Head of AI & Data Engineering

Vodafone New Zealand Limited; New Zealand; Hybrid; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible, work-from-home options

Fully subsidised health insurance (SC)

Lifestyle leave

Job summary

One New Zealand is seeking a very senior leader to head AI & Data Engineering. You’ll guide AI Solution Engineering, Data Engineering and AI/Data Platform teams, delivering scalable, secure data and AI platforms while partnering with Product, Technology, Architecture and transformation teams.

You’ll shape engineering excellence, drive reuse and cost discipline, and ensure data governance and responsible AI practices across the organization.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership experience in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Deep technical expertise across cloud and modern software engineering, including distributed systems, APIs, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure as code, SRE and observability.
• Strong understanding of modern AI engineering and architecture, including LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, orchestration, evaluation, guardrails and AI lifecycle management.
• Strong data engineering expertise, spanning data pipelines and products, batch and streaming, data quality, lineage, governed access and platform modernisation.
• Demonstrated experience taking complex technology solutions from discovery and architecture through to secure, reliable and scalable production.
• Strong commercial and engineering judgement, with the ability to balance security, privacy, Responsible AI, reliability, cost and build/buy/partner decisions.
• Ability to operate effectively between enterprise strategy and deep technical detail, translating business priorities into clear technology and engineering outcomes.
• An influential communicator and collaborator, comfortable engaging executive leaders, technical specialists and cross-functional teams to drive decisions and deliver change.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI Solution Engineering, Data Engineering and AI/Data Platform Engineering, building a high-performing, AI-native engineering capability.
• Set and continuously raise engineering standards across AI, data and software, including architecture, security, testing, CI/CD, observability and operational readiness.
• Own the technical roadmap and engineering quality of AI and data platforms, creating scalable, reusable foundations that accelerate delivery across One NZ.
• Establish effective pathways to take AI and data solutions from discovery and prototype through to secure, reliable and scalable production.
• Ensure trusted, governed and timely data through strong data engineering practices, including pipelines, data products, quality, lineage and access.
• Build and develop engineering leadership and capability, strengthening succession, performance and internal expertise while reducing dependency on external partners.
• Drive engineering efficiency and platform economics through greater reuse, self-service, effective build/buy/partner decisions and disciplined management of technology costs.
• Partner across Product, Technology, Architecture and transformation teams to remove delivery barriers and ensure clear end-to-end accountability for reliability, security, privacy and Responsible AI.

Skills

Senior leadership

Cloud engineering

Distributed systems

APIs

DevSecOps

CI/CD

Automated testing

Infrastructure as code

SRE/Observability

AI engineering

Data pipelines

Data governance

Platform modernization

Job description

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At One NZ we’re not just imagining the future, we’re building it. Our purpose? A better-connected Aotearoa New Zealand. Kia renarena te taukaea i Aotearoa New Zealand.

Our ambition? To become the most AI-enabled telco on the planet. This isn’t just about our technology, It’s aboutyou. We’re investing in our people like never before.... empowering them to grow, lead, and shape what’s next.

Through our AI School, access to world-class learning platforms, or career pathways that evolve with you, we create an environment where your curiosity thrives, and your skills accelerate.

Join us and be part of something extraordinary: connect with purpose and help redefine what’s possible.

“If you asked me, what is the greatest thing in this world, I would say it is people, it is people, it is people.”

As Head of AI & Data Engineering, you’ll lead the engineering capability that turns One New Zealand’s AI and data ambitions into secure, scalable and production-ready solutions. Leading our AI Solution Engineering, Data Engineering and AI/Data Platform Engineering teams, you’ll have end-to-end accountability for taking AI and data solutions from technical discovery and architecture through to build, production and ongoing operation.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of how One NZ builds and scales AI. You’ll set the standard for engineering excellence, develop reusable AI and data platforms, and create faster, safer pathways from idea to production.

Working alongside Product, Technology Engineering, Architecture and transformation teams, you’ll build strong internal engineering capability and ensure our people, platforms and practices enable One NZ to innovate responsibly, operate reliably and deliver AI and data solutions at scale.

Ko tō mahi – what you’ll do

• Lead AI Solution Engineering, Data Engineering and AI/Data Platform Engineering, building a high-performing, AI-native engineering capability.
• Set and continuously raise engineering standards across AI, data and software, including architecture, security, testing, CI/CD, observability and operational readiness.
• Own the technical roadmap and engineering quality of AI and data platforms, creating scalable, reusable foundations that accelerate delivery across One NZ.
• Establish effective pathways to take AI and data solutions from discovery and prototype through to secure, reliable and scalable production.
• Ensure trusted, governed and timely data through strong data engineering practices, including pipelines, data products, quality, lineage and access.
• Build and develop engineering leadership and capability, strengthening succession, performance and internal expertise while reducing dependency on external partners.
• Drive engineering efficiency and platform economics through greater reuse, self-service, effective build/buy/partner decisions and disciplined management of technology costs.
• Partner across Product, Technology, Architecture and transformation teams to remove delivery barriers and ensure clear end-to-end accountability for reliability, security, privacy and Responsible AI.

Na tōu rourou - what you’ll bring

• Proven senior leadership experience within a multidisciplinary engineering environment, with a track record of leading leaders, building high-performing teams and developing organisational capability.
• Deep technical expertise across cloud and modern software engineering, including distributed systems, APIs, DevSecOps, CI/CD, automated testing, infrastructure as code, SRE and observability.
• Strong understanding of modern AI engineering and architecture, including LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, orchestration, evaluation, guardrails and AI lifecycle management.
• Strong data engineering expertise, spanning data pipelines and products, batch and streaming, data quality, lineage, governed access and platform modernisation.
• Demonstrated experience taking complex technology solutions from discovery and architecture through to secure, reliable and scalable production.
• Strong commercial and engineering judgement, with the ability to balance security, privacy, Responsible AI, reliability, cost and build/buy/partner decisions.
• Ability to operate effectively between enterprise strategy and deep technical detail, translating business priorities into clear technology and engineering outcomes.
• An influential communicator and collaborator, comfortable engaging executive leaders, technical specialists and cross-functional teams to drive decisions and deliver change.
• One New Zealand is leading the way by ensuring you can have a truly balanced life. Most roles allow flexibility to work from home and flex your hours to enjoy work & whānau commitments.
• A fully subsidised Southern Cross health insurance cover for you and your family.
• Lifestyle leave, giving you the option to purchase an extra week or two of annual leave.
• Discounts on One New Zealand products, services and much more!

We are proudly Rainbow Tick certified and champion diversity of thought, perspective and background. Joining our whānau is more than starting a new job - it’s the beginning of a journey that will challenge and inspire you to play a role in something bigger.

We stand to uplift, to support and to elevate others.