Maintenance Engineer

Synlait; Dunsandel; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Matua parental leave

B Corp certification

Social Club

Job summary

Synlait is seeking a skilled Maintenance Engineer to join our Central engineering team in Dunsandel, Canterbury. This hands-on role keeps our dairy processing plant and equipment running safely and efficiently, with a strong focus on preventative maintenance and rapid fault fixing.

You will work with production and quality teams, applying root-cause analysis and continuous improvement to minimise downtime and uphold health, safety and food safety standards.

Qualifications

• Trade qualification, minimum level 4 as a Mechanical Fitter or equivalent.
• Experience in dairy, food manufacturing, or processing environments is advantageous.
• Strong mechanical fault-finding and diagnostic skills.
• 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 shifts.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Education

Trade qualification (Mechanical Fitter)

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.