Laboratory Technician

Road Science; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Road Science in Queenstown is seeking a Laboratory Technician for a 12-month fixed-term contract to support the Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance. You will perform testing and provide technical support for construction materials including aggregates and soils to relevant standards.

In this hands-on role you will work both in the field and in the office, generating clear reports and ensuring quality data for project teams.

Qualifications

• Full NZ Class 1 driver’s licence required.
• Experience testing civil engineering materials in lab or field.
• Ability to lift up to 20 kg.
• Strong attention to detail; proficient with MS Excel and Word.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Flexible to work nights and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Test construction aggregates and soils to standards and specs.
• Perform field testing and generate reports.
• Support Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance testing needs.
• Work with project teams to ensure quality outcomes.

Skills

NZ Class 1 license

Testing experience

Lift 20kg

MS Excel

MS Word

Communication skills

Problem solving

Night/weekend availability

Job description

About Us

At Downer we plan, create and sustain. Downer is the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand. Through trusted relationships and world leading insight we work closely with our customers to design, build and sustain assets, infrastructure, and facilities.

About the Team

Downer’s Transport & Infrastructure business manages and maintains road networks across Australia and New Zealand, with civil and commercial construction in New Zealand. We are an integrated trans-Tasman team with a leading portfolio of products and services. By sharing our capabilities and insights across our regions we achieve the best technical solutions for our customers’ challenges, and for our communities.

Job Description

Road Science is New Zealand’s leading designer and supplier of bitumen and bitumen‑based products. We operate world‑class manufacturing plants and storage facilities for bitumen, emulsions and polymer‑modified binders, along with five IANZ‑accredited civil engineering laboratories and a number of project‑specific mobile laboratories.

We have a fantastic opportunity for a motivated and technically minded individual to join our team as a Laboratory Technician on a 12‑month fixed‑term contract. If you enjoy practical, hands‑on work and have experience in construction materials testing, this could be a great opportunity for you.

Te kōwhiringa | The Opportunity

In this role, you will provide testing and technical support for the Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance (WTPA) Project. You will help ensure the quality and integrity of construction materials by testing products such as construction aggregates and soils against relevant standards and customer specifications.

There is plenty of variety in this role, with testing carried out in the field and report generation in the office. This is a great opportunity to be directly involved in the Whakatipu Transport Programme Alliance, supporting the delivery of important transport infrastructure that will improve how people move around Queenstown and provide lasting benefits for the local community.

Nga pūkenga matua | Important Skills

• A Full NZ Class 1 driver’s licence
• Previous testing experience within civil engineering, across laboratory and field environments, would be advantageous
• The ability to comfortably lift up to 20kg
• Strong attention to detail and good MS Excel and Word skills
• Excellent communication and problem‑solving skills
• Flexibility to work nights and weekends as required

You’ll be someone who can manage a range of tasks and priorities, enjoys solving problems and takes pride in delivering quality outcomes. You’ll also enjoy working closely with others and building strong relationships with the wider project team.

Ko te take ka parekareka e koe ki te mahi ki kōnei | Why you will enjoy working here

This is a great opportunity to build your technical experience with Road Science while playing an important role on a significant Queenstown infrastructure project. You’ll have the chance to take real ownership of the testing requirements onsite while working closely with the wider project teams.

You’ll Also Have The Opportunity To

• Gain valuable experience working on a significant civil infrastructure project
• Build your technical knowledge across aggregates, soils and field testing
• Gain hands‑on experience in field testing
• Work autonomously and take ownership of your day‑to‑day testing activities
• Build strong working relationships with the wider project and operational teams

Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation

Want to know more about what it is like to work at Downer? Then head to our People Site here!

We are committed to a safe working environment for everyone – all successful applicants will be required to undertake a pre‑employment drug test, medical and a Ministry of Justice check prior to starting employment. If you need support with this requirement, please talk to our team.

Please note that Downer and the WTPA project have separate annual shutdown periods. Downer employees will finish on 23 December and return on 11 January 2027, while the WTPA project shutdown runs from 19 December to 4 January 2027.

For this role, the shutdown will commence on 19 December. The anticipated return‑to‑work date is 4 January 2027; however, this is subject to business requirements and may be extended to 11 January 2027.