Die Process Engineer – Aluminium Extrusion

Die Process Engineer – Aluminium Extrusion Location: New Plymouth Salary: $95,000 – $120,000 per year depending on experience Employment Type: Permanent | Full-Time Hours: Minimum 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday

About the Role A leading aluminium extrusion manufacturer is seeking an experienced Die Process Engineer to provide technical leadership across die correction, die performance, and tooling optimisation within a high-volume extrusion manufacturing environment.

This role is responsible for ensuring aluminium extrusion dies operate efficiently and consistently, producing high-quality aluminium profiles while minimising scrap, downtime, and production inefficiencies. The successful candidate will act as a technical authority on extrusion die performance, supporting production teams and working closely with external die designers, simulation specialists, and tooling suppliers to optimise die life, metal flow, and product quality.

This is a key technical role focused on die correction strategy, die inspection, tooling optimisation, and extrusion process performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse and diagnose aluminium extrusion die performance issues
• Provide technical direction on die corrections, modifications, and tooling improvements
• Investigate die defects and identify root causes affecting extrusion quality
• Coordinate die readiness inspections prior to production runs
• Support extrusion press operations to ensure optimal die performance
• Work with die designers, simulation specialists, and tooling suppliers on die improvements
• Monitor metal flow balance and profile quality during extrusion production
• Maintain die performance documentation and tooling records
• Provide technical guidance and training to production and maintenance teams
• Develop and implement die correction strategies to improve die life and production efficiency

Skills and Experience Applicants must demonstrate:

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in aluminium extrusion die correction or die process engineering
• Strong knowledge of extrusion die mechanics and metal flow behaviour
• Experience working with hollow dies and complex extrusion tooling systems
• Understanding of die materials, nitriding processes, and heat treatment
• Proven ability to diagnose extrusion defects and tooling issues
• Experience working within industrial manufacturing environments
• Strong problem-solving and technical diagnostic skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with production, engineering, and tooling teams

Qualifications Relevant qualifications may include:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Toolmaking or Tooling Engineering Or equivalent industry experience in aluminium extrusion tooling and die correction.

What This Role Focuses On This position ensures aluminium extrusion dies are correctly analysed, corrected, maintained, and optimised to achieve:

• High-quality aluminium profile production
• Balanced metal flow
• Reduced scrap and downtime
• Improved die life and tooling performance
• Consistent production efficiency

Apply Now If you have extensive experience in aluminium extrusion die correction and process optimisation and are looking to take the next step in your engineering career, we would like to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, contact: Kathy Fandam TradeTech Talent Hub (3TH) 021 703 622 or email your CV to kathy@3th.co.nz in confidence today.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.