Operator - Cutting

Syft Technologies; Hautapu; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Real Steel invites applications for an Operator - Cutting at their Hautapu, Waikato site. The role focuses on turning raw steel into precise components using a 12m fibre laser and plasma/drilling equipment, supporting construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing projects.

Join a family‑owned New Zealand business expanding a brand-new factory. You’ll work 42.5 hours weekly, with day or night shifts, and contribute to quality, safety, and continuous improvement in a modern production

Qualifications

• Experience on Laser or Plasma machines with demonstrable ability
• Solid work ethic and reliable attitude
• Overhead crane operating experience
• Comfort in production environments and safety mindset around cranes and forklifts
• Pride in doing a job properly
• Good communication and a team-first mindset
• Willing to work either day or night shift

Responsibilities

• Operate plasma, drilling/machining, and high-powered lasers
• Producing parts to quality and safety standards
• Using overhead cranes or forklifts
• Completing daily safety and basic maintenance checks
• Checking your own work and following quality processes
• Handling materials safely using overhead cranes and forklifts
• Keeping your work area tidy and organised
• Pitching in across the team when needed

Skills

Laser/Plasma experience

Overhead crane operation

Forklift operation

Reliable work ethic

Team player

Shift flexibility

Tools

Overhead crane operation

Forklift operation

Job description

Operator - Cutting

Department: Production

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Waikato (6)

Description

Real Steel has opened a brand-new, purpose-built factory in Hautapu. The site has been designed from day one for high-speed processing, smart material flow, modern machinery, safe workspaces, and future automation. This is a chance to join us at Hautapu from the very start and help shape how the factory runs. As we are currently in the process of establishing our new factory, we will be recruiting for Operator roles over the next few months, with start dates expected between June and August this year.

About Real Steel: Real Steel is a family-owned New Zealand business with a long history in steel processing and distribution. We supply steel solutions nationwide and operate sites in Upper Hutt, Ashburton, and now Hautapu. We’re known for consistent standards, strong customer relationships, and looking after our people. Many of our team build long-term careers here. Once people join Real Steel, they tend to stay.

Find out more at www.realsteel.co.nz

About the Role

We’re looking for experienced Operators to join our Laser and Plasma Cutting teams at Hautapu. These roles are central to turning raw steel into accurate, high-quality components used across construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing projects. You’ll be working with modern, cutting edge machinery including a Kinetic K5000 plasma/drilling machine and a brand new 20kW 12m fibre laser.

What you’ll do

• Operate a range of machinery plasma, drilling/machining and high-powered lasers.
• Producing parts to quality and safety standards
• Using overhead cranes or forklifts
• Completing daily safety and basic maintenance checks
• Checking your own work and following quality processes
• Handling materials safely using overhead cranes and forklifts
• Keeping your work area tidy and organised
• Pitching in across the team when needed

Please note, This role is 42.5 hours per week Monday to Friday (hours will vary depending on the day or night shift)

What you’ll bring

• Experience on Laser or Plasma machines or similar machinery (needs to be able to demonstrate experience)
• A solid work ethic and reliable attitude
• Overhead crane operating experience
• Comfort working in a production environment
• Demonstrate safe working mindset especially around overhead cranes and forklifts
• Pride in doing a job properly
• Good communication and a team-first mindset
• Interest in building a long-term career
• Available to work either day or night shift

People from manufacturing, construction, trades, warehousing, or similar backgrounds tend to do well in this role.

Why join Real Steel?

• Be part of the founding team at a brand-new factory
• Modern machinery and a purpose-built production environment
• A company that invests in its people and long-term careers
• Real opportunities to grow as the site expands
• A supportive team culture within a family-owned New Zealand business

We’re proud of the culture our people have created at Real Steel, It’s supportive, practical, and built on people having each other’s backs.