Aircraft Performance Engineer

Air New Zealand; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Travel benefits

FlexiLeave

Learning culture and career growth

Discounts on hotels and more

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Air New Zealand is seeking a Performance Engineer to join the Continuing Airworthiness Engineering team in Christchurch. You will use data to solve complex challenges, identify improvement opportunities and shape decisions that enhance reliability and maintenance efficiency.

You will collaborate with engineers, maintenance teams and leaders, designing dashboards and predictive models to translate insights into measurable outcomes and operational improvements.

Qualifications

• Experience in aircraft reliability engineering, maintenance planning or aviation performance analysis.
• Strong analytical skills with experience solving complex datasets.
• Practical use of AI, Python, SQL or similar tools for automation and modelling.
• Experience delivering high-quality reports and dashboards for technical and operations teams.
• Relevant qualification in Engineering, Aviation, Data Analytics or related field; predictive analytics a plus.

Responsibilities

• Analyse aircraft reliability and operational data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Lead investigations and RCA to improve availability, reliability and maintenance effectiveness.
• Develop predictive models and automations to support data-driven decisions.
• Design and present dashboards and visualisations for engineers and operations.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Maintenance and operations teams to optimise programmes and processes.
• Present recommendations to influence changes and regulatory reporting.

Skills

Aircraft reliability

Data analytics

Python

SQL

Dashboards

Communication

Education

Engineering / Aviation / Data Analytics degree

Tools

Python

SQL

Job description

Kia ora!

We're looking for a Performance Engineer to join Air New Zealand's Continuing Airworthiness Engineering team. In this role, you'll use data to solve complex engineering challenges, uncover opportunities for improvement, and help shape decisions that enhance aircraft reliability, operational performance and maintenance efficiency. Your work won't stop at identifying insights. You'll collaborate with engineers, maintenance teams and operational leaders to turn analysis into meaningful, measurable outcomes. Air New Zealand is on an accelerated journey to become the world's leading digital airline. As part of our Engineering team, you'll combine reliability engineering, data analytics and emerging technologies to improve how we maintain and operate one of the most modern fleets in the region. You'll have the opportunity to influence enterprise-wide decisions while helping deliver safe, reliable and efficient operations for our customers.

How You'll Make An Impact

• Analyse aircraft reliability and operational data to identify trends, emerging issues and opportunities to improve fleet performance
• Lead reliability investigations and root cause analysis, developing practical solutions that improve aircraft availability, operational reliability and maintenance effectiveness
• Use AI, Python and analytical tools to automate analysis, develop predictive models and create repeatable engineering solutions
• Design reports, dashboards and data visualisations that translate complex information into clear, actionable insights for technical and operational stakeholders
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance and operational teams to optimise maintenance programmes, improve processes and support informed decision making
• Present recommendations that influence change, support regulatory and OEM reporting requirements, and deliver measurable operational improvements.

What We're Looking For

• Experience in aircraft reliability engineering, maintenance engineering, maintenance planning, aviation performance analysis, or a closely related technical discipline
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience investigating complex engineering or operational issues using large or complex datasets
• Practical experience using AI, SQL, Python or similar analytical tools for automation, modelling or advanced data analysis
• Experience developing high-quality reports, dashboards and visualisations that enable informed business and engineering decisions
• A relevant qualification in Engineering, Aviation, Data Analytics or a related discipline. Experience with predictive analytics, statistical modelling or reliability engineering methodologies will be highly regarded
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to connect technical detail to operational and commercial outcomes.

Why join Air New Zealand?

We want our people to live their best lives and access great benefits that support their lives outside work.

• Generous Staff Travel benefits for you, your friends and whānau
• FlexiLeave, giving you the option to purchase up to four additional weeks of leave each year
• A strong learning culture with development opportunities that help you grow your career
• Access to a wide range of work perks, including discounts on hotels, retail, banking, insurance and more
• Health and wellbeing support, including our Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing resources and access to discounted medical cover.

Ready for take-off?

If you're motivated by solving complex engineering problems, enjoy turning data into action, and want to help shape the future of aircraft reliability through innovation and collaboration, we'd love to hear from you. Join a team where your ideas will influence how we improve performance across our fleet while contributing to the future of one of New Zealand's most iconic organisations.

Base Salary starting package of $100000-$125000 (dependent on skillset and experience) per annum.

Applications close Sunday 28th November 2026.

Additional Information

At Air New Zealand, we are proudly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and believe in creating a truly inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and thrive. Our people are our greatest asset – because while everything else we do in our operation can be replicated by our competitors, it is our people that truly set us apart. We are firm believers in celebrating the differences and diversity of thought our people bring to their roles.

Whāia te pae tawhiti kia tata. Ko te pae tata whakamaua, kia tina.

"Seek to bring distant horizons closer. Once near, seize them and make them your reality."