Manufacturing Engineer - Autonomous Vehicles.

Manufacturing Engineer

Tauranga | Advanced Electronics | Autonomous Agricultural Technology

The Company

Autonomous vehicles.

Intelligent electronics.

Advanced robotics.

Real manufacturing challenges.

This globally backed technology business is developing sophisticated autonomous agricultural machinery, combining electronics, embedded systems, sensors and advanced mechatronic technologies.

Based in Tauriko, Tauranga, the organisation is moving innovative engineering designs into scalable commercial production. It's an exciting stage of development, where manufacturing engineering plays a critical role in turning complex technology into reliable, repeatable products.

The Role & Requirements

• Take the design.
• Make it buildable.
• Make it reliable.
• Make it better.
• This is a newly created, hands-on Manufacturing Engineer position within a specialist Manufacturing Engineering Team, supporting the development and production of autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UMGVs).
• The challenge?
• Taking sophisticated electronic and electromechanical designs from prototype through to efficient, repeatable manufacturing.
• One day you could be developing a PCBA testing fixture, the next resolving wiring harness issues, improving assembly processes or working with suppliers to overcome component and production challenges.

Your responsibilities will include

Supporting the manufacture and integration of PCBAs, wiring harnesses and complex electromechanical assemblies.

Developing production test processes, jigs, fixtures and functional testing solutions.

Improving product designs for manufacturability, assembly, reliability and cost.

Creating manufacturing documentation, work instructions, production BOMs and assembly procedures.

Managing engineering changes, production readiness and continuous improvement initiatives.

Working directly with external manufacturers and component suppliers to resolve technical and quality issues.

Collaborating with Electronics, Mechatronics, Software, Quality and Procurement teams to bring products into production.

This is a role for someone who enjoys being close to the product, understands how electronics come together and knows that a great design is only half the challenge.

What We Are Looking For

Electronics knowledge is essential.

Manufacturing know-how makes the difference.

The ideal candidate brings an Electronics or Mechatronics Engineering background, with practical experience turning complex electronic designs into finished, tested products.

You'll ideally offer:

An Electronics or Mechatronics Engineering qualification with around 3–5+ years of relevant engineering experience.

Hands-on experience with PCBAs, electronic assemblies, wiring harnesses and electromechanical integration.

Understanding of manufacturing processes, DFM/DFA, testing and production readiness.

Experience developing test fixtures, jigs, work instructions and manufacturing documentation.

Exposure to outsourced electronics manufacturing, component suppliers and technical vendor engagement.

Confidence managing smaller engineering projects and resolving manufacturing challenges independently.

Experience with Altium, SolidWorks, SolidWorks Electrical or similar engineering design tools would be valuable.

Your background could come from industrial electronics, marine technology, consumer electronics, whiteware, telecommunications equipment or other environments where electronic products are designed, assembled and manufactured.

And the person behind the engineering matters.

They're looking for someone practical, curious and collaborative. Someone who gets involved, asks the right questions and enjoys working with design engineers and production teams to find better ways of building things.

Someone who doesn't simply identify a manufacturing problem but takes ownership of getting it resolved.

What's On Offer

Work on advanced autonomous agricultural vehicles with global applications.

Join a specialist engineering team where your contribution directly influences manufacturing outcomes.

Get involved in everything from early prototype builds through to commercial production.

Work alongside experienced Electronics, Mechatronics and Software Engineers.

Enjoy the backing of a global technology organisation and the lifestyle benefits of Tauranga.

Next Steps

If you're an Electronics or Mechatronics Engineer who enjoys the practical side of manufacturing, solving production challenges and turning innovative designs into working products, this is worth a conversation.

Apply through Potentia or contact Barry Hardy on 027 654 4653 for a confidential discussion.

NO ChatGPT or AI generated letters or resumes. The focus is on genuine engineering experience, practical capability and the products you've helped bring to life.