Senior Mechanical Engineer

About Inition

Inition is an innovation engineering company. For 25 years, as Holmes Solutions, we helped clients solve complex challenges, with strategy, engineering and testing under one roof. This year we became Inition: independent, 100% employee owned, and we’re growing!

At Inition, we are innovation engineers, which means we have developed some amazing products that have brands of their own: Whoosh transport is changing the way people move through cities, and Switchback is creating unique ride experiences around the world.

Join us

We’re always on the lookout for epic talent. Applications will remain open all year, and we review them every month. If you seem like a good fit, we’ll work with you to find you a place on our team. If the timing isn’t right yet, we’ll keep in touch.

We have full-time opportunities based in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, on either a permanent or fixed-term basis.

About the role

We’re growing and looking for multiple Senior Mechanical Engineers to join our talented team. You'll lead the engineering design on development programmes, through concept, design, build and test. You'll work in mixed teams with electrical, simulation and structural engineers, designers and technicians, often alongside our business and commercial team, and clients. We value other perspectives, and don't do surprises.

Your focus area will depend on your strengths:

• Machine design: Mechanisms, rotating elements, bearings, shafts and power transmission, chassis and support structures.

• Fabrication & Structures: Welded and fastened steel structures under static and cyclic load, designed for fatigue life, ultimate capacity, distortion and tolerance.

• Engineering design and development: Turn unclear requirements into concepts, assess feasibility, and prove performance through analysis and testing.

What you'll bring:

Essentials

• Experience leading the mechanical design of engineered systems, mentoring others and providing direction.

• A Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical or Mechatronics) or equivalent, and fundamentals strong enough to reason from first principles when there's no precedent or when challenging convention.

• Design and analysis to relevant standards and requirements, with sound understanding of materials, manufacturing, and system integration.

• Experience setting direction and development strategy, reviewing others' work, enabling engineers in your team to grow and succeed.

Desirables

• FEA of complex structures, multibody dynamics, coding tools for engineering work, established workflow practice for AI tools in engineering.

• Experience in structural connections and connection systems; design, development, or analysis.

• Building and testing prototypes, data acquisition and analysis, verification and validation.

• Experience with machinery directive, amusement ride standards, regulatory and compliance frameworks, and other standards based design.

• CPEng or working towards chartership.

Why Inition

You'll be joining a supportive, innovative, and down-to-earth team where no two days look the same. You'll work across a diverse and exciting range of work, surrounded by people who genuinely care about what they do and how they do it. For a sneak peak, see our brand video here.

We're a close-knit team that champions innovation, knowledge-sharing, and work-life balance. We celebrate diversity, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds because we believe in the power of varied perspectives to drive innovation.

Some of the great perks we offer:

• Southern Cross health insurance for you and your family

• Employee Assistance Programme

• KiwiSaver and an annual wellness allowance

• Flexible hours, and working remotely at times

• Up to four hours a week for approved study, plus conferences and courses

• A growth path on our Engineering Ladder, and many opportunities for enhancing your capabilities.

Where you'll work:
You can be based in Christchurch, Wellington or Auckland. Our lab and test facilities are in Christchurch, so if you’re based elsewhere, you can expect some travel. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it.

Take Your Next Step With Us:
If you’re passionate about solving complex problems and want your work to matter, we’d love to hear from you!

To apply, please submit your CV, a Cover Letter and answer a few short questions, so we can get to know you better. You’re also welcome to include a portfolio or project examples to support your application.