Lead Substation Engineer

Aurecon Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Job summary

Aurecon Group is seeking a Lead Electrical Engineer - Substations to advance major Transmission and Distribution projects across New Zealand and Australia. You will lead HV substation design, mentor teams, and contribute to technical delivery across multiple sites in NZ and AU.

Based in Auckland, Wellington, or Hamilton, you will engage with clients and internal teams, travel to sites as needed, and help shape our Energy & Industrial capabilities for long-term programs.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in transmission and distribution substation design.
• Strong knowledge of NZ and/or Australian utility standards and practices.
• Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary design teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of HV substation primary, cable and earthing systems from concept through to detailed design.
• Provide technical leadership across projects in NZ and Australia.
• Prepare design reports, studies, proposals and budgets for complex projects.
• Build relationships with clients, contractors and internal teams to deliver outcomes.
• Mentor engineers and designers and support project planning and resourcing.

Skills

12+ years experience

Technical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Electrical or Power Systems Engineering degree

Job description

Lead Electrical Engineer- Substations As electrical energy industry undergoing transformational changes across Australia and New Zealand due to growing renewable generations/ infrastructure upgrades, our Transmission and Distribution team is delivering major substation programmes to support this transition. With significant work secured and further projects ahead, we’re looking for a Lead Electrical Engineer – Substations to help deliver this work and play an important role in the continued growth of our team. At Aurecon, we are optimistic about the future. We are thinkers, solvers, and collaborators who work with our clients to deliver the infrastructure and assets that strengthen communities and create a sustainable future.

What you’ll do

As a Lead Electrical Engineer- Substations in our Energy & Industrial team based in either our Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington or Kirikiriroa Hamilton offices, you’ll contribute to you’ll contribute to major Transmission and Distribution projects across New Zealand and Australia. You’ll work with Transmission and Distribution and energy clients across voltage levels from 11kV to 330kV, supporting the upgrade of existing substation infrastructure as the energy landscape evolves. This is primarily a technical design and delivery role, with opportunities to lead people, influence our technical capability and contribute to winning future work.

• Lead the design and delivery of HV substation primary, cable and earthing systems from concept through to detailed design
• Deliver technical leadership across multidisciplinary transmission and distribution projects in New Zealand and Australia
• Prepare design reports, power system studies, proposals and budget estimates for complex projects
• Build strong relationships with clients, contractors and internal teams to deliver successful project outcomes
• Mentor and guide engineers and designers while supporting project planning, resourcing and programme delivery
• Contribute to shaping our technical delivery approach and supporting the continued growth of our Energy & Industrial team

Many of these projects will span 5–10 years, offering the opportunity to be part of long-term programmes of work, see projects through their full lifecycle and build lasting relationships with clients and project teams.

What you’ll bring

• Relevant qualifications in Electrical or Power Systems Engineering
• 12+ years' experience in transmission and distribution substation design
• Strong knowledge of New Zealand and/or Australian utility standards, codes and industry practices
• Demonstrated experience delivering projects across the full lifecycle, from planning and concept design through to construction support and commissioning
• Strong communication, collaboration and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to provide technical leadership and challenge assumptions constructively
• CPEng Registration is an added advantage

Why this opportunity?

We believe your career should be a rewarding adventure. This is an exciting time to join a team entering a major growth phase. You’ll have the opportunity to shape how we deliver our work, influence our technical capability and develop your own career as the team and project portfolio grow. Flexibility is a genuine part of how we work, and we encourage you to work from where you’re most effective, with travel to client and project sites when needed. This role won’t be limited to an office environment and will provide opportunities to engage directly with clients and projects across New Zealand and Australia. Relocation support is available for the right candidate looking to move to Auckland, Wellington or Hamilton. Recognised by the AFR as a Best Place to Work in 2026,we embrace diverse perspectives, giving you the opportunity to make a real impact. Curious about what else Aurecon has to offer? Explore our benefits and see how we support our people both at work and beyond.

Who we are

We are an engineering consultancy with more than 6,000 people across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and Asia. We believe the world needs people who can engineer possibilities; people who can create infrastructure that makes life better for people and the planet. That is why we are here – to bring ideas to life, the Aurecon way.

Ready for your next adventure? Our hiring decisions are made by people, not AI. We’re most interested in your individual thinking and experiences—so please ensure your application reflects your authentic perspective.

Tewhakahaereingāwhakaaro |Breathing life into our ideas, thoughts, views Kiamāia, kia kaha, mahitahi |Be bold, be strong, work as one

We’ve re‑imagined engineering. Aurecon is an engineering and infrastructure advisory company, but not as you know it! Think engineering. Think again. Find out more here.