R&D Technician

Utility Fleet Vehicles (UFV); Mount Maunganui; On-site; NZD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Utility Fleet Vehicles is seeking two hands-on R&D Technicians in Mount Maunganui for a 12-month fixed-term role, to help bring a brand-new electric delivery vehicle to life. You’ll work with engineers to prototype, test, troubleshoot, and translate ideas into practical solutions.

You’ll build and modify vehicles, fabricate parts, run tests, document results, and maintain our test fleet. A street-smart, hands-on mindset and experience in prototyping or product development are valued.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years hands-on technical experience across mechanical and/or electrical assembly, maintenance, prototyping or testing
• Strong practical workshop skills and confidence using tools and workshop equipment
• Good mechanical aptitude and practical electrical knowledge

Responsibilities

• Building and modifying prototype vehicles, components and systems
• Fabricating custom parts and bringing engineering concepts to life
• Setting up and carrying out testing of new parts, systems and vehicle designs
• Building and maintaining test equipment
• Troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues and investigating failures
• Supporting product validation, performance and life testing
• Recording test results and maintaining clear technical documentation
• Maintaining our R&D vehicles and test fleet
• Test driving vehicles and providing practical feedback to the development team

Skills

Hands-on experience

Mechanical aptitude

Electrical skills

Troubleshooting

Reading technical drawings

Attention to detail

Education

Trade or technical qualification

Tools

Workshop equipment

Job description

R&D Technicians | Two Positions Available

12-month fixed-term | Mount Maunganui

About the Roles

Want to spend the next 12 months helping bring a brand-new electric vehicle to life?

We’re growing our project team and looking for two hands‑on R&D Technicians to help develop our new fleet‑focused postal delivery vehicle.

You’ll work alongside our engineers throughout the product development journey, from building and modifying prototypes to testing vehicles, troubleshooting problems and helping turn ideas into practical solutions.

We have two 12-month fixed‑term positions available, joining us at an important stage of the project where there will be plenty to build, test, learn and solve.

If you’re technically minded, love working with your hands and enjoy figuring out why something does or doesn’t work, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Building and modifying prototype vehicles, components and systems
• Fabricating custom parts and bringing engineering concepts to life
• Setting up and carrying out testing of new parts, systems and vehicle designs
• Building and maintaining test equipment
• Troubleshooting mechanical and electrical issues and investigating failures
• Supporting product validation, performance and life testing
• Recording test results and maintaining clear technical documentation
• Maintaining our R&D vehicles and test fleet
• Test driving vehicles and providing practical feedback to the development team

About You

You’ll be someone who enjoys solving technical problems and getting hands‑on. You don’t necessarily need an automotive background, but you’ll need to be comfortable working across mechanical and electrical systems.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

• 1-3 years of hands‑on technical experience across mechanical and/or electrical assembly, maintenance, prototyping or testing
• Strong practical workshop skills and confidence using tools and workshop equipment
• Good mechanical aptitude and practical electrical knowledge
• Strong troubleshooting and problem‑solving skills
• The ability to read and follow technical drawings and test procedures
• Good computer literacy and attention to detail
• A practical, curious mindset and willingness to get stuck in

Even better if you have:

• A relevant trade, tertiary or technical qualification, or equivalent industry experience
• Experience in R&D, product development or prototyping
• Electrical/electronic fault‑finding or automated test equipment experience
• Experience with motorcycles, off‑road vehicles, EVs or similar vehicles
• Basic C/C++ or Python experience

You’ll also need to have permanent rights to work in New Zealand, as we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

About Us

We’re Utility Fleet Vehicles, a small, passionate team based in Mount Maunganui, building electric utility vehicles that are made to work. Our roots go back to UBCO, and we’ve carried forward the best of that legacy: innovation, grit, and a drive to make things better.

We focus on creating tough, reliable vehicles for fleet and land management. We support industries like conservation, law enforcement, tourism, agriculture, postal services, defence, and delivery. Our vehicles are utility‑first: safe, quiet, easy to use, and ready to handle whatever the outdoors throws at them.

Our team is a powerhouse of talent and passion. We combine deep technical expertise with entrepreneurial spirit and practical problem‑solving. This mix lets us rapidly prototype, test, and deliver real‑world solutions. We work closely with our customers to understand how they operate and what they’re trying to achieve, then deliver the right tools to help them get there.

Continuous development is in our DNA. We use customer feedback, learn fast, and constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible with electric utility vehicles. Every upgrade improves performance, reliability, and usability, always with sustainability in mind.

Why Join Us

• You’ll help shape something real. Our products are essential tools for people doing tough, meaningful work, from park rangers to delivery riders, postal workers to defense teams.
• You’ll grow by doing. We’re a high‑trust, hands‑on environment where people lead, try, and learn. There’s room to stretch, take ownership, and work on what matters.
• You’ll move fast and stay curious. We solve real problems in real time. If you thrive on pace, change, and practical challenges, you’ll fit right in.
• You’ll have the freedom to live well. We offer true flexibility and trust you to do great work while managing life outside of it too.
• You’ll work with good humans. We’re collaborative, inclusive, and low on ego. We back each other and celebrate the wins, big and small.

Don’t tick every box? We’d still love to hear from you.

At Utility Fleet Vehicles, we believe diverse teams make stronger, more creative and resilient products. We welcome different perspectives, backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued.

If you need any support or accommodations during the hiring process, please let us know. We want everyone to have a fair chance.