How to Enter
Whilst there are no specific educational requirements for entry-level CNC Operator jobs, many employers prefer candidates who have a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Trade) (Level 4), which recently replaced the National Certificate equivalent.
In addition, we often see the following personal requirements being asked for in CNC Operators by employers:
Highly accurate and patient
Able to follow instructions
Responsible and safety-conscious
Great communicator
Able to make good judgements
Able to work independently and as a part of a team
Typical Responsibilities
As a CNC Operator, you could find yourself doing some or all of the following job responsibilities:
Studying and understanding engineering drawings and instructions
Deciding on suitable construction materials and working methods
Preparing materials for cutting and drilling
Operating machines to cut, drill and shape materials
Welding parts together
Checking quality of work
Testing finished products
Progression
CNC Operators may choose to move into a supervisory or managerial role given enough time and experience. Additionally, Operators can also progress into specialist areas such as Product Design, Toolmaking, Metal Forming, Machine Maintenance or General Engineering.
Salary Range
Entry: 32K – 50K per annum (NZD)
