Technical Solutions & Design Engineer

Technical Solutions & Design Engineer

Cable Ways Ltd  |  Avondale, Auckland  |  Full-time

About Cable Ways

Cable Ways Ltd is a New Zealand-owned designer and manufacturer of equipment cabinets and enclosure solutions. For more than 38 years, we have supplied solutions across electrical, telecommunications, water, transport, data and infrastructure applications. Our range includes standard products, adapted designs and customised solutions.

About the role

Be our front-line Technical Solutions & Design Engineer, engaging directly with customers from initial enquiry to understand their equipment, applications and functional requirements, and develop practical enclosure solutions.

Working alongside our sales and Design Engineering teams, you will take ownership of the proposed solution from concept development through customer agreement and quotation.

The role involves two key design pathways:

1. Optimising existing designs

Independently adapt existing Cable Ways designs to meet customer requirements. This may involve adjusting dimensions, layouts and configurations, or incorporating established accessories and previously designed features. You should be confident using hand sketches and CAD software to make straightforward design modifications and present practical solutions.

2. Developing new solutions

Where existing products cannot meet customer requirements, you will explore the application, develop preliminary design concepts and discuss options directly with customers using hand sketches, preliminary CAD drawings or mock-ups. You will refine the proposed solution based on customer feedback and prepare the technical information required for an accurate quotation.

Detailed engineering drawings are not required at the quotation stage. Once the quotation is accepted, the Design Engineering team will support detailed design development. You will remain responsible for guiding the agreed concept and ensuring the final design reflects the customer's requirements.

Our enclosures are mechanical structures, but their value lies in how effectively they accommodate and support the electrical, electronic, control and communications equipment /systems within them. Thus, a strong understanding of electrical systems and their functionality, combined with practical enclosure design skills and commercial judgement, is essential to this role.

Key responsibilities

·         Engage directly with customers and sales to clarify applications, equipment, technical requirements, constraints and intended outcomes.

·         Evaluate existing products first; independently make basic CAD changes to dimensions, layouts and standard accessories to develop efficient solutions.

·         Develop new concepts when needed using sketches, preliminary CAD drawings and mock-ups; review and refine them with customers.

·         Define the agreed solution, scope and specifications, and work with sales on technically accurate quotations, cost and lead-time inputs.

·         Brief and collaborate with the Design Engineering team on detailed designs; review their work against the customer-approved concept and resolve technical questions.

·         Consider equipment integration, access, thermal requirements and applicable standards; keep customer decisions and project information accurately recorded.

What we’re looking for

·         A qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics or a closely related discipline, with relevant practical experience. Mechanical engineers with substantial electrical application and equipment-integration experience may also be considered.

·         Understanding of electrical equipment and system functionality, ideally in switchboards, power distribution, automation, process control, telecommunications or infrastructure.

·         Practical CAD capability: able to independently modify dimensions, layouts and existing accessories, and produce preliminary drawings or concepts.

·         Ability to interpret electrical schematics, specifications and mechanical drawings, and understand how equipment integrates within an enclosure.

·         Experience developing solutions from incomplete customer requirements, including both adaptation of existing designs and new concept development.

·         Sound judgement about functionality, standardisation, technical feasibility, cost and delivery timing.

·         Excellent spoken and written English; able to listen, ask precise questions and explain technical options clearly through conversation and drawings.

·         Collaborative, organised and customer-focused, with a positive attitude and willingness to keep knowledge of relevant standards current.

·         Experience with equipment cabinets or electrical enclosures is an advantage. A full New Zealand driver licence is required.

How success will be measured

Success means developing customer-approved solutions that meet the application, are clearly specified and can be quoted accurately, with efficient use of existing designs where appropriate.

·         Quality and clarity of captured requirements, concepts and customer-approved solutions.

·         Ability to complete straightforward design adaptations independently and recognise when a new concept is required.

·         Timely, accurate technical inputs to quotations, including scope, cost and lead-time assumptions.

·         Effective handover to the Design Engineering team, with minimal avoidable changes caused by unclear requirements.

·         Accurate customer and project records and constructive collaboration with sales and design.

To apply

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant qualifications and experience; CAD skills and examples of basic design modifications; an example of a customer solution you developed (adapted or new); customer-facing experience; and your availability.

We're seeking an experienced Design Engineer to join our team, working to develop new solutions to meet customer requirements.