General Engineering

Career information

Sound like you?

Study areas
  • English or Media or History
  • Maths or Accounting or Economics
  • Sciences or Workshop Technologies
  • Computing/ICT/Information Management.
Attributes
  • Reasonable strength and fitness 
  • Good literacy and numeracy
  • Good organisational skills
  • Good work habits/time management.
Helpful experience
  • Making or fixing things
  • Working with machinery
  • Working with computers.
Preferred work environments
  • Inside (workshop or plant)
  • Outside (outdoors)
  • Different places from time to time.

Pathway

School

These can be useful from school:

Ideally NCEA Level 2 in:

  • Maths
  • Science (physics)
  • Technology (metal work)
  • English
Entry level jobs

Apprenticeship

  • General Engineer

Advancing jobs

Higher learning

  • Specialist Engineer
  • Engineering Supervisor
  • Leading Hand
  • Workshop Supervisor
  • Welding Supervisor
Senior jobs

Higher learning

  • Foreman
  • Site Supervisor
  • Business Manager
  • Business Owner

What do they do?

General engineers have good broad skills and knowledge of welding, fabrication, machining, and fitting. Their work includes fitting and assembly work, machine shop work, service and repair work, manufacturing and general fabrication of all kinds of machines and equipment including hydraulics and pneumatics.

A typical day

Normally an eight-hour day; sometimes working longer may be required.

Each day can be quite different; engineering work is varied and can involve fitting, machining, welding, maintenance, repair, hydraulics, pneumatics and/or fabrication.

Generally, your training will be tailored to the type of work you do.

The logistics sector needs skilled people

Learn more on the qualifications available.

Find out more

Available jobs

No jobs currently posted.
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