Plastics Engineering

Career information

What do they do?

Plastics Engineers manage, optimise, and maintain the processing of plastics products. They work with a variety of plastics processing machines and there are senior and specialist roles that you can progress to and qualify in.

A typical day

Typically, an eight-hour day; starting early or shift work.

Plastics engineers operate one or more plastics processing machines, run trials, make recommendations to improve production processes, troubleshoot and resolve processing problems, and quality assure.

Sound like you?

Study areas
  • Sciences
  • Workshop Technology
Attributes
  • Strong eye for detail
  • Good literacy and numeracy
  • Good initiative/‘can-do’ attitude
  • Good work habits/time management.
Helpful experience
  • Analysing, researching or problem solving
  • Making or fixing things
  • Working with machinery.
Preferred work environments
  • Indoors (workshop or plant)

Pathway

School

These can be useful from School:

  • NCEA level 2 Maths and English is recommended
  • Practical subjects such as Technology or Workshop Skills is recommended.
Entry level jobs

Traineeship or apprenticeship

  • Plastics Operator
  • Plastics Technician
  • Plastics Engineer
  • Plastics Die Setter
Advancing jobs

Higher learning

  • Team Leader
  • Manager
  • Factory Manager
  • Operations Manager
  • Production Manager
Senior jobs

Higher learning

  • Business Owner

The logistics sector needs skilled people

Learn more on the qualifications available.

Find out more

Available jobs

Plastic Rotational Moulder
Canterbury
|
Rotowiper Ltd
Learn more →
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