Senior CNC Machinist Setter
Visa sponsorship
Manufacturing · Dunedin, New Zealand · Full-Time · $38 - $45/hr · Visa: Employer sponsored
Swapping a UK machine shop for New Zealand? A precision manufacturer in Dunedin is looking for Senior CNC Machinist Setters to join a team of about 30. The firm produces high-mix, low-run components for sectors including medical and aerospace, so no two weeks look quite the same.
You would set and run mill-turn, Swiss-type and multi-axis CNC machines on technically tricky parts, with complex geometries and close tolerances where quality and repeatability really count. The firm wants a self-starter who can be trusted on their own, makes sensible calls and owns the outcome without cutting corners on process. Permanent, full-time roles are available on days and nights.
The company holds Accredited Employer status for New Zealand's Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), with potential immigration support, sponsorship included, for exceptional people whose skills, experience and attributes are a close match for what it needs.
Before applying, get your English CV in order, showing your apprenticeship or trade background, the machines you have set and the tolerances you have held. Get your CNC CV sorted with Build AI CV.
Key Responsibilities
- Get demanding CNC jobs set up and machining safely and efficiently, every time to spec
- Work your way through drawings, process paperwork and the instructions for each job
- Decide on tools, workholding and fixtures, then dial in the machine settings
- Sign off the first piece and measure as you go with the right kit
- Treat every part as your own, matching the drawing, the tolerances and the customer's brief
- Stay on top of how the machines are running and how work is moving, sorting snags before they hold the line up
- Flag programming or process problems when needed, understanding the effect offsets, tools and settings have on quality and throughput
- Keep several machines going and juggle priorities, deburring and finishing so parts go out customer-ready
- Bring on less experienced colleagues and work with programmers, quality and production leads to deliver on time and keep improving how the shop machines
Requirements & Eligibility
- Typically 10+ years' experience as a CNC Machinist, taking in complex setups and close-tolerance work
- Time spent on one or more of: Swiss-type lathes, 5-axis or 3-axis machining centres, mill-turn machining centres
- A real strength in reading and interpreting engineering drawings
- Advanced know-how of cutting strategies and machining processes, along with tooling and workholding
- Proficient with precision measuring kit, from bore gauges and height gauges to micrometers and calipers
- Deburring and finishing experience on precision-machined parts
- CMM experience (Micro-Vu and/or Hexagon) would be advantageous, and some CAM or CNC programming exposure (TopSolid, for instance) is an advantage too
- Self-motivated, happy to work on your own and a good team player
- A methodical approach to troubleshooting and strong problem-solving skills
- Excellent spoken and written English, and a relevant trade qualification preferred
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Visa guide: AEWV Guide for UK Workers