Industrial Software Engineer

Industrial Software Engineer Hamilton $80k-$120k A rare blend of industrial automation and modern software engineering. Join a tight‑knit team redefining how industrial plants are controlled. Software‑first approach: Beckhoff PLCs, Ignition Perspective HMI, object‑oriented design. Build highly reusable, modular code that shortens commissioning cycles. Occasional commissioning trips to NZ and Australian sites. If you’ve spent time in industrial automation and thought there has to be a better way to write this code, you might be exactly who this team is looking for. And if you’re a software engineer with a real interest in working closer to industrial hardware, this is worth considering too. This Hamilton engineering company is taking a software‑first approach to industrial automation. They’re using object‑oriented design patterns in their PLC code, building with Beckhoff controllers and Ignition Perspective, and generally approaching automation the way a software engineer would. You might come from an industrial automation background with modern software sensibilities, or from a software background with a real interest in moving into industrial automation. Both paths are welcome here. You’ll be joining a skilled team to help build out the automation and software stack for high‑tech industrial processing plants sold into New Zealand and Australia. The plants use technology already proven across 300+ installations internationally, and the engineering team is now standardising the design into a reusable platform that makes each new plant faster to deliver. The plants convert waste materials into engineered sand for the construction industry, replacing 100% of natural sand in concrete while reducing cement usage by up to 20%. There’s a real commercial and environmental case behind the technology, and no other company in New Zealand is doing this. Why you'll love this Product development The initial work is building and commissioning the control systems for new plants. But from there the role expands into upgrading existing plants, developing remote monitoring and fault detection capabilities, and building toward a one‑day commissioning model. Over time this becomes a product development role, maintaining and improving a software platform across a growing number of plants, each one getting better through regular updates. There’s a clear product vision and the space to help shape how it gets built. You’ll write code the right way it should be written The team uses object-oriented design patterns in structured text, not just logic converted from ladder logic. They’re the OEM, so they define how the codebase looks. You’ll have input into that. The work spans automation and software There’s a good mix of PLC and HMI development, database work, commissioning on‑site, and longer‑term software development around remote monitoring and data analysis. As the codebase matures, the role is expected to lean further into software engineering. You’ll work in a team that’s open to doing things differently The team has deliberately moved away from traditional industrial automation methods to create reusable modular code, pre‑tested so it won’t break, and to allow quick commissioning times. They’re not looking for someone who wants to work in a fixed way. Growth mindset matters more here than a specific tech stack. What you’ll do Develop PLC control systems using structured text with object‑oriented design principles Build HMI applications in Ignition Perspective Use Node‑RED to connect data flows between systems, and PostgreSQL to store and query plant data Contribute to systems integration across PLCs, instrumentation, networks, and higher‑level software Commission control systems on‑site in New Zealand and Australia Remotely monitor operational plants from the Hamilton base and improve performance over time Support electrical troubleshooting when needed, though this will depend on your background What you’ll need A willingness to learn and experiment with new approaches rather than defaulting to established methods Experience with object‑oriented programming, or an appreciation of why it matters A background that touches on either industrial automation, software engineering, or both Good communication skills and a collaborative mindset Experience level is less important than the right attitude, though around 3 to 5 years is a reasonable guide Desirable (but not essential) Experience with OO design patterns, Ignition, or Node‑RED Programming experience in any OO language such as Python, C++, C#, JavaScript, or Java PLC programming experience in Structured Text MES (manufacturing execution systems) background SQL experience in any form GitHub familiarity Front‑end web development skills (transferable to Ignition Perspective) A mechatronics or software engineering degree About the company This is a New Zealand‑founded engineering company with a licensed distribution territory covering Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. The leadership team has deep roots in engineering, international business, and technology commercialisation. The company is in growth mode, with significant plant sales in the pipeline and an expanding presence across New Zealand and Australia. With a team of around seven people, your contributions will be visible, and your voice will carry weight. This suits someone who wants a role at the intersection of industrial automation and software engineering, working on technology that delivers real commercial and environmental benefits to its clients. Please Note This role is open exclusively to New Zealand Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Resident Visa holders. Retention Note This is a retained search managed exclusively by PeopleLogic. #J-18808-Ljbffr