Assembly Technician

Are you practical, keen to learn, and happiest when you are building something with your hands?

At Punchbowl Automation, we’re changing the game in fresh produce automation. We design and build smart machinery that solves real challenges for packhouses across New Zealand and Australia.

As our business grows, we’re looking for a hands-on Assembly Technician to help bring our machines to life, from mechanical assembly and wiring through to installation at customer sites.

About the role

This is a varied, full-time role based in our Patumahoe workshop. You will work alongside our mechanical, electrical and software engineers and see how a complete automated machine comes together.  You will:

• Run and dress cables, prepare terminations and wire sensors and other devices.
• Fit motors, gearboxes, guarding, brackets and machine components.
• Assemble frames, conveyors and sub-assemblies from drawings.
• Assist with machinery installations and commissioning at customer sites.
• Develop skills in servicing, maintenance and basic fault-finding.
• Maintain high standards of safety, quality and workmanship.

The role is Monday to Friday, with some flexibility around start and finish times. You will also need to be available for occasional out-of-hours work and travel within New Zealand for machine installations.

What you’ll gain

This is an opportunity to build a career in automation, not just take on another workshop job.  You will:

• Gain experience across mechanical, electrical and control systems.
• Learn alongside experienced engineers.
• Be involved in building complete machines from the ground up.
• See the machinery you have helped build installed and operating for customers.
• Develop towards servicing, maintenance and fault-finding.
• Receive support towards Electrical Service Technician registration, including coursework, safety training and supervised practical hours.
• Join an energetic, growing team where people are encouraged to contribute ideas and look for better ways of doing things.

About you

You’ll thrive in our team if you:

• Are practical and confident using hand and power tools.
• Enjoy understanding how machinery works.
• Take pride in producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Bring energy, initiative and a willingness to get stuck in.
• Are reliable, safety-conscious and comfortable with physical work.
• Take direction well, ask good questions and speak up with ideas.
• Enjoy being part of a team with high expectations.
• Have the right to work in New Zealand. A full driver’s licence would be an advantage.

A pre-trade certificate or experience in a workshop, manufacturing, assembly or trades assistant role would be useful, but it is not essential.

You may be early in your career, a pre-trade engineering graduate or someone with practical experience who wants to develop further. What matters most is your attitude, practical ability and genuine interest in building a career in automation.

About Punchbowl

Punchbowl Automation designs and builds automated packaging machinery for the fresh produce and primary industries. Backed by a skilled engineering team in Rural Patumahoe, South Auckland, we deliver bespoke and off-the-shelf automation solutions, with our machines running in packhouses across New Zealand and Australia.

Punchbowl Automation is part of the Punchbowl Group. Across the Group, our mission is Growing Greatness, and we bring this to life by being People Focused, Energetic and Innovative.

We invest in our people, support their development and create opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.

Ready to build something great?

If you want a hands-on role with real variety, a clear development pathway and the opportunity to help build machinery used across New Zealand and Australia, we’d love to hear from you.

Please apply through SEEK with your CV and a brief cover letter.