Field Asset Engineer

KiwiRail Freight; Palmerston North; Hybrid; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

Technical training

Competitive salary

Rail upgrades involvement

Safety-focused team environment

Meaningful work

Job summary

KiwiRail in New Zealand seeks a Field Asset Engineer to balance field inspections with office planning. You will assess asset condition, collect survey data, and develop maintenance plans to keep rail infrastructure safe and reliable.

You will work with Production and Asset teams, using data to prioritise work programs and identify improvements. This role offers field and office time, with a focus on safety and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience in civil/rail/infrastructure environments.
• Qualification in Engineering or Surveying.
• Strong planning skills and ability to manage your own work programme.
• Experience interpreting asset data and developing maintenance solutions.
• Surveying experience, including survey design.
• Experience using drones for surveying or asset inspections.
• Experience with asset management systems such as Maximo or SAP.
• Knowledge of transport or infrastructure asset management.

Responsibilities

• Perform engineering inspections and assess asset condition.
• Collect and analyse survey data to support decisions.
• Develop maintenance and improvement plans for safe, reliable assets.
• Balance office planning with field inspections and stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Civil infrastructure

Rail infrastructure

Planning

Surveying

Drones for surveying

Asset management systems

Stakeholder communication

Survey design

Data analysis

Education

Engineering degree

Surveying qualification

Tools

Maximo

SAP

Drone surveying tools

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

• Mix of office, field, and infrastructure inspection work

KiwiRail connects Aotearoa through safe, reliable, and sustainable rail services. For more than 150 years, we have supported communities, businesses, and regional growth across New Zealand.

Our purpose, Hononga Whaikaha, Oranga mō Aotearoa - Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand - guides how we work together. We value teamwork, looking after our people, and a commitment to safety in everything we do.

As a Field Asset Engineer, you'll be responsible for managing a section of KiwiRail's network, balancing office-based planning with hands‑on field inspections. Working closely with our Production and Asset teams, you'll undertake engineering inspections, assess asset condition, collect and analyse survey data, and develop maintenance and improvement plans that help keep our rail infrastructure safe and reliable. You'll spend time both in the field and in the office, using asset information and survey data to support engineering decisions, prioritise work programmes, and identify opportunities for infrastructure improvements.

• Experience in civil, roading, structures, rail, or infrastructure environments
• A qualification in Engineering, Surveying, or a related discipline
• Strong planning skills and the ability to manage your own work programme
• Experience interpreting asset data and developing practical maintenance solutions
• Confidence building relationships and providing technical advice to stakeholders
• Surveying experience, including survey design
• Experience using drones for surveying or asset inspections
• Experience with asset management systems such as Maximo, SAP, or similar
• Knowledge of transport, civil, or infrastructure asset managementExperience working with councils, NZTA, rail, or major infrastructure contractors

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you

• Career development and technical training
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunities to contribute to nationally significant rail upgrades
• Supportive, safety-focused team environment
• Meaningful work that helps connect New Zealanders