Hydro Generation Technician (Mechanical / Electrical)

Contact Energy Ltd; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working where possible

Strong health and wellbeing support

KiwiSaver contributions

Learning through Contact University

Wellbeing payments

Job summary

Contact Energy is seeking a Generation Technician, Operations at the Waipori Power Scheme near Dunedin. You will help keep the scheme running safely and efficiently, performing inspections, maintenance, fault investigations, and outage support while maintaining detailed records.

You will operate generation and HV equipment, apply safe work practices, and collaborate with a capable hydro team to maintain plant availability. A trade background and strong safety mindset are essential.

Qualifications

• Trade certificate or equivalent qualification is a must‑have.
• Experience maintaining equipment and systems in power generation or heavy industrial environments.
• Ability to investigate plant problems and apply safe working practices.
• Strong safety mindset and ability to work well within a team.

Responsibilities

• Perform inspections and routine maintenance on generation equipment.
• Investigate plant faults and respond to alarms.
• Assist planning and delivery of outages and major maintenance.
• Monitor plant condition and document maintenance activities.
• Maintain accurate operation and maintenance records and support safety/compliance.
• Contribute ideas to improve plant performance and reliability.

Skills

Problem solving

Safety consciousness

Teamwork

Hands-on

Education

Trade certificate or equivalent

Job description

Company Description

Whakatakoto te tūāpapa | Laying the foundation

At Contact Energy, we put our energy where it matters. We’re helping build a more sustainable energy future for Aotearoa, and our hydro schemes play an important part in that mahi. We’re proud of the people who keep our generation assets operating safely and reliably, combining hands-on expertise, smart thinking and genuine care for one another and the communities we serve.

Set among the steep, rocky landscape of Otago, the Waipori Power Scheme has been generating electricity for more than a century. Made up of four power stations along the Waipori River, the scheme offers a unique working environment where engineering history, renewable generation and practical problem solving come together. This is your opportunity to help care for an important part of New Zealand’s electricity system while building your career in a team that knows its plant, backs each other and takes pride in doing the job well.

Job Description

Te āhua o te tūranga | The nature of the role

As a Generation Technician, Operations, you’ll help keep the Waipori Power Scheme running safely, reliably and efficiently. One day you might be completing inspections and routine maintenance, the next you could be investigating a plant fault, responding to an alarm or helping plan and deliver an outage. You’ll monitor plant condition, identify defects and use your practical judgement to resolve problems or recommend improvements.

This is hands-on mahi with real responsibility. You’ll operate generation and high-voltage equipment, provide manual backup to automated systems when required and respond to maintenance issues that could affect plant availability. You’ll also keep accurate operational and maintenance records, support compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements, and contribute ideas that improve plant performance over the long term. During adverse weather or emergencies, you may share responsibility for maintaining an onsite presence, working alongside a capable hydro team that looks out for one another and gets stuck in when it matters.

Qualifications

Ko wai koe | About you

You’re someone who enjoys understanding how plant and equipment work, finding the cause of a problem and helping put things right. Safety is never an afterthought for you, it shapes how you plan, communicate and carry out every task. You’ll bring integrity, sound judgement and a practical mindset, along with the ability to build trusted relationships and explain technical information clearly to colleagues and other stakeholders.

A Trade Certificate or equivalent qualification is a must‑have, along with a trade or operational background and solid experience maintaining equipment and systems. You’ll also need confidence investigating plant problems, applying safe working practices and contributing positively within a team. Experience in power generation or another heavy industrial process environment would be highly valuable, as would exposure to condition monitoring, systematic maintenance strategies, plant operations, inventory management or contract supervision. Knowledge of mechanical plant, rotating equipment, electrical systems, protection and control, or relevant plant competency certificates would be welcome, but you do not need to bring everything on day one. If you have the core trade experience, a strong safety mindset and the curiosity to keep learning, tukuna mai tō tono, we’d love to kōrero.

Additional Information

• flexible working where possible
• strong health and wellbeing support
• access to confidential professional therapy for you and your whānau
• free flu vaccinations
• skin checks
• onsite health support
• learning through Contact University
• KiwiSaver contributions
• wellbeing payments to support your home setup
• help with energy and broadband costs if you’re a Contact customer
• access to discounts and free financial advice
• community leave
• partnerships across Aotearoa
• flexible working arrangements
• employee network groups
• market-leading parental leave policy

We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.

Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero.

Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers.