Architecture
Whether you are the conceptual “big pen” Design Architect, the Project Architect focussed on the nuts and bolts, or somewhere in between if you have the experience we have roles in commercial, civic, retail and residential projects to build your career. We can also help you develop your portfolio and give you an invaluable insight into New Zealand architectural firms.
Architectural draughting
Perhaps more in demand than ever, the Technicians, Technologists and Draughters are at the centre of the architectural engine room. Responsibilities can cover 3D Presentation at the front, designing and detailing in the middle, specifications, working drawings and perhaps a bit of site inspection. Whether ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, Revit, Microstation, Sketchup or Vectorworks is your weapon of choice, with a good set of drawings to your credit, you can go far in today’s market.
Landscape architecture
Ranging from the formal gardens, urban landscapes or reinstatement of native plantings in our cities, the Landscape Architect’s role is increasing in importance as our green spaces are challenged. Combining a green thumb with green principles, there are projects big and even bigger needing your understanding of plantings, irrigation, natural cycles and design talents to make them great places to be.
Interior design
High-end residential, retail and commercial projects would be dull, dull, dull without the magic that the spatial designer brings. Doing so much more than choosing colours and drapes, those at the top of their game in Corporate Identity, Hospitality and Commercial are the stars whose work we get to appreciate every day. Thanks guys..
Graphic design
From press to product design, brochures to billboards, web to whatever, who dictates the look and feel more that the graphic designer? With their fanaticism for fine fonts, carefully choreographed colours and perfectly placed pixels, we gasp in awe at the talent of the graphics designers in bringing this together so wonderfully.
Urban design
In some ways the new kid on the design block that’s yet been here all along, the urban design profession originally surfaced as town planning but has developed over the last few decades and is now is growing steadily. In New Zealand, perhaps nudged along by talent arriving from overseas, courses are now offered here. The big changes in our cities need Urban Designers and Urban Planners able to deliver workable, beautiful, socially connected and viable projects.
Project management
Often describes as a “T” shaped career, the profession of the Project Manager can start from any sector and, at the top of their game, reach across to quite different projects. The ideal attributes however, are much easier to define - credibility, organisation, resourcefulness and drive, the Project Manager get his ducks in a line and sends them home. Whether organisational, construction, financial or IT, whether you are a PMBOK, PMI or PRINCE2 fan, whether you are early stage (feasibility, ROI, design concepts) or post contract delivery, there’s always a next step for your career.
Quantity surveying
The QS is a double sided animal – a little bit country, a little bit rock’n roll – combining the financial talents with the understanding of construction, quantity surveying is the bit that makes sure the costs stay on track through knowing the quantities at the start, to costs management throughout. NZIQS membership is useful.
Health & safety
Who else saves more lives than Superman? The Health and Safety role has moved from the sidelines to the middle of play and now OH&S is an integral part of any project. H&S roles range from simply maintaining good systems to creating, driving and implementing outstanding processes, policies and procedures which make sure our loved ones walk through the door every night.
QA / QC
The Quality guys are the unsung heroes of the construction industry create, deliver and manage the processes that make our whole worlds feel that much more solid, honest and well, right.
Surveying
Land, or Cadastral Surveyors often enter the profession as it offers more “indoor / outdoor flow” than many other sectors. Once in, they find themselves involved in developments, earthworks, flood prediction and major infrastructure projects. The legal, contractual, topographical and geographical issues which are a mystery to the average citizen, are the bread and butter of the Surveyor. The Building Surveyor is someone we are also seeing more of in New Zealand.
Engineering
Mechanical
Product design, machines or environmental control, rarely does a profession sprout in such different directions from the one beginning. Designing, presenting, managing and inventing, the Mechanical Engineer creates things that make things happen. So if machines, plastics, HVAC or aircraft are your thing, we are the people to speak to.
Product design
Usability, durability, cost and operation – the Product Designer has the talent to bring form and function together in anything from toys to tower blocks. Interestingly, many Product Designers go on to work in other areas – interior design, web design, and systems engineering.
Civil/structural
Two branches of the same tree, both in great demand throughout the country. We need Geotechnical Engineers to get the ground sorted, the Civil Engineers to get the big stuff laid down, and the Structural Engineers to make the things stand up. Civil Engineering also branches into hydraulics / hydrology, waters (water, wastewater and stormwater) dams, earthquake, transportation and coastal.
Process
Designing things which make stuff, the Process Engineers are the smart people we need to make our industry work. Covering food, electronics, utilities and chemical / petrochemical, starting with a diagram, they delve into their bag of magic to flowchart, simulate, design, resource and build plant that make Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory look like a kid’s toy.
Electrical / electronics
From Megavolts to microvolts, substations to silicon chips, the Electrical Engineers have both the power and the control at their fingertips. At the generation and distribution end of the spectrum, specialisations like Protection Engineering and Transmission design lead the way and at the other end RF and PCB designers work alongside the software, instrumentation and Power Electronics people.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing in New Zealand varies from one-off to multi-million-up production runs, and the designers, operations managers and NPI Engineers are there to get the best out of our facilities. Plastics, food, electronics and industrial manufacturing is alive and well in New Zealand and a true hub of innovation. With a keen eye on work flow they co-ordinate conveyors, robotics and lean principles, to squeeze the best out of the line.
Building services
Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, if you know your BMS from your elbow, we deal in roles from industrial to residential and commercial environmental control covering massive pipework and ductwork networks, to single flues. We know many of you have skills which are in great demand, even more so, with the new Green Star requirements.
Fire
Whether from a civil, mechanical or chemical background, the demand for Fire Engineers is unprecedented. The updated fire regulations add to the challenge. We are seeing new talent with fire, smoke and thermal simulation skills, experts in sprinkler and other prevention systems, so whether your are an FDS expert or old school pen & paper, you’re needed.
Chemical
A little bit of this, a little bit of that – the Chemical Engineer’s career always seems to cover multiple areas, from pure chemistry to wastewater, process to Fire Engineering, they get everywhere.
QA / QC
So much more than just driving a clipboard, the QA guys start at the beginning and make sure the end it what was wanted and thanks to the Quality Control, this actually happens, every time. Some are bulldog, others smooth operators, but the effectiveness, efficiency and quality they deliver, makes all of us better off.
Management
Leading, motivating, defending and inspiring, great managers are in greater demand than ever as small companies get bigger, things become more complex, and people need to focus on what they are good at. Engineering Managers have the technical understanding and the people skills to make the best of teams.
Project Management
Define, Plan, Resource, Cost and Implement, the Engineering Project Manager is the “people” person in the middle of the project focussed on making things happen.
Research and Development
Not so much a separate profession as the brains department at the front end of a number of industries, we see Scientists and Engineers from all areas putting their heads together to make better products and continue making them better.