Maintenance Fitter and Turner

Carrfields NZ; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Rubisco is seeking a qualified Maintenance Fitter and Turner to join our Christchurch engineering team. You will respond to breakdowns, carry out planned maintenance, and identify practical improvements that boost plant reliability and production performance.

You’ll work closely with Engineering and Production, plan daily tasks, keep maintenance records up to date, and apply safe working procedures. A NZ trade qualification and hands-on experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Trade qualification in fitting and turning (NZ or overseas equivalent)
• Minimum 3 years of maintenance experience in manufacturing
• Hands-on experience maintaining production machinery and breakdown response
• Experience with preventative maintenance and maintenance records
• Familiarity with CMMS (e.g., MEX) is advantageous

Responsibilities

• Respond to breakdowns, troubleshoot faults and complete repairs safely
• Carry out inspections, servicing and preventative maintenance, and maintain records
• Plan daily work with Engineering and Production, source parts to keep equipment available
• Investigate major or recurring failures, implement corrective actions
• Follow safe work procedures and liaise with production, contractors and suppliers

Skills

Maintenance experience

Fault investigation

Planning

Communication

Problem solving

Safety awareness

Education

NZ trade qualification in fitting and turning

Tools

MEX/CMMS

Job description

About the Role

We're looking for a qualified and practical Maintenance Fitter and Turner to join Rubisco's engineering team in Christchurch. You'll help keep production machinery and supporting plant safe, reliable and available for production.

Working closely with the Engineering and Production teams, you'll respond to breakdowns, carry out planned maintenance and identify improvements that prevent repeat failures. You'll also help plan daily work, organise parts and keep maintenance records up to date. This is a hands‑on role where your mechanical skills can make a direct difference to plant reliability and production performance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Respond to breakdowns across the plant, troubleshoot faults and complete repairs safely.
• Carry out inspections, servicing and preventative maintenance, and keep maintenance records up to date.
• Plan daily work with Engineering and Production, and organise the parts needed to keep equipment available.
• Investigate major or recurring failures, follow up corrective actions and suggest practical equipment improvements.
• Follow safe work procedures and work closely with production, contractors and suppliers.

About You

You're a practical, methodical fitter who enjoys solving mechanical problems and keeping production equipment running. You're safety conscious, organised and comfortable working with production teams to set priorities and get work completed.

Ideally you'll bring:

• A recognised New Zealand trade qualification in fitting and turning, mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline, or an overseas equivalent.
• At least three years of relevant maintenance experience in manufacturing, processing or a similar industrial environment. We may consider less experience where it is from a comparable environment.
• Hands‑on experience maintaining and repairing production machinery and responding to breakdowns.
• An understanding of preventative maintenance, fault investigation and accurate maintenance records.
• Experience with MEX or another computerised maintenance management system is an advantage.
• A safe approach to maintenance, including equipment isolation and working within your training and authorisations.
• Good planning, communication and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to keep others informed of priorities and delays.

About the Company

Rubisco is a New Zealand advanced materials company combining decades of natural fibre manufacturing expertise with next‑generation engineering to develop high‑performance fibre and bio‑composite solutions from wool and hemp. Our technologies are used across flooring, construction, architectural acoustics, advanced composites, transport and other industrial applications, delivering sustainable alternatives without compromising performance.

Based in Christchurch, with a second manufacturing site in Ashburton, our facilities combine advanced processing, automation and continuous production to transform raw fibre through dyeing, blending, carding, spinning and finishing into engineered materials. As we continue to invest in new technologies, advanced manufacturing capability and international growth, Rubisco offers engineers the opportunity to help shape the future of natural materials.

Why Join Rubisco?

At Rubisco, innovation is at the heart of what we do. You'll join a close‑knit team where your contribution matters and where you'll have the opportunity to work across finance, logistics and operations while supporting products that are making a difference globally.

If you're looking for a varied role where you can make an impact while enjoying flexibility and working alongside a supportive team, we'd love to hear from you.

You must be eligible to live and work in New Zealand to be considered for this position. Our pre‑employment process is to carry out a Medical, Drug test and Criminal Conviction history check.