ABOUT SJBC & POSITION OVERVIEW:
SJBC specialises in New Product Development - primarily Mechanical Products and Systems. We get involved from the product generation/brainstorming phase right through to the start of production, often leading that process.
We are looking for either an Engineer who has passion for Product Design or a Product/Industrial Designer who has passion for Mechanical Systems.
Currently most of our work is in Aircraft Seating (from Business Class with Electromechanical systems right through to lightweight Economy) so having an interest in working in this field would be advantageous. We are looking at expanding our client base into other sectors of New Product Development so there may be opportunity for higher variety.
We often work with product destined for medium volume production which offers you exposure to a variety of manufacturing methods and material types not commonly developed in NZ.
Some examples of our work can be found here: https://www.sjbc.nz/work-examples
New Product Development allows a wide range of day to day activities, some of these could include:
Conceptual Brainstorming
Concept Development
Prototyping (we have some in-house prototyping ability as well as access to quick turn-around suppliers)
Virtual and Physical Mock-Ups
Best practise modelling
Awareness and application of standards/requirements
Documentation
Analysis (FEA + hand calcs)
Design for Manufacture and Assembly
Production Drawings
At the core we have to consider the Product, the Client, Maintenance and the End User.
Simple function also often has good form, your mechanical solution may also need to consider how it would feel to a customer or how the light interacts with it (often we have input from an Industrial Design department but we then have to champion that input).
Even at the conceptual stage we try consider part count, reduction in handedness, assembly variants, assembly method and maintenance as these can get baked into a design execution early.
IDEAL APPLICANT
We are a small company where efficiency and flexibility are key. We are looking for engineers or product designers who can own a design from concept through to working prototype and integrate with the rest of team. Ideally the candidate will have
2-10 years exp in mechanical or product design
Proficient in CAD + document management systems
Good fundamental engineering skills (for product designers this may be less applicable but there needs to be a desire to learn / be able to learn some fundamentals).
Good problem solving skills
Willing to work as part of a design team
Excellent time management
Open to supporting calls with EU
Interesting own project = bonus points
SJB CULTURE / BELIEFS
The nature of small businesses means that we do anything needed to get the deliverable across the line, this may mean some days you are operating a machine in the morning, CAD at midday and meeting with clients in the afternoon. We think this is an exciting environment where an engineer can really develop a broad range of skills rapidly. At SJB we believe in;
Lean development - Efficient convergence on the concept by applying the correct amount of resource at the correct phase with a small highly effective team.
Modern company - We strive to use the best tools and thinking available, from software to our way of working policy
Flat structure - keeps designers close to their design & engage others on a regular basis Get hands on quickly - rapidly moving out of CAD is a key to our success and we encourage this as soon as possible
Enjoy your work - at the end of the day we need to enjoy and be interested in what we do, both in the clients we choose and our approach to the engineering
LOCATION:
Applicant will need to work at the SJB office in Nelson. After initial training period we will be flexible around working hours and work from home arrangements but the position will always be nominally Nelson based.
SALARY:
We are looking for a broad range of experience levels so the range is also broad - we are happy to have an open discussion around salary based on your experience.