Lead Network Engineer - Manufacturing Infrastructure

Halter; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Halter is seeking a Senior Network Architect to set production network strategy and standards globally, enabling secure, high‑reliability networks across countries and suppliers.

You will own the global production network strategy across factories, suppliers, and future sites, define scalable reference architecture, and lead cross‑functional teams, balancing speed, security and uptime.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in high‑reliability industrial/network environments.
• Experience across routing/switching, VLANs/IP, segmentation, firewalls, secure remote access.
• Experience scaling network infrastructure across sites and countries.
• Strong judgement balancing velocity, security, uptime, and cost.
• Excellent communicator with stakeholders across IT, security, vendors, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Own the global production network strategy across factories and suppliers.
• Define reference architecture for scalable manufacturing networks: segmentation, security controls, remote access, observability, redundancy, device onboarding, naming/IP standards, and support model.
• Set readiness gates and standards for network deployment, validation, monitoring, documentation, change control, and incident response.
• Drive cross‑functional execution for new country/site launches, capacity ramps, major supplier onboarding, high‑risk ECNs, and systemic reliability improvements.
• Make clear readiness calls on whether network capability, reliability, security, and support model are sufficient for production milestones.
• Create leverage by mentoring engineers, setting the technical bar, and building repeatable patterns that others can deploy safely.

Skills

High‑reliability networks

Technical leadership

Global network strategy

Cross‑functional collaboration

Travel 20%

Job description

About Halter

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.

At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.

We’re backed to deliver on a mission that matters by Tier 1 investors including Founders Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, BOND, DCVC, Blackbird, Promus Ventures, Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck and Icehouse ventures.

To find out more, visit our LinkedIn & Instagram.

Role Summary

Set production network strategy and standards globally, creating the operating system that lets Halter replicate secure, high-reliability manufacturing networks at speed across countries and suppliers.

What You’ll Do

• Own the global production network strategy across factories, suppliers, contract manufacturers, and future sites.
• Define the reference architecture for scalable manufacturing networks: segmentation, security controls, remote access, observability, redundancy, device onboarding, naming/IP standards, and support model.
• Set readiness gates and standards for network deployment, validation, monitoring, documentation, change control, and incident response.
• Drive cross-functional execution for new country/site launches, capacity ramps, major supplier onboarding, high-risk ECNs, and systemic reliability improvements.
• Make clear readiness calls on whether network capability, reliability, security, and support model are sufficient for production milestones.
• Create leverage by mentoring engineers, setting the technical bar, and building repeatable patterns that others can deploy safely.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven technical leadership of high-reliability industrial, manufacturing, logistics, data centre, telco, utilities, or similarly mission-critical network environments.
• Deep architecture experience across routing/switching, VLANs/IP standards, segmentation, firewalls, secure remote access, observability, redundancy, configuration management, and incident response.
• Track record scaling network infrastructure across multiple sites, countries, vendors, or operating environments, with standards and documentation that others can deploy safely.
• Strong judgement balancing velocity, security, uptime, supportability, and cost.
• Excellent communicator who can align Production Engineering, IT/Security, vendors, suppliers, and leadership around clear standards and trade-offs.
• Travel frequently as required (approximately 20%); when you’re the right person to be on site to own your change, you’re there.

Not Required But Great To Have

• Practical experience designing networks for factory infrastructure such as production lines, test stations, Linux-based test PCs, routers, gateways, connected fixtures, and supplier-operated equipment.

Join our team

Halter is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace — a place where we can each be ourselves and do the best work of our lives. Research shows that while men apply to jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the requirements, women and under-represented groups of candidates tend to only apply when they meet every requirement.

Why our team loves working at Halter

• Work that genuinely matters. Every now and again a company comes along that transforms an entire industry and leaves the world in a better place. Our team gets to be part of something truly meaningful, helping farmers improve their livelihoods, spend more time with their families, and build more sustainable operations.
• Spectacular people solving hard problems. Our culture is designed for talented people to do work that changes lives. The team is filled with diverse, kind, and driven people who push each other to do their best work. You’ll be thrown into the deep end, tackling complex challenges and building something tangible that solves real problems.
• You’ll grow here. Autonomy, mastery, and learning define how we work. You’ll have the freedom to work on interesting problems, master new skills, and continuously develop yourself, both through your role and our $1,000 personal growth fund.
• This isn’t easy, and we love that it’s hard. Working at Halter will be the most rewarding and the most challenging work of your life. We move fast, take bold bets, and work hard to reshape an entire industry. As one team member put it: "Joining Halter is a bit like strapping yourself to a rocket ship, but it's an epic journey to be a part of!"