Graduate / Junior Project Engineer

ALM Systems is looking for a graduate or junior engineer interested in building a career in industrial project delivery.
This is not a traditional design engineering role. While you will work closely with design engineers, your role will be more about understanding what the customer needs, developing the scope and coordinating the different people and disciplines needed to deliver the project.
You’ll work alongside experienced project engineers and project managers and be involved in projects from early concept through design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

What the role involves
The work is varied and will depend on the projects underway. It will include things like:

• Talking with customers, operators and maintenance teams to understand what they need
• Turning those requirements into clear engineering scopes
• Coordinating mechanical, process, electrical, automation, civil and other engineering disciplines
• Working with consultants, suppliers and contractors
• Helping develop project options, estimates, budgets and programmes
• Preparing scopes of work and assisting with procurement
• Reviewing drawings, specifications and supplier information
• Following up actions and keeping different parts of the project moving
• Spending some time on industrial sites, typically around 20%
• Supporting construction, commissioning and handover

As you gain experience, you’ll take on more responsibility and start managing smaller projects yourself.

Who we're looking for

We’re open to recent graduates as well as engineers with a few years of experience.
Your degree could be mechanical, process/chemical, electrical, mechatronics, civil, manufacturing or another relevant engineering discipline.
The particular discipline isn't that important to us. We're more interested in finding someone with the right attitude and aptitude for project work.

You should be someone who:

• Is curious and likes understanding how things work
• Enjoys practical problem solving
• Communicates well and is comfortable talking to people
• Is prepared to ask questions and speak with customers, consultants and senior engineers rather than waiting for someone else to do it
• Is organised and follows things through
• Is happy working across different engineering disciplines
• Is prepared to get out on site and understand what's actually happening
• Doesn't mind doing some of the less interesting jobs that are part of getting a project delivered
• Takes responsibility for their own learning
• Is prepared to put the effort in and earn more responsibility as their experience grows

We don't expect a graduate to arrive knowing how to deliver industrial projects. You'll be working alongside experienced people who will help you learn.
What we do expect is an interest in learning, a willingness to get involved and the confidence to deal with people.

Where the role can lead
We're looking for someone who wants to make a career in project engineering rather than simply get a couple of years' experience.
The expected progression is from Graduate/Junior Project Engineer to Project Engineer and, with the right experience and capability, eventually Project Manager.
Because ALM is a small team, you'll be involved in real project work from the beginning and work directly with experienced project engineers and project managers.

About ALM Systems
ALM Systems is a small Christchurch-based engineering and project delivery business. Most of our work is in operating industrial plants.
We work as part of our customers' teams, helping them understand problems, develop practical solutions and deliver projects within the realities of existing plant, production requirements, budget, programme and safety.
We're not a large consultancy and don't particularly want to become one. We prefer a small team of capable people who work well together, communicate openly and are prepared to get involved when something needs doing.

Applicants must be based in New Zealand or already have the right to work in New Zealand.