Engineering Graduate Programme (Dec 2026)

Job description

What the graduate programme has to offer:

• Receive the best start to your career as a future leader in engineering with a strong support network, grad buddies and mentoring from a senior leader.
  
  
• Build an understanding of engineering within Fonterra by rotating across four different engineering teams.
  
  
• Hands-on learning while you get to explore the country by travelling around different manufacturing sites and offices.
  
  
• Competitive salary, connected cohort and a guaranteed role at the end of the programme.
  
  
• Guaranteed role at the end of the programme

Our Co-operative

Fonterra’s strength is in the collective | Te Mātāpuna toa takitini

We are a Co-operative created and owned by Aotearoa New Zealand dairy farmers.

Since our beginnings, collaboration, innovation, and passion have enabled us to share the goodness of our dairy with the world.

We're committed to caring for the land, our animals, and every drop of milk, producing nutritious food with safe, quality ingredients loved here in New Zealand and around the world.

As part of the Fonterra Co-op, you'll be solving for a better future alongside a team connected by solid values as we strive to be a leader in dairy sustainability, dairy innovation and science, with a focus on New Zealand milk.

When you join Fonterra, you'll open yourself to a career of opportunities where you can grow with us by developing your skills, sharing your knowledge, and exploring diverse career paths that ignite your passions.

Join us | Haere mai

Embark on an exciting journey with our 2-year Engineering Graduate Programme, designed to provide you with a diverse range of experiences, enhance your cultural competency, and offer broad exposure across our dynamic company.

The programme includes rotations through various core engineering teams and functions at National, Regional, and Manufacturing site levels.

Opportunities await | Te whai waahi

Your qualifications, skills, and interests will shape the projects you undertake as you rotate through Fonterra's engineering sectors.

Each 6-month rotation is designed to provide you with hands-on experience and the chance to make significant contributions.

• Your journey begins with a 3-week onboarding at our Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North immersing yourself in all things Fonterra and meeting your Engineering and FGTP cohort.
  
  
• You will then move into your first 6-month rotation.
  
  You will rotate through our Operations team, Technical Engineering team, Capital Projects team and Assessment Management teams gaining a deep understanding of how they contribute to the co-ops success.
  
  
• Throughout the programme, you'll forge strong relationships across various teams, backed by a robust support system, including mentorship from a senior engineering leader.
  
  
• You will develop proficiency across engineering functions, with opportunities to contribute to groundbreaking capital projects focused on sustainability and risk reduction.
  
  If your ambition is to gain chartership, we'll guide you as part of the Engineering New Zealand Emerging Professionals Development Programme.
  
  
• In addition to your rotations, you'll collaborate with your cohort on group projects and participate in development workshops.
  
  Beyond work, you'll have opportunities to socialise with your group and graduates from our parallel programmes.
  
  
• Upon completion, you'll transition into an exciting role within our engineering teams across New Zealand Manufacturing or Technical Excellence, with continued support to fast-track your career at Fonterra.
  
  

About you | Moe koe

• You're in your final year of study in Bachelor of Engineering
• You'll have a Full Driver's License by December 2026
• You're a New Zealand citizen or Permanent Resident in New Zealand
• You're flexible and mobile to move around New Zealand

We're seeking individuals who embody a collaborative spirit, resilience, learning agility, a growth mindset, demonstrate curiosity, and show potential for leadership.

Join Fonterra, where we're committed to nurturing emerging talent and shaping the engineers of the future.

What Fonterra has to offer:

• A wide range of career opportunities to choose from
• Awesome employee benefits including banking packages, discounts on wellbeing tools, technology, lifestyle and home office
• Various health insurance options
• Employee rewards card which offers huge discounts on fuel and can be used at over 2000 retailers across New Zealand (including Bunnings, Mitre 10 etc)
• Discounts on selected vehicles
• Join our Graduate Network Committee - attend fun events and get involved with ex and current graduates!
• Sign up to our social club and participate in different events throughout the year
• Volunteering days - whether it be tree planting or spending a morning helping out at a local school with Kick-start Breakfast, the choice is yours!

The benefits of life at Fonterra | Te ora i Fonterra

Our people and what they bring to our Co-op shape our success.

We have a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders, and passionate people, making Fonterra a great place to work.

To learn more, visit Co-operative is a place where everyone can be themselves, feel empowered to do their best, and are empowered to create goodness for generations.

Sound good to you?

Come join our whānau and let's solve for better, together.

You, me, us together.

Tātou tātou.

Required Skill Profession

Architecture, Planning & Construction