Caliber Design building engineering careers

What does Caliber Design do, and how is it different from a typical engineering firm?

We provide seconded mechanical engineers to businesses across New Zealand. Our engineers are embedded into client teams (typically for three to six months) working on projects in sectors such as aerospace, agriculture, medtech, green fuels, and manufacturing.

What makes us different is our model: we’re not just consultants, we’re part of the team. Our engineers are on the ground, problem-solving and delivering where they’re needed most.

What kinds of opportunities does this create for engineers in your team?

It creates real variety. One month, someone might be working on a capital project at a food processing plant; the next, they’re helping prototype a new medical device. Our engineers build a breadth of experience fast, and they’re constantly exposed to different ways of thinking.

How do you maintain a strong sense of team and culture when your engineers are seconded out to clients?

We maintain culture by staying closely connected with our engineers while they’re seconded. Every engineer has a Team Lead who is their Caliber mentor, we hold regular online and in-person catch-ups, and we run social and learning activities that keep people plugged into the wider team. Our rotation policy means projects typically last 3–6 months, so engineers stay engaged and continue building breadth of experience. Behind the scenes, our systems ensure they can tap into the knowledge of 60+ colleagues – so even when they’re embedded in a client project, they still feel part of Caliber.

Why is Christchurch such an important base for Caliber?

I’m Christchurch born and bred and a University of Canterbury graduate, so the city has always been an important part of my journey. Christchurch has deep engineering expertise, strong links between industry and the universities, and a culture of innovation that makes it a natural place for us to grow. For engineers, it’s a city where you can build a world-class career on cutting-edge projects and still enjoy balance outside of work.

And the size of the city works in our favour: it’s big enough to support global companies, but small enough that collaboration happens naturally.

You’ve mentioned growth and learning – what kind of talent are you looking for?

We look for engineers who are curious, adaptable, and ready to take ownership. Because our people are embedded into client teams, they need to be good communicators and comfortable working independently. But they’re never alone – there’s always support from the wider Caliber network.

If someone’s eager to learn, enjoys variety, and wants to contribute to meaningful projects, this is a great environment. The diversity of projects means you’re always growing and you’re never stuck doing the same thing.

Why did Caliber sign up to the Christchurch Economic Ambition?

We signed up to the Christchurch Economic Ambition because it aligns with what we’re already doing and what we believe in. At Caliber, we’re not just focused on growing a business. We’re focused on growing capability, growing talent, and contributing to a city and economy that can compete globally. The ambition is about building a thriving, future-ready Christchurch, and that requires engineering.

Our engineers are embedded in local companies, helping design, test, and deliver machines, products, and production systems that improve productivity and sustainability. By lifting engineering capability across sectors such as aerospace, food processing, and heavy industry, we’re enabling Christchurch businesses to innovate faster, manufacture smarter, and compete globally, while creating high-value engineering careers here in the city.

Looking ahead, what does success look like for Caliber?

Our purpose is simple: to enable New Zealand engineering to deliver the best solutions in the world, and to give New Zealand engineers world-class experience along the way.

Success for us is seeing our engineers thrive, our clients succeed, and the wider industry grow. Over the next decade, we want to keep building that impact – both by scaling our team and by helping more Kiwi companies take on big, bold projects.

Find out more about the Christchurch Economic Ambition.