Principal Engineer – Electrical

• Provide, grow, and guide a high level of substations engineering expertise
• Ensure strategic objectives are met & help enable new grid connections
• Enjoy intellectual challenge at the heart of the electricity sector

Provide substations engineering technical leadership internally and externally, grow capability, and lead exciting future focused projects!

Our core purpose is to empower the energy future for New Zealand - a future that delivers a net-zero carbon economy and a reliable and secure electricity system. Our transmission network includes over 12,000km of transmission lines, 25,000 transmission towers, and 170 substations - assets that are worth more than $5 billion and provide direct benefit to Aotearoa.

Our Grid Development division is responsible for identifying and conveying our future Grid needs up to 30 plus years ahead and develops transmission asset management strategies to meet our strategic objectives as outlined in Transmission Tomorrow and Whakamana i Te Mauri Hiko.

Enquiries to connect to the Grid from generators, distributors, and end-users have doubled in the past three years and these projects are cheaper and faster to build than ever before. We are growing and scaling to ensure we can respond by offering connections faster and more efficiently.

About the team

Our Tactical Engineering Substations team in Grid Development provides critical project engineering services to ensure the nation's power needs are met efficiently and cost-effectively. They manage engineering investigations, design, project support, and cost estimation for high-voltage transmission substations and secondary systems, with projects valued at $300-$400 million annually.

The teams also oversee technical documents, develops design standards, and implements innovative solutions to support a sustainable energy future, while collaborating with Protection and Automation, Transmission Lines, Asset Planning, and Operations teams.

About the Opportunity

Based in your preferred location of Wellington, Auckland (our Ōtara office), or Christchurch, this role sits within the collaborative Substations Leadership Team, where you'll provide technical leadership across all new grid connections and customer funded substations work. As a Principal Engineer, your day-to-day will involve reviewing the Basis of Design, project scope, and detailed designs to ensure value-driven engineering outcomes.

You'll tackle complex challenges, providing solutions and guidance while also mentoring and building the capability of Engineers of all levels, so they can confidently take on these tasks in the future.

A key part of this role will be contributing to the development of standards and designs, shaping the engineering practices for the years to come. This is an exceptional opportunity to fully utilise your expertise in primary assets while training and inspiring the next generation of engineers, from interns and graduate engineers to more experienced engineering professionals.

What will you bring?

A strategic professional, you are passionate about feasible engineering solutions, capability building, and you are keen to make a significant impact on New Zealand's energy future.

To be shortlisted, your CV and cover letter will clearly demonstrate:

• An engineering degree (ideally electrical) and registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer or an internal equivalent.
• 15 years or more significant experience electrical engineering (this could include asset management) and at least five years in Substation engineering.
• Well-developed communication and influencing skills to communicate complex engineering concepts in a manner that can be understood by a wider audience with differing skills/abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to formally and informally mentor, coach, and guide senior engineers, engineers, graduates, and interns to ensure knowledge is transferred and retained in the organisation.
• Experience providing expert advice to the organisation/clients, Executive Leadership Teams, and external parties.

Tactical engineering at Transpower operates like an internal consultant or front-end engineering department, so if your background includes engineering consultancy, distribution, or transmission with good exposure to engineering design, planning, and execution, you'll be able to have impact quickly.

Join us at Transpower

Aotearoa is powered by the people who work here. Every home, every marae, every electric vehicle, every hospital relies on the electricity we manage and deliver. This is your opportunity to join us on a mission that affects all New Zealanders, every day and long into the future.

With over 28 nationalities, our people provide diverse perspectives, knowledge, and deep and varied experience which they love to share and which we celebrate. We work in the office or on-site for a minimum of three days each week, which helps us build and maintain relationships, support learning, deliver outcomes, and sustain our culture. This approach also offers staff the flexibility they need for both work and personal commitments, with adaptable daily start and finish times.

We prioritise employee wellbeing with a range of health and wellness benefits - check them out here.

Next Steps

To collaborate enterprise wide, and help deliver accelerated electrification for Aotearoa, please review the position description via our careers site https://careers.transpower.co.nz/seach and apply without delay!

Role closes Sunday 8th December, however, applications will be reviewed as they are received, and you may be contacted prior to the close date for an initial exploratory conversation to facilitate shortlisting or to arrange an interview.

A start date is available in 2025 to suit your personal circumstances.

Job Details