Airworthiness Engineering Lead (Chapter Lead)

Air New Zealand Limited; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 160,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff Travel discount

Standby travel access

Learning and development opportunities

FlexiLeave

Job summary

Air New Zealand Limited is seeking a Chapter Lead for Airworthiness Engineering to shape standards and build capability across the Chapter. You’ll combine deep technical expertise with people leadership to deliver high-quality outcomes, while contributing within a Squad on equal footing with other members.

You’ll foster collaboration, trust and continuous improvement, coach engineers, and partner with Product Owners to remove roadblocks and accelerate delivery in cabin interiors and related

Qualifications

• Strong subject matter expertise within airworthiness engineering.
• Experience developing methods, competencies and work standards.
• Experience collaborating across disciplines on cross-functional projects.
• Proven leadership, coaching and people-development experience.
• Clear, engaging communication and ability to simplify complex concepts.
• Collaborative mindset focused on transparency, empowerment and learning.
• Genuine passion for the specialist field and active participation in domain groups.

Responsibilities

• Shape and embed work standards and competencies across the Chapter.
• Develop and implement capability and competency frameworks for Cabin Interiors engineers.
• Collaborate with Product Owners and Tribe Leads to remove roadblocks and improve delivery.
• Coach and develop Chapter members, driving growth and progression.
• Foster knowledge-sharing and act as a thought leader in your area.
• Lead performance feedback and reviews in partnership with Squad members.
• Contribute to planning and retrospectives to enhance Chapter performance.

Skills

Airworthiness engineering

People leadership

Coaching

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Job description

Kia ora!
Shape the standards, capability and engineering expertise that help keep Air New Zealand flying safely and confidently.
As Chapter Lead for Airworthiness Engineering, you’ll combine deep subject matter expertise with people leadership to strengthen capability across your Chapter. You’ll create an environment where talented people can grow, share knowledge and deliver high-quality outcomes, while contributing directly within a Squad on the same terms as other Squad members.
At Air New Zealand, engineering expertise plays a critical role in connecting friends and whānau across Aotearoa and the world. You’ll have the opportunity to develop standards and specialist capability to help our people do their best work in an environment built on collaboration, trust and continuous improvement.
How you’ll make an impact

• Shape and embed clear work standards and competencies across the Chapter, building consistency in how airworthiness engineering capability is developed and applied
• Develop and implement a clear capability and competency framework for Cabin Interiors engineers
• Work closely with Product Owners, Tribe Leads and other leaders to resolve roadblocks, improve team performance and support delivery
• Coach and develop Chapter members, strengthening common capabilities and creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth
• Build effective knowledge-sharing practices across the Chapter so specialist expertise can be shared, developed and applied
• Act as a thought leader in your area of expertise, guiding, motivating and inspiring others while contributing directly to Squad outcomes
• Lead feedback and performance reviews for Chapter members, identifying development and progression opportunities in partnership with relevant Squad members
• Contribute to QBR planning, Tribe Retrospectives and Squad performance discussions with Product Owners and Agile Coaches, helping remove roadblocks and improve performance.

What you’ll bring
You’ll be widely recognised as a specialist within your subject area and bring the credibility to develop people, standards and ways of working.
Ideally, you’ll bring:

• Strong subject matter expertise within the Chapter’s area of airworthiness engineering
• Experience developing and implementing methods, competencies and work standards
• Experience contributing to cross-functional projects and working collaboratively across different disciplines
• Proven experience leading, coaching and developing people.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to make complex concepts and techniques engaging and accessible
• A collaborative mindset grounded in transparency, empowerment and trust, with the ability to create an atmosphere of inclusion, curiosity and continuous learning
• A genuine passion for your specialist field and a willingness to participate in and contribute to relevant domain activities and groups.

We know great talent comes in many forms. If you bring strong experience and a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you.
Why join Air New Zealand?
We want our people to live their best lives and access benefits that support their lives outside work. As an eligible permanent New Zealand-based employee, benefits include discounted Staff Travel with Air New Zealand, access to standby travel on many international airlines, learning and development opportunities, FlexiLeave to purchase up to four additional weeks of leave each year, and a range of wellbeing support and work perks. Terms and conditions apply.
Ready for take-off?
Cabin Interiors is a highly visible and important part of the aircraft product, but it also sits within a complex engineering, regulatory and operational environment.
If you’re excited by the opportunity to combine specialist airworthiness engineering expertise with coaching, capability building and hands-on Squad contribution, this is your chance to make an impact across Air New Zealand. Bring your expertise, curiosity and commitment to helping others succeed, and apply today.
Applications close Monday 28th September 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."