Vacancy details

Job Title: Shima Seiki Apex Programmer and Knitting Technician

Location: Auckland, New Zealand (Pukekohe)

Employment Type: Permanent, Full time (40 hours per week, maximum 50 hours in peak season)

Lothlorian Knitwear Limited: An immigration New Zealand accredited employer

About Lothlorian Knitwear

Lothlorian Knitwear Limited is based in Pukekohe, approximately 40 Km south of central Auckland in New Zealand. We are an established knitter of natural fibres with over 35 years of trading history. All the products in our range are produced on our own premises. We utilise the latest knitting technologies to create luxury knitwear ensuring our accessories and garments are good value and high quality. We value our natural environment and actively work to minimise our footprint – our company is proudly Toitū Enviromark Gold certified.

About the role

We’re looking for a hands-on, driven Apex Programmer and Knitting Technician to lead from the front and shape the future of our Shima integration and knitting resource. With quality as a strategic priority, this is an opportunity to drive a culture of excellence, develop high-performing styles, and build scalable, impactful programs from the ground up.

You'll play a key role in transforming our approach from reactive to proactive, owning processes, influencing cross-functional teams, and delivering meaningful site-wide results. Applicants must be able to communicate well in both written and spoken English.

What you’ll get to do

- Use the Shima Seiki Apex Software to program designs developed by the design team into robust, fast knitting programs for the creation of garments and accessories

- Programming and knitting of garments (WHOLEGARMENT knitting) and accessories on the knitting machinery within Lothlorian. A special emphasis will be on the Shima Seiki knitting machinery

- To assist with the sourcing of yarn and finishing’s required in the manufacturing of our knitwear

- To gain an understanding of the “cradle to grave” steps producing and selling Lothlorian knitwear. This may include spending some time working in the finishing area of Lothlorian to gain a true understanding of all processes

- Review of quality and technical issues and to make suggestions or rectify the issues

- To assist in the development of new ranges and the corresponding catalogues

- Travel to customers to gain an understanding of their requirements where necessary

- Travel to Japan for training at the Shima Seiki as and when required. This might be online or in person

- Fulfil the role of knitting Technician in monitoring, adjusting, maintaining or repairing of the knitting machinery. This will include daily, monthly, and annual planned maintenance

- Work collaboratively within our team environment to problem solve and assist in developing systems and processes that maximise efficiency and minimise faults

- Give training to other Lothlorian employees as they require

- Receive training to assist you maximising your input into the operations of the company

- Other duties as required

Other core functions

- Overseas travel for the purpose of learning new technology might be required from time to time

- Maintaining and overseeing the infrastructure around the knitting operations

- Other general duties associated with the efficient running of the knitting department and the company

Who you are

- Comfortable rolling up your sleeves and working with all areas of Lothlorian

- Driven, practical, and decisive - able to make sound judgments on data

- Able to influence, build relationships, and gain buy-in across teams

- Confident running machines and support the Knitroom in maintenance activities

You’ll bring these qualifications and skills

- Proficiency in Shima Seiki APEX3/4 software

- Experience programming for whole garment machines

- Understanding of knit structures

- Yarn types, gauges, and fabric behaviour in simulation

- Experience working with natural fibre yarns (preferred)

- Team-player and detail-oriented with a problem-solving mindset

A sense of humour is always appreciated in this New Zealand owned and operated family business. Pukekohe is on the Southern edge of Auckland, so we are close enough for the benefits of the big city but far enough away to have the small-town feel.

At Lothlorian Knitwear Ltd we are dedicated to fostering a workplace that values and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring every individual’s unique talent and perspective contributes to our collective success.

How to apply

In the first instance prospective candidates should email their curriculum vitae (CV) to Mario Ochoa (Operations Manager, Lothlorian Knitwear Limited) at [email protected]   

www.lothlorian.co.nz