Generation Technician - Operations

Contact Energy; Taupo; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Contact Energy in Taupō is seeking a Generation Technician to join the hydro team for a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role spans across generation assets, operating and maintaining high‑voltage, mechanical and rotating plant, often at remote sites, with autonomy and collaboration when issues arise.

You’ll bring a mechanical or electrical trade and hands‑on experience in power generation, especially hydro, plus fault diagnosis, safety focus and the ability to travel to Taupō sites.

Qualifications

• You’ll bring a relevant mechanical or electrical Trade Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Experience working in power generation, with some exposure to hydro generation.
• Hands-on experience maintaining and operating large-scale industrial plant and equipment.
• The ability to investigate faults, diagnose technical problems and identify practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to recognise changes in plant or equipment that may indicate an emerging issue.
• Sound judgement and a strong approach to safety, including the confidence to make decisions about whether work or plant conditions are safe.
• Reliability, initiative and the ability to work safely and effectively on your own for much of the day.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work constructively with colleagues, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or time-sensitive operational issues.
• A full New Zealand driver licence and the flexibility to travel regularly to sites in the Taupō region.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine maintenance, inspections and condition monitoring to support the safe and reliable operation of our generation assets.
• Investigate faults, diagnose plant and equipment issues, and complete or coordinate the work needed to rectify them.
• Work across mechanical, electrical, high-voltage and rotating plant and equipment.
• Operate plant and equipment in line with operational guidelines, safety rules and relevant competency requirements.
• Plan and complete scheme, asset and outage work, including approved modifications and enhancements.
• Monitor plant condition and respond to alarms, faults, defects and emergency maintenance requirements, paying close attention to changes that could indicate an emerging issue.
• Maintain accurate operational, maintenance and plant history records, including updates following changes to plant or systems.
• Work independently across our schemes while staying closely connected with your team, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or operational issues.
• Build a thorough understanding of operational requirements, environmental consents and the safety rules that apply across the schemes.
• Travel regularly between sites, including remote plant locations, as part of your day-to-day work

Skills

Mechanical trade

Electrical trade

Power generation

Hydro experience

Fault diagnosis

Safety conscious

Reliable & self-driven

Communication skills

NZ driver licence

Education

Trade Certificate (Mechanical or Electrical)

Job description

Te Tākinatanga | Our Story

At Contact, we believe home is the most important place in the world. That belief shapes everything we do, from leading the energy transition to how we power Aotearoa and care for our people and communities. We’re a power, broadband, and mobile company, but we’re also investing boldly in renewable energy and smarter, more connected ways of working (mahi). Our ambition is simple: to leave Aotearoa better than we found it. Guided by our values & behaviours, we’re a team who care deeply about the work we do, how we support one another, and the impact we have. Simply put, we touch lives to make life better.

We’re looking for a Generation Technician to join our Taupō hydro team on a 12-month fixed-term basis.

Kōrero mō te tūranga | About the role

This is a broad, practical role working across Contact’s hydro generation assets in the Taupō region. You’ll operate and maintain high-voltage, mechanical and rotating plant, building a strong understanding of the schemes and how they operate safely and reliably. There’s plenty of autonomy, with much of the work carried out independently across remote sites, alongside working closely with the wider team when breakdowns or operational issues require a coordinated response.

In this role, you will:

• Carry out routine maintenance, inspections and condition monitoring to support the safe and reliable operation of our generation assets.
• Investigate faults, diagnose plant and equipment issues, and complete or coordinate the work needed to rectify them.
• Work across mechanical, electrical, high-voltage and rotating plant and equipment.
• Operate plant and equipment in line with operational guidelines, safety rules and relevant competency requirements.
• Plan and complete scheme, asset and outage work, including approved modifications and enhancements.
• Monitor plant condition and respond to alarms, faults, defects and emergency maintenance requirements, paying close attention to changes that could indicate an emerging issue.
• Maintain accurate operational, maintenance and plant history records, including updates following changes to plant or systems.
• Work independently across our schemes while staying closely connected with your team, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or operational issues.
• Build a thorough understanding of operational requirements, environmental consents and the safety rules that apply across the schemes.
• Travel regularly between sites, including remote plant locations, as part of your day-to-day work

This is a 24-hour operational environment, and once you’ve built the required plant knowledge and completed the relevant HCTP modules, you’ll take part in the on-call roster. We expect this initial competency period to take around three months, giving you time to get to know the plant and build the knowledge you need before going on call.

Kowai koe | About You

You’ll bring a relevant mechanical or electrical trade, along with hands‑on experience in power generation and some exposure to hydro. A mechanical background would be particularly valuable for this team, although we’re also interested in electricians who bring strong mechanical capability. Experience working with large-scale industrial plant, including environments such as manufacturing or other heavy industry, will also be useful.

You’ll also bring:

• A relevant mechanical or electrical Trade Certificate or equivalent qualification.
• Experience working in power generation, with some exposure to hydro generation.
• Hands‑on experience maintaining and operating large-scale industrial plant and equipment.
• The ability to investigate faults, diagnose technical problems and identify practical solutions.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to recognise changes in plant or equipment that may indicate an emerging issue.
• Sound judgement and a strong approach to safety, including the confidence to make decisions about whether work or plant conditions are safe.
• Reliability, initiative and the ability to work safely and effectively on your own for much of the day.
• Clear communication skills and the ability to work constructively with colleagues, contractors and technical specialists, particularly when responding to breakdowns or time-sensitive operational issues.
• A full New Zealand driver licence and the flexibility to travel regularly to sites in the Taupō region.

Additional Information

This is a 12-month fixed-term role based in Taupō, with regular travel to hydro generation sites across the region. Due to the operational nature of this role, flexibility in where and when the work is performed is limited.

Contact is not a place you’ll stagnate. Even in a fixed‑term role, you’ll enjoy a generous suite of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and make life a little easier. You’ll have the flexibility to work in ways that suit you and your team, plus access to our ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment to help with your home set‑up and wellbeing. If you’re a Contact customer, you’ll also receive twice‑yearly payments toward your energy and broadband bills. You’ll even get a boosted 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution while you’re here with us! And of course, you’ll also have access to a range of additional corporate discounts that make it good to work at Contact.

Applications