Cloud Platform Engineer

New Zealand Institute for Earth Science Limited; Lower Hutt; On-site; NZD 109,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Avalon campus

Competitive salary package

Job summary

Earth Sciences New Zealand is seeking an experienced Cloud Platform Engineer to build secure, scalable cloud services across AWS, Azure and on‑premises. You’ll design landing zones, governance and automation, while mentoring others and driving cost optimisation.

Based at Avalon campus in Lower Hutt, you’ll collaborate with diverse teams to deliver resilient platforms and enable scientific and operational outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Qualifications

• Proven experience engineering and supporting cloud platforms across AWS and/or Azure in hybrid environments.
• Hands-on IaC, automation and DevSecOps with Terraform, Ansible and Git-based CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of cloud architecture, networking, IAM, security, observability and cost optimisation.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and continuously improve secure, resilient and scalable hybrid cloud platform services across AWS, Azure and on‑premises.
• Develop and maintain cloud landing zones, shared services, governance controls and reusable platform standards.
• Drive Infrastructure as Code, automation and DevSecOps practices using Terraform, Ansible and Git-based CI/CD pipelines.
• Partner with project, platform, science and technology teams to support cloud adoption and migrations.
• Enhance platform security, observability, reliability and FinOps cost optimisation.
• Troubleshoot complex issues, provide mentoring and contribute to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Participate in IT Operations or Cyber Security on-call roster, including incident response.

Skills

AWS/Azure

Hybrid cloud

Infrastructure as Code

Terraform

Ansible

Git CI/CD

DevSecOps

Cloud security

Observability

FinOps

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Git

Job description

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an experienced Cloud Platform Engineer who is passionate about building secure, scalable and resilient cloud platforms that enable innovation and deliver real-world impact. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the evolution of Earth Sciences New Zealand's cloud and platform engineering capability. Working across AWS, Azure and on-premises environments, you'll help design, automate and continuously improve the cloud services that support critical science, research and operational outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand. You'll be someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, and creating practical solutions that are secure, reliable, well-governed and cost-effective. Just as importantly, you'll be committed to knowledge sharing, continuous improvement and helping others succeed.

What You'll Do

• Design, build and continuously improve secure, resilient and scalable hybrid cloud platform services across AWS, Azure and on-premises environments.
• Develop and maintain our cloud landing zones, shared services, governance controls, automation frameworks and reusable platform standards that enable teams to deliver services consistently and at scale.
• Drive Infrastructure as Code, automation and DevSecOps practices using tools such as Terraform, Ansible and Git-based CI/CD pipelines.
• Partner with project, platform, science and technology teams to support cloud adoption, workload migrations and the successful delivery of new services from design through to operational readiness.
• Enhance platform security, observability, reliability and cost optimisation by implementing best practices across networking, identity, monitoring, resilience and FinOps.
• Troubleshoot complex technical issues, provide expert guidance and mentoring, and contribute to continuous improvement, knowledge sharing and operational excellence.
• Participate in the IT Operations or Cyber Security on-call roster, including incident response, problem management and service recovery.

What you'll bring

• Proven experience engineering and supporting cloud platforms, with strong expertise in AWS and/or Azure and the ability to work effectively across hybrid environments.
• Hands‑on experience with Infrastructure as Code, automation and DevSecOps practices, including tools such as Terraform, Ansible and Git‑based CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong knowledge of cloud architecture, networking, identity and access management, security, observability, resilience and cost optimisation principles.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills, with the ability to diagnose complex technical issues, manage risk and deliver practical, sustainable solutions.
• The ability to build strong relationships across diverse teams, communicate technical concepts clearly and provide trusted technical advice and guidance.
• A collaborative, continuous improvement mindset, with a passion for learning, knowledge sharing and helping others succeed.

Bonus points if you have cloud certification/s, or experience with Kubernetes, containers, scripting (Python, PowerShell or Bash), FinOps practices, or supporting scientific, research or data‑intensive environments.

We know that talented people—especially those from under‑represented or neurodiverse communities—sometimes hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement in a job description. If this role aligns with your strengths, lived experience, or interests, we'd love to hear from you and we're committed to supporting your growth.

What we offer

• Varied, challenging and meaningful work with talented colleagues in an organisation dedicated to earth science.
• A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing.
• Generous leave entitlements and employee benefits
• Flexible working options, including part‑time arrangements and flexible start and finish times. We are happy to discuss flexibility for this position during the recruitment process.
• A permanent, full‑time position (38 hours per week).
• Based at our Avalon campus in Lower Hutt.
• A salary range of $109,000 to $121,710 or more, depending on the successful candidate's skills, experience, and qualifications.

View the full position description for this role here - https://www.gns.cri.nz/careers/.

Please contact [e-mail] with any questions or queries.

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close on Sunday, 18 October 2026.

Earth Sciences New Zealand is Aotearoa New Zealand’s earth and energy science organisation. Our science supports resilient communities living in sustainable environments. We help New Zealanders understand and address climate change, find and use greener energy and better manage the impacts of natural disasters on their homes and communities. Our people make extraordinary contributions to New Zealand communities. They connect and contribute across the science system in New Zealand and around the world. We aspire to be the employer of choice in the Earth sciences sector. We achieve this by fostering a positive, collaborative culture, delivering high quality, respected science, investing in our people and providing a safe, diverse and inclusive workplace.

Find out more: ESNZ – Careers ESNZ – Website ESNZ - LinkedIn