Senior Engineer - Protection Design

• Help enable the New Zealand Transmission Grid of the future!
• Join a supportive team and enjoy varied mahi, collaboration, and learning
• Work on new-build and brown-field protection design projects end-to-end

Bring your protection design experience to the heart of the electricity sector. Dynamic work, great benefits, and professional development.

Transpower owns and operates New Zealand's National Grid; the unique High Voltage transmission network connecting areas of generation with towns and cities across New Zealand. The National Grid is connected by HVDC between our two main islands, with a large amount of renewable energy generated in the South and a growing load requirement in the North.

At the heart of the electricity sector, Transpower proactively plans for the grid of the future that will connect new renewable energy projects and enable the transition to a net-zero carbon economy. Enquiries to connect to the Grid from generators, distributors, and end-users have doubled in the past three years, so our organisation is growing, and we have an exciting pipeline of work.

Our Tactical Engineering and Estimation Group provides the engineering support and expertise to planning, investigations, and project delivery functions within Grid Development, and ensures that Transpower's objectives are met.

About the team

The Protection & Automation teams in Tactical Engineering are collectively responsible for:

• Engineering and asset management investigations, design, project support, technical specifications, and cost estimation covering high voltage electricity transmission, specifically Protection & Automation, and supporting primary systems with a capital value of $700-$800m p.a.
• Managing a range of technical controlled documents that include technical policies, design standards, standard designs, service, and purchase specifications.
• Innovations, including new equipment and alternative designs, which will be studied and implemented by the team to meet the demands of a quickly developing energy market as we move towards a more sustainable energy future. The team oversees quality, cost-effective engineering design by our consulting partners.
• Providing solutions which also consider the needs of the Substations, Transmission Lines, Asset Planning, and Operations teams.

About the Opportunity

Based in Auckland, Christchurch, or Wellington, as the Asset Owner's Engineer, you'll work on exciting projects from start to finish - supporting the initial business case, scoping the high level and detailed design (outsourced to our consulting partners), and providing commissioning support.

You'll collaborate with project managers and engineering consultants to investigate options and develop feasible solutions that enable faster grid connections to our customer facilities and to enhance the resilience and reliability of the grid.

It's varied and dynamic mahi and you'll use the full breadth of your skills and experience to:

• Help international customers looking to connect generation to the grid.
• Provide technical leadership, coaching, and mentoring to the team.
• Collaborate with other divisions on a variety of projects.
• Review and update Transpower standards.
• Review and critique protection design services provided by our engineering consultants.
• Be involved in the implementation of Digital Substations.

What will you bring?

Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, curiosity, and the desire to collaborate to build on your protection design expertise.

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

• A relevant Washington Accord Bachelor of Engineering degree (Electrical)

• 8+ years in protection and automation design, configuration, and settings (you may have worked for an engineering consultant, or in high voltage protection design in distribution or generation)
• Experience/understanding of manufacturer software platforms and settings for SEL, Siemens, GE, and MiCOM relays.
• Familiarity with engineering software and tools e.g. PowerFactory and Stationware
• Understanding of networking and communications technology, including IEC 61850 and DNP3
• Demonstrated ability to coach and mentor engineers to raise both technical and soft skills and capability.

Experience in secondary circuit design would be an advantage!

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 multifaceted experience which they love to share. 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

We would love you to help us to deliver accelerated electrification for Aotearoa, so please review the position description via our careers site https://careers.transpower.co.nz/search and apply without delay.

Role closes Sunday 8th December however applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will take place as suitable candidates are identified.

Candidates with existing eligibility to work in New Zealand will be reviewed first. Reasonable accommodation is available to enable a start date to suit your personal situation in 2025.

Job Details