Senior Mechanical Engineer

AH Gears; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

AH Gears in Auckland's Penrose invites an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead gear design and development across wind-turbine gearboxes, rotating equipment and automotive transmissions. You will work hands-on from concept through manufacture, testing and field support, collaborating with in-house teams and customers to deliver robust engineering solutions.

The role emphasizes practical problem-solving, 3D CAD, FEA readiness and clear technical reporting within a busy manufacturing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• At least five years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience with machinery, rotating equipment, or power transmission.
• Strong design, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent technical communication and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design of gearboxes, gears, shafts and bearings.
• Manage industrial projects including wind turbines and heavy gearboxes.
• Contribute to automotive transmission projects.
• Perform gear rating, shaft design, bearing selection and tolerances.
• Investigate failures and develop repair or redesign solutions.
• Produce detailed manufacturing drawings and specs.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, inspection and quality teams.
• Develop testing and validation requirements for new designs.
• Support customer discussions, site investigations and major projects.
• Prepare inspection reports and engineering recommendations.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and maintain records.

Skills

Gear design

3D CAD

Problem solving

Engineering analysis

Technical writing

Team collaboration

Customer interaction

Education

BEng/MEng Mechanical

Tools

3D CAD software

FEA software

Job description

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We are looking for an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to join the engineering team at AH Gears in Penrose. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer who enjoys solving complex mechanical problems and seeing designs progress from initial investigation through manufacture, testing, commissioning and field support.

The work spans major industrial applications, including wind‑turbine and heavy industrial gearboxes and rotating equipment, together with high‑performance automotive transmissions and drivetrain systems. You will work closely with our in‑house manufacturing, inspection and quality teams and have direct involvement in real machinery and customer outcomes.

About AH Gears

AH Gears is a specialist gearbox, gear manufacturing and mechanical engineering business based in Auckland and part of Dodson Group. We design, manufacture, repair and support critical power‑transmission equipment across industrial and automotive applications.

Our engineers have access to extensive in‑house capability, including precision gear manufacturing, CNC machining, inspection and testing. This enables projects to move from investigation and concept through to finished component or complete assembly within the wider group.

What you will do

• Lead the mechanical design and development of gearboxes, gears, shafts, bearings and other power‑transmission components.
• Lead and contribute to industrial projects involving wind‑turbine gearboxes, heavy industrial gearboxes and rotating equipment.
• Contribute to high‑performance automotive transmission and drivetrain projects.
• Complete engineering calculations covering gear rating, shaft design, bearing selection, fits, tolerances, materials and mechanical loading.
• Investigate gearbox and component failures, identify root causes and develop practical repair, upgrade or redesign solutions.
• Produce detailed manufacturing drawings and technical specifications for our gear plant and machine shops.
• Work with manufacturing, inspection and quality teams to resolve technical and production issues.
• Develop and manage testing and validation requirements for new designs and repaired equipment.
• Support customer technical discussions, site investigations and major industrial projects.
• Prepare clear technical and inspection reports and engineering recommendations.
• Support less experienced engineers and maintain complete engineering documentation and design records.

What you will bring

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• At least five years of professional mechanical engineering experience, ideally involving machinery, rotating equipment, power transmission or manufacturing.
• Strong mechanical design, analytical and practical problem‑solving capability.
• Strong 3D CAD capability. Experience with engineering analysis and FEA is advantageous.
• Sound knowledge of manufacturing processes, tolerances, materials and mechanical component design.
• The ability to investigate failures and turn findings into practical engineering solutions.
• Strong technical communication and report‑writing skills.
• The ability to work effectively with customers, tradespeople, machinists and engineers.
• Experience with gearboxes, gears, shafts, bearings, transmissions or rotating machinery will be highly regarded. Specific gear‑design experience is useful but not essential. We also welcome strong mechanical engineers from rotating equipment, machinery, automotive, heavy industry or similar backgrounds who can develop deeper expertise in gearing and power transmission.

The attraction of this role is its variety and practical impact. One project may involve investigating or redesigning a gearbox for wind energy or heavy industry, while the next may involve developing a component for a high‑performance automotive application. You will work directly with the people manufacturing, inspecting, assembling and testing the equipment, rather than designing components in isolation.