Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand / Aotearoa
Onsite
Responsibilities / Tasks
Lead complex evaporation & drying systems at scale
We are seeking a specialist Team Lead with strong experience in evaporation and/or spray drying systems to lead our Evaporation, Drying & Powder Handling capability within the engineering team.
This is a hands-on technical leadership role - not a pure people manager position. You will combine deep technical expertise with team leadership and project oversight, ensuring the successful delivery of large-scale, high-value processing plants.
You will play a key role in leading engineers, shaping technical direction, and driving delivery excellence across evaporation, concentration, and drying systems from design through to commissioning.
What you’ll be doing
Technical Leadership & Delivery
Lead the technical delivery of evaporation, drying, and/or powder systems across projects
Collaborate closely with the sales team to:
Develop project estimates, providing both indicative budget pricing and detailed/accurate costings as required, and review team costings.
Develop and present solutions to internal and external customers.
Prepare offer documentation to support costings, including clearly defined KPIs.Take ownership from process design through to commissioning and performance validation
Develop and review process designs, heat & mass balances, and equipment specifications
Provide technical direction and governance across projects to ensure quality and consistency
Lead on-site commissioning activities and complex troubleshooting
Demonstrate and appreciate safety for self, others and design in all actions and activities
Team Leadership & Capability Development
Lead, coach, and develop a team of process/project engineers
Provide technical mentorship and oversight, building capability within the team
Support resource planning and allocation across projects
Identify and monitor team KPI’s and benchmarking against other projects
Undertake staff appraisals and provide developmental and motivational feedback on a regular basis.
Foster a high-performance, collaborative team environment
Lead by example, demonstrating behaviours that consistently align with stated values and expectations
Project & Stakeholder Management
Work closely with global and local teams to integrate evaporation, drying, utilities, and upstream/downstream processes
Partner with Project Managers to ensure delivery on time, within budget, and to specification
Translate customer requirements into practical, buildable engineering solutions
Act as a senior technical interface with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
Continuous Improvement & Standards
Drive standardisation and best practice across evaporation, drying and powder technologies
Support innovation, optimisation, and performance improvement initiatives
Contribute to strengthening technical frameworks and engineering quality
Gate keeper of technologies and standards within the team
What sets this role apart
Large-scale turn-key process plants spray dryers and evaporation systems
Combination of technical depth + leadership responsibility
Exposure to infant formula, dairy powders, and high-value processing systems
Opportunity to work across New Zealand, Australia, and international projects
Be part of a global engineering network with deep technical expertise
Your Profile / Qualifications
About you
You are a technical leader first, people leader second—a specialist who can lead from the front while developing others.
8–12+ years’ experience in evaporation and/or spray drying systems
Strong understanding of:
Heat transfer, mass balance, and thermodynamics
Dairy and food process engineering
Proven experience delivering capital projects from design through to commissioning
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop engineers or technical teams
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Ability to troubleshoot and optimise complex processing systems
Willingness to undertake site-based work (including extended commissioning phases)
What we offer
Competitive salary aligned to specialist experience
Global bonus scheme
Southern Cross health insurance
Additional leave (Birthday + Company Day)
Exposure to cutting-edge dairy processing technologies
Career development within a global engineering organisation
Additional Information
Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Pre-employment checks, including drug and alcohol testing, will be required.
Did we spark your interest?
Then please click apply above to access our guided application process.
Want to know if this job is worth applying to?