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Engineering Machinist

Kaiwhakamahi Pūrere

Engineering machinists create, assemble and repair metal products by interpreting designs, measuring metals, and operating machines to cut and shape them.

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Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required to become an engineering machinist but maths, physics, English and construction and mechanical technologies to at least NCEA Level 2 are useful.

For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies and the STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.

These programmes may help you gain an apprenticeship, but do not reduce the amount of time it takes to complete it.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for engineering machinists includes:

  • work using tools or machines
  • manual labour
  • welding.

What you will do

Engineering machinists may do some or all of the following:

  • interpret engineering drawings and instructions
  • measure and mark up materials for cutting
  • operate machines to cut and shape the materials
  • weld parts together
  • test finished products
  • design tools and equipment using computer-aided design (CAD) software
  • clean, maintain and repair machinery.

Skills and knowledge

Engineering machinists need to have:

  • knowledge of different metals and materials
  • the ability to operate specialised tools and machinery
  • the ability to read and interpret plans and drawings
  • knowledge of health and safety procedures
  • the ability to perform simple calculations
  • skills with computer-aided design (CAD) software and computerised numerical control (CNC) machines
Pay

Apprentice engineering machinists usually earn

$49K

per year

Experienced engineering machinists usually earn

$49K-$103K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as an engineering machinist are good due to a shortage of workers.
Length of training
4
years of training usually required.

Industry

Maintenance and Repair

Engineering machinists create, assemble and repair metal products by interpreting designs, measuring metals, and operating machines to cut and shape them.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific entry requirements to become an engineering machinist. 

However, most employers prefer you to have, or be working towards a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering – Trade (Level 4).  

In your last year of training you will specialise in one of:

  • fitting and machining
  • general engineering
  • machining
  • maintenance engineering
  • metal forming
  • toolmaking.

Apprentice Training NZ (ATNZ) employs, trains and places mechanical engineering apprentices. You can also get an apprenticeship directly through an employer. 

Competenz oversees mechanical engineering apprenticeships.

Chances of getting a job

Engineering machinists in demand

Engineering machinists are in demand because:

  • a number of them are reaching retirement age – 32% of engineering machinists were over 55 years old in 2018
  • not enough people are training for the job.

According to the Census, 10,671 engineering machinists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Engineering machinist on skill shortage list

The roles of metal fabricator, welder, and fitter-welder all appear on Immigration New Zealand's construction and infrastructure skill shortage list. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled engineering machinists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Types of employers varied

Engineering machinists may work for:

  • specialist machining companies
  • engineering workshops
  • factories that make machines, equipment, appliances and plastic products
  • industrial sites such as milk powder factories.

Find out more about training

Competenz
0800 526 1800 - info@competenz.org.nz - www.competenz.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

Engineering machinists may progress to work:

  • as supervisors or managers
  • in product design or technical sales.

Engineering machinists usually specialise in one of the following roles:

CNC Operator
CNC operators program computers to make metal parts at a very fine level of detail.
Fitter and Turner
Fitters and turners make parts for factory machines and equipment.
Fabricator
Fabricators cut, bend and weld together sheets of metal to make metal products.
General Engineer
General engineers do a wide range of maintenance work, including welding and fabrication.
Machining Engineer
Machining engineers make parts that require a high level of precision. They use a mix of computer, machine and manual skills.
Metal Casting Engineer
Metal casting engineers produce parts from molten metal.
Maintenance Engineer
Maintenance engineers maintain machinery and production lines in factories.
Toolmaker
Toolmakers make dies (which press shapes out of metal) and moulds (which can be filled with liquid metal). These are used to make everyday items.

Working conditions

Engineering machinists:

  • may work regular business hours or do shift work
  • work in workshops or factories
  • work in conditions that may be dirty, noisy, hot or cramped.

Physical Requirements

Engineering machinists need to:

  • be reasonably fit and strong 
  • have good hand-eye co-ordination and steady hands
  • have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses)
  • be comfortable working in confined spaces or at heights.

Useful personal qualities

Engineering machinists need to be:

  • accurate, efficient and organised
  • safety-conscious
  • able to work well in a team
  • good at communicating
  • reliable and hardworking.

Related Wintec courses

Industry

Maintenance and Repair

Engineering machinists create, assemble and repair metal products by interpreting designs, measuring metals, and operating machines to cut and shape them.

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