Blueprint for success:
Lessons from a junior design engineer
Callum turned his knack for problem-solving, physics, and maths into a career where he uses all three every day.
After four years of study, he is back in the Mighty Waikato, designing machines and building his future at RML Machinery.
Like any big change, the shift from study to full-time work came with its own set of challenges. After eight short months, Callum has found his stride and has shared his career advice with the FutureForce® Team.
Check out Callum’s profile for tips on working within a team, creating work-life balance, and forming strong daily routines…
Callum Green
Junior Design Engineer
Callum’s Career Advice
“I think it’s important to be a humble learner. You need to be comfortable not knowing all the answers, but having that drive to learn and seek out the answer will set you apart.“
A chat with Callum about his role
What about being an engineer interested you?
In school, I was always good at physics, maths, and chemistry. These strengths aligned with the entry requirements to university. I am someone who likes problem-solving and working to find better ways of doing tasks and improving systems.
How did you get into this career?
I studied a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours. As I neared the end of my four-year degree, I began looking for graduate roles. I found this RML job listing on Seek and applied online. Waikato has always been an anchor point for me as I have family close by, and there are many great engineering opportunities.
I did my internship at a sheet metal design and fabrication business in Christchurch. During this internship, I learnt a lot of CAD design skills which I could apply in this role at RML.
So, what is a design engineer?
As a junior designer, I work alongside a team of senior and intermediate design engineers. I am involved in coming up with ideas and working on different parts of a design project. This team dynamic allows junior designers like myself to seek advice from those who have worked in the industry for a longer time.
As design engineers, we work to improve existing machinery, but also customise and create new designs that meet our customers’ needs. We are able to utilise principles from past designs and rework these for a new context.
What skills have you learnt?
Since coming into this role from university, I have learnt a lot of skills when it comes to collaborating with teams. Having a strong ability to take on board people’s perspectives allows me to learn from the experiences of those around me. There is no one person who knows everything in the industry; asking around the team allows you to hear more than one perspective.
In terms of technical skills, we use a software platform called SolidWorks to create 2D and 3D designs. SolidWorks is a platform we used throughout university papers and I used in my own time too. I had a good understanding of how to use this software coming into the role but have been able to expand on my skills. Additionally, we use Microsoft Office tools, such as Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook, to communicate within our team.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Understanding the complex machines, knowing where to pull information from, and what resources best suit a certain task. Another challenge for me is trying to keep everything organised to prevent getting overwhelmed.
How have you overcome this?
I have quickly learnt that going up to people at work and asking questions is the best way to understand the complex machines.
I try my best to remain organised with my work, making sure I write good notes and create checklists. This way I know what tasks need to be completed and it keeps me on track.
What opportunities can lead on from here?
The pathways from this position can go in a couple of directions. You can move up to be a senior design engineer. You become the innovators coming up with ideas for new machines.
There is also the pathway of becoming a project engineer, which involves higher-level details of a project—communicating with customers, producing an initial layout, and forming budgets.
I am still finding my footing at RML, as I have only been here eight months. I would like to apply my interest in mechatronics by developing programs to automate our work and understand our machines from an automation design perspective.
Tell us a memory where you felt you were succeeding in your role?
There was a large customer who had been hesitant to work with us in the past but has now come back with a new project. We recently sat down with them for a 60% design review to ensure we were meeting expectations. This was a full day of meetings and discussions. They were highly impressed by where the design was at. Building a strong relationship with the customer has been cool to be part of.
Callum Green
Junior Design Engineer
Tips & Advice
What kind of person makes a good engineer?
Someone who loves problem-solving and coming up with new processes. Just because it has been done before doesn’t mean it is the only way to do something.
What would be your advice for someone considering engineering?
Time management is a massive part. In university, you may find yourself juggling lectures to watch, content to learn, and projects to complete. Being able to acknowledge how you spend your time and effectively prioritise is a key skill.
What would you tell your high school self?
Take the time to figure out and understand your learning style. Identify if you prefer digital notes or handwritten, along with how you best learn new information. This will save you a lot of wasted time at university.
If someone was new to this role, what advice would you give them?
“No question is a stupid question”—no matter how stupid you may think it is, just ask it and be prepared to learn. Your team members want you to learn and will be there to help. This mindset has allowed me to progress fastest and learn effectively.
RML Machinery: Where Robots, Creativity & Big Ideas Come to Life!
If you’re into tech, machines, and solving real-world problems, RML Machinery might just be your dream workplace. Based in Hamilton, RML builds automated machinery that can be customised for industries such as FMCG and dairy – think robots and control systems that help these companies pack, move, and produce faster and smarter.
Whether you’re into electrical work, mechanical design, or just love building things with your hands, RML offers awesome career pathways like:
• Apprenticeships: Learn while you earn with hands-on training and support.
• Internships: Get stuck into real projects during a 10-week paid experience.
• Graduate Programmes: Dive deep into engineering from design to delivery, with mentoring and milestone rewards.
RML is all about freedom to learn, freedom to fail, and freedom to grow. You’ll be part of a team that’s supportive, creative, and always pushing boundaries. Plus, their products don’t just stay in New Zealand – they’re shipped all over the world!
What do you love about working at RML?
The products we design are highly complex; there are elements of mechanical, electrical, and software systems all working together at the same time. This means I can pull from the different skills I have learnt in my degree in many ways. We don’t just focus on one way of doing something, but instead are constantly looking at the bigger picture and new ways for things to be done.
Grab a Snapshot of Callum’s Career Profile
