Senior Mechanical Project Engineer

RobLawMax Recruitment; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

RobLawMax Recruitment has been appointed to recruit a Senior Mechanical Project Engineer for a Canterbury-based engineering business in Christchurch.

The role combines engineering leadership with commercial and delivery responsibilities across an industrial design-and-build programme spanning design, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning. A mechanical engineering degree and proven project delivery experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Mechanical engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
• Experience delivering projects through design, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning.
• Strong program management, budget, risk and quality control.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineers, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Experience with SolidWorks or similar 3D modelling.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of engineering and project delivery across a major industrial project.
• Coordinate design inputs across internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage procurement packages, vendor specs and long-lead items.
• Support installation, commissioning, and handover.

Skills

Mechanical project engineering

Design experience

Client-facing communication

Project delivery

Education

Mechanical engineering degree

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

RobLawMax Recruitment has been appointed exclusively to recruit a Senior Mechanical Project Engineer for an established Canterbury mechanical engineering business.

The company provides end-to-end engineering services across the dairy, food processing, energy and wider industrial sectors. Its work spans process and thermal plant, boilers and pressure equipment, piping systems, material handling equipment, structural steelwork and complex mechanical upgrades.

Early contractor involvement is underway on a major industrial design-and-build project. High-level design and pricing have commenced, with detailed design, procurement and delivery expected to follow later this year. The initial programme will run through to 2028, with further opportunities expected to provide an ongoing pipeline of complex industrial work.

The business is now seeking an experienced mechanical Project Engineer who can take a leading role in the delivery of this programme.

The role

This is a broad project leadership position combining engineering, commercial and delivery responsibility.

Working alongside an established engineering, project and workshop team, you will help drive the project from early design through procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning.

You will:

• Take ownership of engineering and project delivery across a major industrial design-and-build project
• Establish and manage project programmes, budgets, deliverables and reporting requirements
• Coordinate mechanical design and technical inputs across internal engineers, clients, suppliers and specialist consultants
• Manage project scope, programme, cost, risk, quality and commercial performance
• Act as a key interface with the client and maintain alignment across project stakeholders
• Review concepts, calculations, 3D models, drawings, specifications and technical documentation
• Ensure engineering solutions are safe, practical, buildable and aligned with project requirements
• Prepare and manage procurement packages, supplier specifications and subcontracted scopes of work
• Coordinate equipment selection, procurement and long-lead items
• Work closely with fabrication, construction and site teams
• Manage technical queries, design changes and project variations
• Support installation, testing, commissioning and final handover
• Contribute to the development of project systems, engineering processes and internal capability

While this is primarily a project leadership role, you will need strong mechanical design understanding and the ability to remain technically involved when required. You won’t necessarily produce every model or drawing yourself, but you must be able to guide, challenge and review the engineering work being delivered.

About you

You will be a practical mechanical engineer with experience delivering industrial, manufacturing, energy or infrastructure projects through multiple stages of the project lifecycle.

You may already be operating as a Senior Project Engineer, or you could be an accomplished Design / Project Engineer who is ready to take greater ownership of larger and more complex projects.

Ideally, you will bring:

• A mechanical engineering degree or equivalent tertiary qualification
• Strong mechanical project engineering and design experience
• Experience delivering projects through design, procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning
• The ability to manage programme, budget, risk, quality and stakeholder requirements
• Strong client-facing communication and commercial awareness
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary engineers, suppliers and subcontractors
• Sound mechanical design judgement and a practical understanding of fabrication and construction
• The ability to review 3D models, engineering drawings and technical documentation
• Experience with SolidWorks or another parametric 3D modelling package
• A collaborative, accountable and delivery-focused approach

Experience leading major projects would be valuable, but it is not the only pathway into the role. The company is also interested in high-performing engineers who have successfully led smaller projects or substantial work packages and are ready to step into broader project responsibility.

Experience involving process plant, boilers, pressure equipment, piping, heat-transfer systems, material handling equipment or other heavy industrial plant would be advantageous. However, candidates from other mechanical design-and-build, manufacturing, energy and project-based environments are encouraged to apply.

The opportunity

This is a permanent, full-time position based in Christchurch.

It offers the opportunity to take a leading role in a substantial industrial programme from its earliest design stages and remain involved through procurement, fabrication, installation and commissioning.

You will join an experienced and supportive engineering team, work closely with in-house fabrication capability and help build project knowledge and systems that will support the business well beyond the initial programme.

For an established Senior Project Engineer, this is an opportunity to lead a major project without moving away from the practical and technical side of engineering. For a strong Design / Project Engineer ready for the next step, it offers genuine scope to grow into significant project leadership with the support of an experienced team.