Automation Engineer

At Laminex, we're proud to be one of New Zealand's leading building products businesses. Backed by Fletcher Building, we manufacture trusted brands including Laminex, Formica, Melteca, Strandfloor, Lakepine MDF, and Caesarstone, supplying residential and commercial projects across New Zealand.

We're looking for an experienced Automation Engineer to join our Hamilton manufacturing team in this newly created role. This role was established in response to continued growth and increasing production demand to strengthen our automation capability and support the ongoing performance of our manufacturing operation. You'll play a pivotal role in maximising plant reliability, improving automation systems, reducing downtime, enhancing operational efficiencies, and ensuring our plant continues to operate safely and at peak performance.

The Opportunity

As our Automation Engineer, you'll be responsible for maintaining and improving the site's automation, electrical, and control systems to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant equipment. Working closely with production, maintenance, and engineering teams, you'll identify opportunities to improve performance, reduce downtime, increase equipment reliability and support future growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain, troubleshoot, and optimise PLC, SCADA, instrumentation, and process control systems to ensure reliable plant performance.
• Diagnose and resolve automation faults, PLC program errors, sequence issues, and equipment breakdowns to minimise downtime and improve reliability.
• Lead root cause analysis (RCA) investigations and implement sustainable corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
• Support preventative and predictive maintenance strategies, planned shutdowns, and automation-related maintenance activities to maximise plant availability.
• Contribute to automation upgrades, equipment installations, commissioning, and plant modification activities that enhance operational performance and efficiency.
• Maintain technical documentation, system backups, and compliance records while supporting maintenance planning and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Partner with production, maintenance, and engineering teams to identify improvement opportunities and deliver continuous improvement outcomes.
• Provide technical support to the Taupo site Automation Engineer as required, generally delivered remotely, including troubleshooting assistance, program reviews and backup on automation-related issues.

What You'll Bring

5-7+ years' experience in an industrial manufacturing environment with a strong focus on automation, process control, and plant reliability.

Qualification in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, Mechatronics, or a related discipline, together with current Electrical Registration.

Proven experience with Allen-Bradley and Siemens PLCs, including programming, troubleshooting, fault finding, and system optimisation.

Strong knowledge of industrial automation, instrumentation, SCADA, HMI, and process control systems.

Demonstrated ability to diagnose and resolve complex automation, control system, and equipment performance issues within a manufacturing environment.

Strong root cause analysis (RCA), problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills, with a focus on reducing downtime and improving operational performance.

A proactive approach to continuous improvement, preventative maintenance, and operational efficiency.

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across production, maintenance, and engineering teams.

A strong commitment to health, safety, and compliance within a manufacturing environment.

Why Join Laminex?

Join a market-leading manufacturer backed by Fletcher Building, where you'll have the opportunity to make a real impact on the performance and reliability of a busy manufacturing operation. In return, you'll enjoy a competitive salary, ongoing professional development, a supportive team culture, and the stability of a well-established business, all while working regular Monday to Friday hours that support a healthy work-life balance.

Studies indicate that some females and minority groups may hesitate to apply unless they meet all the criteria. If this role interests you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every requirement.

Our teams thrive on diversity, embracing various nationalities, languages, religions, customs, and lifestyles. We are proud of our diversity and see it as one of the things that make us better together.