Validation Engineer

About the role

We're looking for a Validation Engineer to join our team and play a key role in ensuring our manufacturing facilities, equipment and processes continue to meet the highest quality and compliance standards. 

In this role, you'll support site projects, including the commissioning of new manufacturing facilities and changes to existing facilities, ensuring compliance with regulatory, customer and quality requirements. If you thrive on technical challenges and enjoy understanding how equipment, facilities and processes work together, this is your opportunity to make a real impact.

Whether you're an experienced Validation Engineer or Validation Technician, or you're looking to grow your career from a process engineering or quality systems background, this is an exciting opportunity for someone with a passion for food safety, compliance and continuous improvement.

What you’ll do

• Develop, maintain, and implement Validation Master Plans (VMPs) across our facilities, including Blending and Canning, Dryer, and other manufacturing areas.

• Develop, execute, and maintain validation documentation including Installation Qualification (IQ), Operational Qualification (OQ), Performance Qualification (PQ), Process Validation (PV), and Cleaning Validation (CV) protocols and reports.

• Evaluate test data and results to determine whether systems and processes meet defined validation acceptance criteria.

• Own and maintain validation documentation throughout the full validation lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, traceability, and audit-readiness.

• Maintain Synlait's validated state across GMP-related manufacturing facilities, systems, and associated utilities.

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve validation procedures and systems to meet regulatory, customer, and contractual GMP requirements.

• Partner closely with Manufacturing, Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Projects teams to plan and deliver validation activities on time and to the required quality standard.

• Support a culture of continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to streamline validation processes without compromising compliance.

• A degree in Chemical, Process, or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent qualification in a related discipline, is essential.

• Practical validation experience is key — this may have been gained in engineering, science, quality, or food technology roles within a regulated manufacturing environment (dairy, infant nutrition, pharmaceutical, or nutritional).

• A strong, practical understanding of validation principles, with experience supporting validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ, process, or cleaning validation) in a regulated manufacturing setting.

• Familiarity with Food Safety, GMP, and HACCP systems is beneficial.

• Excellent problem-solving ability, strong organisational skills, and keen attention to detail.

• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the ability to work collaboratively across manufacturing, quality, engineering, and projects teams.

About you

The ideal candidate may have the following skills and attributes: 

• A degree in Chemical, Process, or Mechanical Engineering, or an equivalent qualification in a related discipline, is essential.

• Practical validation experience is key — this may have been gained in engineering, science, quality, or food technology roles within a regulated manufacturing environment (dairy, infant nutrition, pharmaceutical, or nutritional).

• A strong, practical understanding of validation principles, with experience supporting validation activities (IQ/OQ/PQ, process, or cleaning validation) in a regulated manufacturing setting.

• Familiarity with Food Safety, GMP, and HACCP systems is beneficial.

• Excellent problem-solving ability, strong organisational skills, and keen attention to detail.

• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the ability to work collaboratively across manufacturing, quality, engineering, and projects teams.

About us – The Synlait Spirit 

Synlait is more than a global leader in milk nutrition – we're a purpose-led team that’s Doing Milk Differently For A Healthier World. Our Synlait Spirit guides everything we do, from how we show up each day to the impact we create together. You’ll be joining an authentic, down-to-earth team that lives the three values that underpin the Synlait Spirit. 

Be The Difference means we understand before we act – that means asking why, supporting each other to think differently, stay curious, and continuously look for smarter ways to deliver value. Whether it’s in the paddock, the plant or the boardroom, we’re driven by impact and inspired to make a meaningful difference every day.

We Move as One by working together with respect, trust and a shared commitment to doing what’s right. We collaborate across teams to deliver innovative solutions and create opportunity for those around us. 

We feed the world’s most vulnerable, including newborn babies, so we have to be Right on the Mark. That means we take accountability seriously, act with courage and focus our energy on what matters most. We combine expert farming and state of the art processing to deliver high quality nutritional products to all over the world. 

At Synlait you’ll be challenged and supported to grow. We know everyone brings something unique to the table so we’re an inclusive workplace, where diverse perspectives fuel innovation and success. 

What we offer:

• Health insurance cover & partnered with top brands for great benefits and discounts

• Excellent parental leave with our Matua policy

• B Corp^TM certified 

• Social Club membership opportunities 

What's next? Apply now!

Include your most recent CV and cover letter summarising your abilities and what you can bring to Synlait. We wish you the best of luck in your application. We encourage you to apply early as we will be reviewing applications regularly and may close the advertisement early. Together we will continue to create a workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best.

Applicants outside of New Zealand will only be considered if you have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.   

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