Are you a hands-on printing engineer who's just as happy at the lathe as you are running an envelope machine? This role uses both, and it's a rare one.

We're looking for an experienced Printing Engineer to keep our print and envelope machinery in top shape - diagnosing faults, machining and fitting replacement parts, and keeping older, dependable machines running the way they should. You'll also run our W+D 327 envelope machines and train our team to operate them.

Our machines include W+D 327 envelope machines, Heidelberg T platens and cylinders, a Brausse die cutter and a Sysco rise and fall die press. Many of the parts they need haven't been made for decades, so a big part of this job is making them yourself.

This is a genuine, ongoing full-time position based at our Bassendean facility.

To be eligible for this role, you must have unrestricted working rights in Australia (Australian/New Zealand citizen or permanent resident).

The role at a glance

- Position: Printing Engineer, full-time and ongoing
- Hours: Monday to Friday
- Salary: $80,000 per year plus superannuation
- Location: 6 Dyer Rd, Bassendean WA 6054
- Reporting to: the Company Directors

What you'll actually be doing

Print engineering, fitting and machining (around 55-60% of your week)

- Machining replacement parts - making parts for our W+D 327 envelope machines, Heidelberg T platens and cylinders, and Brausse die cutter. You'll cut, turn, bore, drill and grind metal stock and castings to fine tolerances using our drill press, grinders, welding equipment and a metal lathe
- Working from drawings and worn parts - studying manuals, drawings and specifications (or measuring up the old part) to work out the right material, method, sequence of operations and machine settings
- Fitting and assembly - fitting current and repaired parts, and rebuilding sub-assemblies such as feeders, suction and vacuum systems, gumming units, folding sections and print units
- Checking your work - using micrometers, vernier callipers, dial indicators and feeler gauges to check accuracy, clearance and fit
- Hydraulics and pneumatics - cutting, threading, bending and installing hydraulic and pneumatic pipes and lines, and keeping air, vacuum and hydraulic systems in good working order
- Fault-finding and maintenance - diagnosing faults, carrying out planned and operational maintenance, and overhauling and repairing mechanical parts and fluid power equipment
- Installing and commissioning - installing, relocating,



levelling and commissioning machinery on site, including bringing our second W+D 327 into production

Other print machinery maintenance & operation

- Setting up tooling and guides - setting guides, stops and controls on machining tools, ensuring all are aligned.
- Maintenance, troubleshooting & operation of paper guillotines – we have Polar & Schnider guillotines that need regular maintenance and operating. You’ll be trimming waste envelope paper to be turned into notepads, stepping in for our guillotine operator to trim flat sheet stock into standard and custom sizes and carefully reading the instructions to safely change a blunt blade.
- Maintenance & troubleshooting print machinery breakdowns – our vintage Heidelberg T Platens, GTP presses and other machinery will require you to regular maintain, replace parts (possibly milling replacement parts no longer available) and constantly kept safe for operators.

Envelope machine operation and training (around 40-45% of your week)

- Envelope blank cutting - die cutting envelope blanks on our Sysco rise and fall die press, ready for the envelope machines
- Machine set-up and adjustment - setting up the W+D 327 for different sizes, adjusting each section as the blanks travel through, and setting up the print heads (two colours inside, one outside)
- Production runs - our runs range from 5,000 to 50,000 envelopes, mostly replenishing our own shelf stock across many colours of high-end German and Japanese specialty stocks between 100gsm and 130gsm
- Gum know-how - making sure the right seal, back, window or special gum is used for each job
- Quality control - keeping an eye on cutting, folding, printing, gumming and any attachments so every envelope is up to standard
- Training our team - teaching our operators to set up and run the envelope machines and die press safely and confidently, and helping us capture that know-how in our machine manuals
- Production paperwork - keeping accurate records of repairs, changes and internal paperwork

What we need from you

Essential





- At least 3 years of hands-on experience setting up, adjusting, operating and maintaining sheet-fed envelope machinery. This one's non-negotiable - the operating side of this role can't be learnt on the job. W+D experience is highly regarded
- A trade qualification in mechanical engineering, fitting or machining (for example, Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade), or at least 3 years of equivalent experience as a printing engineer, fitter or machinist
- Proven ability to machine, fabricate and fit replacement parts to fine tolerances
- Hands-on experience with hydraulic and pneumatic systems
- Confidence reading technical drawings and using precision measuring instruments
- Experience training machine operators

Desirable, but not essential

- Experience with Heidelberg T platens and/or Heidelberg cylinders
- Experience with Brausse die cutting machines
- Welding experience

Beyond that, you're someone who:

- Takes pride in a well-run machine and a quality envelope
- Can work independently without someone looking over your shoulder
- Loves solving problems - mechanical, practical, whatever comes up
- Enjoys passing on what you know
- Brings a can-do attitude and doesn't take themselves too seriously
- Is looking for stability - this is a long-term role, not a stepping stone

About Peterkin

We're a family-owned Premium Paper Merchant and Luxury Printery that's been going since 1996. We import and distribute specialty papers from around the world, manufacture over 600 envelope styles we keep on our warehouse shelves and run a specialist trade print operation producing letterpress and foil work for the wedding stationery industry, corporates, designers and direct consumers.

We're growing, and we want people who want to grow with us.

The honest perks

- Monday to Friday, finishing at 4pm - every day
- Free parking right out front (or a short walk from the train)
- A genuine team who knows their craft and will have a laugh with you
- Ani the office dog, who will absolutely demand your attention at some point during the day

Ready to apply?

Apply through this listing with your resume and a short note about the envelope machines and print equipment you've worked on, and the parts you've machined. Have a look at what we create on Instagram before you do - we want people who get excited by the work.

Got questions first?

Call Jodie

Peterkin on 08-9271-9255 during office hours. We're happy to chat.

📌 Printing Engineer - Envelope & Print Machinery (Bassendean)
🏢 Peterkin Paper Group
📍 Bassendean