership in a Tier 1 Engineering Consulting firm, with clear opportunities to grow into broader leadership as the practice plans for its future. A diverse and inclusive working environment, with a close‑knit and supportive team.

Flexible working options to support your lifestyle commitments, as well as relocation support available for the right candidate.

Check out some of the meaningful employee benefits we offer.

Who we are

We are an engineering consultancy with more than 6,000 people across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Asia.

We believe the world needs people who can engineer possibilities; people who can create infrastructure that makes life better for people and the planet.

That is why we are here: to bring ideas to life, the Aurecon way.

Ready for your next adventure?

We value diverse experiences and welcome applications for part‑time or flexible working arrangements.

Our hiring decisions are made by people, not AI.

Te whakataā i ngā whakaaro | Breathing life into our ideas, thoughts, views Kia māia, kia kaha, mahi tahi | Be bold, be strong, work as one

Our purpose is bringing ideas to life. Learn more about us on our website.