Junior Engineer - Electronics and Test Automation

About the Role

A reputable electronics product design and manufacturing company based in New Zealand is expanding its production capabilities and seeking a Junior Engineer focused on Electronics and Test Automation. This early-career position offers an excellent opportunity for those passionate about building and problem-solving, regardless of extensive professional experience. The successful candidate will join a compact engineering team that creates, maintains, and improves the automated testing equipment essential for product quality assurance before distribution.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, construct, and implement new test fixtures for production lines across a range of products.
• Maintain, repair, and calibrate existing test fixtures to ensure consistent production quality.
• Create electronic schematics and design printed circuit boards (PCBs) using Altium software.
• Design mechanical components and housings for test fixtures using SolidWorks CAD tools.
• Develop and debug embedded C programs for various microcontrollers (8, 16, and 32-bit), focusing on timing, analog interfacing, and protocols like SPI and UART.
• Author and maintain higher-level test scripts and assist the test software development team as needed.
• Perform manual assembly, soldering, and wiring tasks to build test fixtures and modules.
• Utilize instrumentation and measurement techniques to confirm products meet required specifications.
• Document all aspects of test modules, including component selection, circuit operation, assembly details, and technical specifications.
• Assist in modernizing existing fixtures and advancing automation in production testing processes.

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Completion of a diploma, degree, or equivalent tertiary education in electronics, electrical engineering, mechatronics, or a closely related field.
• Strong foundational knowledge of electronics, including the ability to interpret schematics and explain circuit functionalities.
• Practical experience building or assembling electronics, gained through academic work, internships, personal projects, or employment.
• Some proficiency in embedded C programming targeting microcontrollers.
• Hands-on skills such as soldering, wiring, and assembling electronic components.
• Ability to quickly analyze and discuss schematics, assembled hardware, or software code.
• Motivation to learn and contribute across electronic, mechanical, software, and assembly domains.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm, curiosity, a strong work ethic, and pragmatic problem-solving abilities.

Preferred but Not Essential

• Experience using Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Familiarity with SolidWorks or other 3D mechanical design software.
• Exposure to Python or C++ for scripting or software development tasks.
• Prior experience with production test equipment or fixtures.
• Knowledge of communication protocols including SPI, UART, I2C, or RS-485.

Additional Information

This full-time position requires onsite attendance in the Wellington region. Candidates living elsewhere in New Zealand will be considered only if fully committed to relocating. Applicants must have valid work authorization for New Zealand. This is a genuine early-career role prioritizing enthusiasm and the eagerness to learn over years of experience. The role offers the chance to work alongside senior experts in hardware, software, and mechanical design, evolving towards expertise across these areas.