R&D Engineer

Are you a hands-on design engineer who loves turning ideas into real products? At ARB NZ Manufacturing, you'll work across the entire value stream — from concept sketches, CAD and prototyping, through to jig design, tooling, SOPs, testing, and full production launch. We specialise in thermoforming and large-part plastics manufacturing, producing world-class canopies, bedliners, flares, cargo liners and lids for global automotive markets.

You'll also tackle projects across industries such as agriculture, equine, roading and water management, giving you real variety and the opportunity to own your products from concept all the way through to production. Our philosophy has never wavered from its original course – quality, reliability and practicality above all else, guided by our values of Drive, Excellence and Passion.

ARB New Zealand provides a complete service from design, tool making, production, sales and logistics. Based in Hamilton, ARB NZ operates some of the largest extrusion and vacuum-forming equipment in the Southern Hemisphere and exports into more than 60 countries worldwide.

In this varied role, reporting to the Product and Engineering Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Developing, creating and executing design solutions for a broad range of products manufactured through thermoforming and plastic processing technologies.
  
  This includes automotive products such as Canopies, bedliners, flares, cargo liners and lids, along with products for agriculture, equine, roading, water management and other industries.
• Working hands-on to take products from initial concept through to production, including industrial design, CAD modelling, specification drawings, prototyping, design-for-manufacture, testing, validation and final production readiness.
• Designing jigs and fixtures including robot trimming jigs, QC jigs, production tooling, and contributing to process design through the creation of SOPs and supporting documentation.
• Establishing project timelines and ensuring they are delivered to plan using online project management tools.
• Completing a full R&D-to-production handover including documentation, costing, training, and ongoing manufacturing and quality support through the product lifecycle.
• Ensuring all design solutions meet ARB NZ's quality, safety and performance requirements.

We are seeking a self-motivated and disciplined design engineer or designer, preferably with a strong background in product or mechanical design.

Ideally you will have:

• A tertiary qualification in Product or Mechanical Design.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and fault-finding skills.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality output.
• Proven ability to plan, organise and work to tight deadlines under pressure.
• Experience using CAD tools such as SolidWorks, Adobe Illustrator and PowerShape
• A strong practical, hands-on skillset and a passion for learning.
• An interest or experience in plastic product design, thermoforming, extrusion, tooling or manufacturing processes (advantageous but not essential).
• The willingness to work across the full value stream — concept sketches, CAD, prototyping, jig design, automation, process validation and production support.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships across all teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A strong commitment to safe work practices.

If you're capable of hitting the ground running, enjoy variety, and want to develop products you can truly call your own we want to hear from you

To be successful in this role, you must have the right to work in New Zealand. Please note that our pre-employment selection process includes a drug screening test and criminal history check.