Ground & Satellite Based Navigation Radio Systems Engineer

Airways New Zealand; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An aviation services provider in Christchurch seeks a Systems Engineer to manage communication and navigation systems. Candidates should possess at least five years in systems design and demonstrate strong RF knowledge. The role includes lifecycle management of critical engineering systems, with a competitive salary and benefits package, including generous leave and superannuation contributions.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Generous superannuation scheme

Five weeks’ annual leave

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in systems design and engineering.
• Strong RF knowledge and monitoring architecture experience.
• Ability to interact with internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Take a lifecycle approach to system engineering.
• Provide escalated support using safety-by-design methodology.
• Manage communication, navigation, and surveillance assets.

Skills

System design

Systems engineering

Supplier/vendor management

Radio Communication

Python coding

Networking

Education

University qualification in a technology field

Tools

MS Office 365

SASS-C

Reliability tools

Job description

Ground & Satellite Based Navigation Radio Systems Engineer

About Airways: Our people manage New Zealand's 30 million square kms of airspace, providing air traffic control, surveillance, communication, flight inspection, mapping, and airspace design services. We work with government, regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, and the general aviation community to ensure pilots, passengers and goods reach their destination safely. We value Safety, One Airways, Excellence and Success in all that we do.

Our organisation is made up of operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporate services functions. To learn more about our people and organisational structure, check out www.airways.co.nz/about.

About the Business Unit

The Technology Group is responsible for maintaining the comprehensive network of hardware and software required to maintain safe skies across Airways’ airspace. This includes surveillance, communications and navigation systems located across the country and the hardware and software used every day by air traffic controllers to stay connected to pilots and each other. It also works with the ATS group to develop technologies to support the future aviation industry and provides day-to-day and future-focused technology support to the wider business.

About the Team

The Communications, Navigational and Surveillance (CNS) team provides national design, installation through to commissioning and escalated support functions.

Communications systems include Voice Switches, Recorders, Radio Links, HF/VHF Radios, VSATs, Telephony and Aerodrome Communications infrastructure. Navigation systems include ground-based Non-Directional Beacons, Distance Measuring Equipment, Instrument Landing Systems, VHF Omnidirectional and Ranging Systems and space-based GNSS and future Satellite Based Augmentation Systems. Surveillance Systems include Primary and Secondary Surveillance Systems, Multi-lateration Systems, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Systems, Drone Detection Systems and Remote Camera Surveillance. Other technologies managed by the team are National Supervision Control and Data Acquisition, NTP Clocks and Aerodrome Meteorological systems.

About the Role

We have a permanent full-time opportunity for a Communications, Surveillance and Navigation (CNS) Systems Engineer to join us at our Christchurch campus. Reporting to the Systems Manager, the focus of the role is to take a lifecycle approach to system engineering from requirements, design, planning, installation and commissioning. You’ll provide advice and escalated support using a safety-by-design systems methodology to our critical aeronautical communications, navigation and surveillance assets used by Airways New Zealand and our overseas clients.

For a full list of tasks and responsibilities, please refer to the position description attached to the advert on our careers site.

About You

This role is well suited to someone with a genuine passion for aviation, transport or the technology industry.

To be successful, you will hold:

• A university qualification in a technology field; Washington Accord specialising in Radio Communication and Electronics preferred.
• Five (5) plus years’ experience in systems design, systems engineering and maintenance/operations practices as well as supplier/vendor management.
• Proven success with designing and delivering complex solutions on time and to budget with quality outcomes.
• A good understanding of a wide range of technologies, and capable of understanding not only how the technology functions, but how it is used and where it fits into the business.
• Efficient user of MS Office 365, analytical tools for radio coverage (ATDI); surveillance analysis (SASS-C); reliability (Reliasoft + Reliability Centred Maintenance SAE 1011 and 1012).
• Strong RF knowledge, monitoring architecture, supporting infrastructure/managing civil contractors, systems of systems/integration, space-based technologies.
• Fundamental networking (TCP/IP, Multicast, SNMP, LINUX, PC/Servers - Virtualisation, VMWare), Python coding and systems security knowledge.
• Confidence to interact with internal and external customers.
• Eligibility and willingness to work towards becoming a Certified Professional Engineer.
• Motivation to learn and deliver at the highest quality and standard.

About Our Offering

Airways offers a competitive package inclusive of a solid base salary and a generous superannuation scheme with employer contributions of up to 11% of earnings. Additionally, we offer five weeks’ annual leave and vast learning and career progression opportunities.

Airways is a great place to work with an international reputation for innovation and success. You’ll work with experienced, talented, and dedicated engineers and technicians in the industry.

To Apply

If you are customer focused, attentive to detail and can appreciate the safety and quality requirements of the aviation industry, please submit your application (CV and Cover Letter) via the job advertisement. You must be legally eligible to work in New Zealand to be considered. The role requires successful candidate to undergo pre-employment background checks including references, drug and alcohol screening, criminal conviction and related checks.

Application closing date is Friday, 31 October 2025.

Equal Opportunity

At Airways, our people are at the heart of what we do to keep NZ skies safe. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where people feel they belong and can bring their whole self to work. We currently hold the Rainbow Tick and NQTick (neurodiversity) and are working towards Gender Tick. We make recruitment decisions based on the best candidate for the job and encourage applications from diverse candidates.