Digital Graduate - Data and AI

Air New Zealand; Auckland; On-site; NZD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted travel for you and your whn

Job summary

Air New Zealand in Auckland invites you to join the ELEVATE Digital Graduate Programme, where you’ll work on digital products and platforms that touch millions of travellers each year. As a graduate, you’ll collaborate with experienced professionals, turn academic knowledge into practical solutions, and build confidence to make a real impact.

The Data and AI team will help you harness data, AI, and analytics to solve business challenges, with exposure to machine learning, data engineering, and

Qualifications

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Engineering, Engineering Science, Mathematics, Statistics or another STEM discipline with a strong foundation in data & AI.

Skills

Team collaboration

Curiosity for technology

Ambiguity handling

Education

Tertiary qualification in CS/IT/AI/ML/Data Eng/Math/Statistics

Job description

Kia ora!
ELEVATE your career with Air New Zealand

At Air New Zealand, our Digital team is transforming the way people experience travel through innovative technology and customer-focused solutions.

As a graduate, you'll be part of a team shaping the future of travel and work on digital products and platforms that support millions of travellers every year. From day one, you'll collaborate with experienced professionals, turn your academic knowledge into practical solutions, and build the skills and confidence to make a meaningful impact.

Our Team - Data and AI

As a graduate in our Data and AI team, you'll help harness the power of data and artificial intelligence to solve real business challenges. Working alongside experienced specialists, you'll build skills in AI, machine learning, data science, data engineering, and analytics while creating intelligent solutions that enable smarter decisions and shape the future of travel.

A little more about you

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Computer Science, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Data Engineering, Engineering Science, Mathematics, Statistics or another STEM discipline with a strong foundation in data & AI.
• You are in your final year of study and will complete your qualification by the end of 2026, or you graduated within the last 18 months.
• You have less than 2 years of professional experience in this area.
• Passion and curiosity for technology beyond your studies. Whether you've built personal projects, contributed to open source, explored AI tools, created an app or website, tackled cyber security challenges, or used data to solve real-world problems, we'd love to hear about what you've been working on.
• Thrive in a collaborative and fast-paced environment and enjoy working on ambiguous and fuzzy problems.
• Have the legal right to work in New Zealand in a permanent, full-time role.

Why join the Air New Zealand ELEVATE Digital Graduate Programme?

• Join New Zealand's most attractive employer and build your career with an iconic global brand
• You’ll join us as a permanent, full-time employee, with the opportunity to start in either November 2026 or February 2027. That's right, we have two graduate intake dates!
• Work on meaningful digital products that are used by millions of travellers around the world
• Opportunities to work across different teams and technologies to broaden your experience and discover where you thrive
• Accelerate your development through monthly ELEVATE days, mentorship, and hands-on experience with experienced digital professionals
• Be part of a collaborative, agile team where your ideas are valued and you'll make an impact from day one
• Enjoy great benefits, including discounted travel for you and your whānau.

What’s the hiring process?

We believe diverse perspectives build stronger teams. Our hiring process is designed to help you get to know us, ask questions, and feel confident you're making the right decision for your career.

Step 1: Apply online, 10 to 23 August

Submit your online application and tell us about yourself, your studies, and why you're excited to join our Digital Graduate Programme.

Step 2: Video introduction, early to mid-September

You’ll be invited to complete a self-recorded video introduction from the comfort of your own home. This is your chance to showcase your personality, share what motivates you, and let your authentic self shine as we get to know you beyond your application.

Step 3: Graduate day, late September

Join us for a day at our Auckland office, where you'll meet Air New Zealanders, take part in individual kōrero, and collaborate in a group activity. It's your opportunity to showcase your skills, share your experiences, and get a feel for what it's like to be part of our Digital team.

Step 4: Chemistry chat, late September

We want to make sure you feel comfortable with your decision, so you’ll have a final kōrero with your potential leader, to learn more about what your day‑to‑day will be like.

Step 5: Vetting & offer, early October

Congratulations! If you're successful, we'll complete the final pre-employment checks before extending your formal offer. We'll guide you every step of the way, so you'll be ready to kick start your graduate journey with Air New Zealand.

Ready to Take Off?

Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 23 August 2026.

If you’re available to start full-time in November 2026 or February 2027, apply now!

Please note, this role is based in Auckland. If you’re outside Auckland, you’ll need to travel for the Graduate Day in late September and relocate by the official start date.

Your journey starts here - apply today!

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 our roles. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those with a disability, additional health and mental health needs, and/or are neurodiverse to apply for our roles.

If you have encountered any accessibility barriers and require further information or reasonable accommodations to our recruitment process, please reach out to the recruiter listed on this job advert so they are able to support you to freely participate equitably in our recruitment and selection process.

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."