Introductiouan

Australia urgently needs Industrial Engineers who specialise in manufacturing optimisation, Lean practices and process improvement. Over 6,500 industrial and manufacturing engineer roles are advertised annually on SEEK and LinkedIn combined. Average salaries range from AUD 110,000 for graduates to AUD 160,000+ for experienced Lean engineers. With Industrial Engineer (ANZSCO 233511) on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List, skilled professionals gain direct access to permanent residency. This guide covers jobs, in-demand skills, and the complete migration process.

Why Australia Needs Industrial Engineers Right Now

The Australian manufacturing sector is transforming through Industry 4.0 and supply-chain resilience initiatives. Food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, automotive, defence and mining all compete for optimisation experts.

Victoria and New South Wales lead demand for continuous improvement engineers in FMCG and pharmaceuticals. Western Australia recruits heavily for mining process improvement engineers. South Australia’s defence projects (Adelaide) create hundreds of new roles each year. Employers struggle to find locals with strong Lean Six Sigma and data-analytics experience, making overseas talent highly welcome through both points-tested and employer-sponsored visas.

In-Demand Skills and Specialisations

Australian employers prioritise practical, measurable skills:

  • Bachelor or Master degree in Industrial, Manufacturing or Systems Engineering
  • Proven experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt highly valued) and Kaizen events
  • Proficiency in process mapping, value stream mapping, OEE improvement and root-cause analysis
  • Hands-on use of simulation software (Arena, FlexSim, AnyLogic) and data tools (Power BI, Minitab)
  • Knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) and warehouse optimisation

Additional advantages include project management certification, change management experience and familiarity with Australian standards (ISO 9001, ISO 14001). Graduates who completed Lean projects or internships still secure roles through structured graduate programs.

The Engineers Australia Skills Assessment Process

Every migration visa requires a positive skills assessment from Engineers Australia. Industrial Engineers normally use the Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) pathway.

You submit three career episodes that demonstrate you applied industrial engineering knowledge to optimise processes, reduce waste or improve productivity. Typical episodes cover factory layout redesign, bottleneck removal or Lean implementation projects. Processing takes 8–15 weeks (faster with priority service). A successful outcome unlocks the 189, 190, 491 and most 482 visa applications.

Available Migration Pathways in 2025

  1. Skilled Independent (189) – points-tested, no sponsor needed (current cut-off around,90–95 points)
  2. Skilled Nominated (190) – state nomination adds 5 points (Victoria, NSW and SA nominate regularly)
  3. Skilled Work Regional (491) – adds 15 points and leads to PR after three years
  4. Temporary Skill Shortage (482) visa – fastest route with a job offer (many employers sponsor)

Recent invitation rounds show Industrial Engineers invited at 90 points (189) and 80–85 points (491) offshore.

How to Find Industrial Engineer Jobs in Australia

  • Set daily alerts on SEEK and Indeed for “Industrial Engineer”, “Lean Engineer”, “Continuous Improvement Engineer” + your target city
  • Optimise your LinkedIn headline: “Industrial Engineer | Lean Six Sigma Black Belt | Open to Australia relocation”
  • Join relevant groups: “Engineers Australia Migration Desk”, “Lean Australia Network”, “Jobs for Engineers in Australia”
  • Target major employers: Visy, Amcor, Pact Group (packaging), CSL, Pfizer (pharma), BHP, Rio Tinto (mining), Toyota, Ford (automotive), Thales, BAE Systems (defence)
  • Apply to graduate programs at Orora, Asahi, Coca-Cola Amatil and BlueScope Steel

Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane currently post the highest number of openings.

Salary Expectations and Lifestyle

  • Graduate/Junior (0–3 years): AUD 90,000 – 115,000
  • Mid-level (4–8 years): AUD 120,000 – 150,000
  • Senior/Lead Lean Engineer: AUD 160,000 – 200,000+ (especially mining and defence)

Regional and fly-in-fly-out roles often include allowances, housing and bonuses that push total packages above AUD 220,000.

Conclusion

Industrial Engineers who master manufacturing optimisation and Lean methodologies enjoy outstanding demand and straightforward migration options in Australia. Start your Engineers Australia skills assessment and job applications today. High salaries, permanent residency pathways and exciting Industry 4.0 projects await you down under.