Senior CNC Designer

Human Dynamo Workshop is a bespoke manufacturing and design studio that makes complex, high-quality physical things. We work on everything from architectural installations to fabricated components, props, furniture, and objects that don't have a category. Our team is made up of skilled makers, designers, and technologists who take quality seriously and approach problems creatively. We believe creative individuals do their best work when they're trusted, valued for their whole selves, and surrounded by people who care about what they make. We don't say no — we find solutions.

Role Description

This is a full creative and technical pipeline role. You'll regularly take a project from brief to finished part — sometimes starting with nothing more than a concept and some 2D vectors, translating that into a fully resolved 3D CAD model, then building the toolpaths and running the machines yourself. At Human Dynamo, the design work and the manufacturing work aren't separated: the same person often does both, and that's what makes it interesting. We're a bespoke manufacturing studio. No two jobs are alike. Our CNC work spans four large routers — including a 4-axis machine — and a small 3-axis CNC mill, across a wide range of materials. You'll be toolpathing constantly, and you'll need to love that. If you're an industrial designer who grew into machining, or a machinist who grew into design, this role is built for you.

What you’ll be doing

Design:

• Take projects from brief through to fully resolved 3D CAD model — often starting from 2D vectors, sketches, or a verbal concept
• Apply design-for-manufacture thinking from the outset: material behaviour, joinery, tolerances, fixturing, and finish
• Work directly with clients and the production team to develop ideas into cuttable, buildable outcomes

CAM & Programming:

• Build toolpaths in Autodesk Fusion (Manufacturing extension) — this is central to the role and you'll be doing it daily
• Programme our 4-axis CNC router for complex multi-axis work, and contribute to expanding our multi-axis capability over time
• Select and manage tooling, speeds, feeds, and cutting strategies to optimise quality across materials

Machine Operation:

• Set up and run our CNC routers and mill with the confidence of someone who deeply understands what the machines can and can't do
• Take ownership of cut quality — know what good looks like and resolve it when it isn't

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• Manage fixturing, material handling, and safe machine operation

Team & Leadership:

• Work autonomously, managing your own time, priorities, and resources on jobs
• Support and develop technical skills in others in the workshop
• Contribute to how we do things — process improvements, smarter workflows, better outcomes

Who we’re looking for

A Senior CNC Designer at Human Dynamo is a journeyman: someone who brings specialist depth alongside the ability to turn a hand to what the job demands. We value four-dimensional thinking — the ability to plan a job end-to-end, anticipate problems before they arrive, and find elegant, efficient solutions.

You'll need:

• Strong Autodesk Fusion skills — both CAD modelling and CAM/toolpath programming
• The ability to take a design brief through to a fully resolved 3D model, ready for manufacture
• Proven hands-on experience operating CNC routers and/or mills
• A machinist's instinct: a genuine feel for machine behaviour, tooling, and what produces a great result across different materials
• Meticulous attention to cut quality and part finish
• Good communication skills — you'll work closely with clients, designers, and the production team

It's a bonus if you have:

• A background in Industrial Design, Engineering, or a related qualification (or equivalent practical experience)
• Experience with multi-axis (4-axis or 5-axis) CNC toolpathing
• Autodesk Fusion Manufacturing extension experience specifically
• Experience across a range of materials: timber, aluminium, plastics, composites, foam, and others

What we offer

• $90,000 – $100,000+ salary, depending on experience
• $10,000 relocation bonus for candidates moving from outside the Greater Wellington region
• A modern workshop with serious machines and a team that knows how to use them
• Work that's genuinely varied and technically demanding — every week is different
• A culture that values craftsmanship, creative thinking, and individual expression
• Full use of the workshop for personal projects (non-commercial)

How to apply

Send your CV and a brief note about your design and CNC experience to [email protected]. We'd love to see examples of your work — CAD models, toolpaths, finished parts, or projects you're proud of.

Applications close: 1 July 2026, though we may appoint sooner, so don't wait.

Human Dynamo Workshops is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.