Maintenance Engineer

Synlait Milk Limited (NS); Dunsandel; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance cover with benefits

Excellent parental leave (Matua policy

B Corp™ certified

Social Club membership

Job summary

Synlait Milk Limited (NS) is seeking a Maintenance Engineer to join the Central engineering team in Dunsandel. This hands-on role focuses on keeping dairy processing plant and equipment running safely and efficiently, with proactive maintenance and continuous improvement support.

You will diagnose faults, perform preventative maintenance, and work with production and quality teams to minimise downtime while upholding food safety standards.

Qualifications

• Practical problem-solver for production environments with emphasis on safety and workmanship.
• Trades qualification requirement with Level 4 Mechanical Fitter or equivalent.
• Strong fault-finding and diagnostic skills in mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Carry out planned preventative maintenance across dairy processing and plant equipment.
• Diagnose and repair mechanical faults quickly to minimise downtime.
• Troubleshoot breakdowns independently and with the engineering team.
• Contribute to continuous improvement for plant reliability and performance.
• Ensure maintenance work complies with health, safety and food safety standards.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and documentation.
• Collaborate with production, quality and engineering teams to support operations.
• Participate in root cause analysis to prevent recurrence.

Skills

Mechanical troubleshooting

Independent working

Teamwork

Communication

Food safety knowledge

Safety compliance

Education

Mechanical fitter qualification (Level 4)

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

We are looking for a skilled Maintenance Engineer to join our engineering Central team based in Dunsandel. This is a hands‑on role where you will play a key part in keeping our critical plant and processing equipment running efficiently and safely.

You’ll bring strong mechanical troubleshooting capability, a proactive mindset, and a genuine commitment to health, safety and food quality standards. Working closely with production and quality teams, you’ll help minimise downtime, support continuous improvement, and ensure our equipment operates at its best.

This role offers the opportunity to work both collaboratively and independently in a dynamic manufacturing environment where reliability, problem‑solving and initiative are highly valued.

Key responsibilities of this role include..

• Carry out planned preventative maintenance across dairy processing and plant equipment
• Diagnose and repair mechanical faults quickly to minimise production downtime
• Troubleshoot breakdowns and resolve issues both independently and as part of the engineering team
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across plant reliability and performance
• Ensure all maintenance work complies with health & safety and food safety standards
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and documentation
• Work closely with production, quality, and engineering teams to support smooth plant operations
• Participate in root cause analysis and problem‑solving to prevent recurring issues

Skills and Experience

You’re a practical problem‑solver who enjoys working in a production environment and takes pride in maintaining high standards of safety and workmanship.

You will ideally bring:

• Trade qualification, minimum level 4 as a Mechanical Fitter or equivalent
• Experience in dairy, food manufacturing, or processing environments (advantageous)
• Strong mechanical fault‑finding and diagnostic skills
• The ability to work independently and manage competing priorities
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Understanding of food safety, hygiene standards, and quality systems
• Flexibility to work day and night shift

About us – The Synlait Spirit

Synlait is more than a global leader in milk nutrition – we're a purpose‑led team that’s Doing Milk Differently For A Healthier World.Our Synlait Spirit guides everything we do, from how we show up each day to the impact we create together. You’ll be joining an authentic, down‑to‑earth team that lives the three values that underpin the Synlait Spirit.

Be The Difference means we understand before we act – that means asking why, supporting each other to think differently, stay curious, and continuously look for smarter ways to deliver value. Whether it’s in the paddock, the plant or the boardroom, we’re driven by impact and inspired to make a meaningful difference every day.

We Move as One by working together with respect, trust and a shared commitment to doing what’s right. We collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions and create opportunity for those around us.

We feed the world’s most vulnerable, including newborn babies, so we have to be Right on the Mark. That means we take accountability seriously, act with courage and focus our energy on what matters most. We combine expert farming and state of the art processing to deliver high quality nutritional products to all over the world.

At Synlait you’ll be challenged and supported to grow. We know everyone brings something unique to the table so we’re an inclusive workplace, where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and success.

What we offer:

• Health insurance cover & partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts
• Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy
• B CorpTM certified
• Social Club membership opportunities

Applicants outside of New Zealand will only be considered if you have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.