Production or Plant Engineer

A production or plant engineer designs, optimises, and oversees manufacturing or processing systems in industrial facilities. They apply mechanical, chemical, or electrical engineering principles to improve production efficiency, safety, and product quality in Australian manufacturing plants, refineries, food processing facilities, or utilities. The role involves troubleshooting equipment failures, implementing process improvements, and ensuring compliance with relevant Australian standards and workplace safety legislation.

Design or modify production processes and equipment layouts using CAD software and engineering principles to increase throughput or reduce waste. Conduct feasibility studies and cost-benefit analyses for capital equipment purchases or process upgrades. Monitor production data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify bottlenecks and recommend efficiency improvements. Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions and failures, performing root cause analysis and specifying repairs or replacements. Ensure production systems comply with AS/NZS standards, Australian Safety and Compensation Council guidelines, and relevant industry-specific regulations. Liaise with maintenance teams to schedule preventative maintenance programmes and reduce unplanned downtime. Develop and review operating procedures and work instructions for plant operators and technicians. Conduct risk assessments for new processes or equipment modifications under Safe Work Australia framework requirements.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need a bachelor's degree in engineering to get your foot in the door, which takes years if you don't have one already. Once you're in, you're often on-call for equipment breakdowns at odd hours, including nights and weekends. The work is repetitive problem-solving rather than creative design, and automation is slowly replacing simpler production roles.

Most roles are on-site at plants, so remote work is rare. Manufacturing has declined in Australia, so competition is tighter than it was a decade ago.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2335, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• ERP and Inventory Systemscore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Process Improvement Identificationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Adjust engineering designs
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Microsoft Office Suite Proficiency
• Negotiation
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Reporting and Analytics
• Supplier Communication
• Team Collaboration

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Production or Plant Engineer workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026