Mechanical Engineering Manager

About the role

You will own the end to end mechanical engineering function for Halter's production equipment and tooling, defining strategy, standards, and execution for a global hardware program. You will build and lead a high performing Machine Design team while directly managing the Production Tooling engineers when the organizational structure requires a combined mechanical and tooling leadership seat. In this role you will translate strategic Production Engineering priorities into a clear portfolio roadmap that spans fixtures, automation, production enabling equipment, tooling programs, and supplier qualification work. You will set and uphold rigorous standards for design reviews, commissioning, validation evidence, documentation, release readiness, sustaining ownership, and change control to ensure robust and scalable outcomes. You will balance hands on technical depth with people leadership and cross functional influence, modeling Halter's leadership principles of high ownership, demanding and supportive leadership, strong dynamic range, and front of the jersey decision making. You will build a coherent make versus buy and supplier strategy for machine builds, fabrication, tooling, spares, maintenance, and long term support, ensuring delivery outcomes across schedule, risk, production impact, validation quality, supplier performance, and sustained line capability.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Lead and develop the Machine Design team, and manage Production Tooling engineers when the team structure requires it.
• Own delivery outcomes across machine design and tooling programs: schedule, risk, production impact, validation quality, supplier performance, and sustained line capability.
• Translate Production Engineering priorities into a clear portfolio roadmap across fixtures, automation, production enabling equipment, tooling programs, and supplier qualification work.
• Set and uphold standards for design reviews, commissioning, validation evidence, documentation, release readiness, sustaining ownership, and change control.
• Build a coherent make-vs-buy and supplier strategy for machine builds, fabrication, tooling, spares, maintenance, and long-term support.
• Provide strong technical judgment across production equipment, fixtures, automation, suppliers, and tooling to guide decision making.
• Balance hands-on technical depth with people leadership and cross-functional influence to drive alignment and execution.
• Apply Halter's leadership principles to deliver high ownership, demanding and supportive leadership, strong dynamic range, and front-of-the-jersey decision making.
• Ensure validation evidence and documentation are robust to support release readiness and sustained line capability.
• Collaborate closely with Production Engineering to prioritize and sequence capital equipment, fixtures, automation, and tooling programs.
• Define and manage supplier models, including qualification, performance tracking, and long-term support strategies for mechanical and tooling solutions.
• Establish and maintain operating cadences for design reviews, commissioning, and continuous improvement in production tooling and equipment.
• Drive clarity on ownership and accountability across the machine design and tooling value stream, from concept through to sustained production.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to align technical solutions with business outcomes, customer needs, and operational realities.

Requirements

• Experience leading mechanical, mechatronics, machine design, tooling, or manufacturing engineering teams in a relevant industry context.
• Strong technical judgement across production equipment, fixtures, automation, suppliers, and tooling disciplines.
• Ability to balance hands-on technical depth with people leadership and cross-functional influence.
• Comfortable making high quality decisions with incomplete information, modeling Halter's front-of-the-jersey decision-making culture.
• Demonstrated capability to own delivery outcomes for complex hardware programs including schedule, risk, production impact, and validation quality.
• Proven experience in setting and upholding standards for design reviews, commissioning, validation evidence, documentation, release readiness, and sustaining ownership.
• Track record of building and managing make-vs-buy and supplier strategies for machine builds, fabrication, tooling, spares, maintenance, and long-term support.
• Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, recognizing that great outcomes come from different perspectives and lived experience.

Nice to have

There are no preferred items listed in the SOURCE beyond the core requirements and cultural alignment.

Practical notes

The role is full time based in Auckland. Halter is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse candidates; if you think you have what it takes but do not meet every listed requirement, please still apply to discuss your fit for the role.