Senior Technician - Facility Operations

About the role

Holmes Solutions is seeking a Senior Technician to help run and improve its Canterbury Street facility in Christchurch. This is a practical, hands-on position where you will take responsibility for the workshop and fabrication spaces, helping keep the site safe, well organised, and operating efficiently.

The facility supports prototyping, testing, and system development across adventure recreation, construction, transport, and industrial product work. The role suits someone who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, and contributing to a high-performing technical environment.

This is a permanent, full-time onsite role in Christchurch, Canterbury. Some travel may be needed from time to time for project support within New Zealand and overseas.

Key responsibilities

• Keep the workshop ready for use by managing layout, tools, consumables, stores, and equipment availability.
• Coordinate servicing, repairs, and planned maintenance for workshop and test equipment, including CNC machinery, fabrication tools, instrumentation, data acquisition hardware, and test systems.
• Maintain accurate records such as asset registers, service history, calibration plans, fault logs, and essential spare parts inventory.
• Create and update standard operating procedures, work instructions, and practical reference materials that support safe and consistent facility use.
• Guide engineers, technicians, and student interns on equipment use and safe working practices, while helping them build capability.
• Communicate regularly with engineers, suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders to surface issues early and prevent delays.
• Support purchasing of tools, spare parts, consumables, and capital equipment, while monitoring maintenance backlogs.
• Drive ongoing improvements in reliability, safety, usability, efficiency, and 5S-style workplace organisation.
• Contribute hands-on to project work as needed, depending on workload and your expertise.

What we are looking for

• A strong willingness to coach others, support training, and establish consistent ways of working.
• Good judgement, critical thinking, clear communication, and a proactive approach to safety and housekeeping.
• Substantial practical experience in a workshop, testing, manufacturing, or technical facility setting.
• Solid knowledge of workshop equipment, fabrication methods, and technical asset care, with a careful and organised approach to documentation.
• Experience handling maintenance coordination, calibration, tooling, stores, and equipment readiness while balancing multiple priorities.
• The confidence to make independent decisions and work well in changing or uncertain situations.
• Familiarity with load cells, sensors, data loggers, or electronically controlled test machines would be a strong advantage.
• A Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical), a mechanical trade qualification, or equivalent hands-on experience would be beneficial.

About Holmes Solutions

Holmes Solutions works with international clients across a range of industries, including adventure recreation, construction, and roadside hardware. Its work spans ideation, research and development, testing, compliance, and accreditation, making it a varied and fast-moving engineering environment.

Why join the team

• Competitive pay aligned to experience, plus KiwiSaver, profit share bonus, annual leave, and sick pay.
• Medical cover for you and your family, life insurance, a wellness allowance, an employee assistance programme, and access to an onsite gym with classes.
• A friendly, supportive workplace with team lunches, events, great coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and snacks.
• Training support and access to learning courses to help you grow professionally.
• Flexible hours are supported, even though the role is based onsite.

Work environment

You will be part of a close-knit, practical team that values innovation, shared knowledge, and balance between work and life outside work. The role is ideal for someone who wants to help keep a busy engineering facility performing at a high standard while supporting the success of the wider team.