Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Technician

Meridian Energy; Canterbury; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary package and incentives

Southern Cross Healthcare

Enhanced leave provisions

KiwiSaver

Employee share scheme

Wellbeing programme

Work-from-home setup allowance

Job summary

Meridian Energy is seeking a Twizel-based Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Technician to support hydro, wind, BESS and solar generation assets across New Zealand. This hands-on role involves fault diagnosis, repairs, and minor hardware upgrades, often on-site.

With current NZ electrical registration and Rockwell PLC experience, you will solve field issues, support outages, and help deliver Meridian’s automation programme across diverse assets.

Qualifications

• Current NZ electrical registration.
• Experience with Rockwell Automation PLC equipment, especially PLC5 and ControlLogix.
• Hands-on fault diagnosis and field commissioning experience.

Responsibilities

• Diagnose and repair PLC faults on site or remotely.
• Support maintenance activities including outages and testing.
• Update documentation for PLC modifications and standards.
• Ensure installations and software align with Meridian Energy standards.
• Provide PLC support for projects across hydro and wind assets.

Skills

Rockwell PLC

Fault diagnosis

NZ electrical registration

On-site work

OT networks

Tools

Rockwell Automation PLC

Job description

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Technician

• Full-time

From the tail of the fish to the tail of the waka, shines the sun

Thiswhakataukīspeaks to our journey across Aotearoa, one waka, one purpose, powered by the natural forces that sustain us. Meridian is Aotearoa’s largest renewable electricity producer, generating energy from the winds ofTāwhirimātea, the waters of Tangaroa, and the warmth of Tama-nui-te-rā.

Together, our two brands,MeridianandPowershopretail electricity to more than 400,000 homes, businesses and farms across New Zealand.Nowthat’sapretty impressivecombo!

Mōtetūranga|About the role

Meridian is looking for a Twizel‑based PLC Technician to support our hydro, wind, BESS and solar generation assets across NewZealand. This is a hands‑on role involving fault diagnosis and repair, minor modifications and hardware upgrades, and commissioning support, often working directly on site across the generation fleet.

We’re looking for someone with current NZ electrical registration and experience with Rockwell Automation PLC equipment. You’ll enjoy practical problem‑solving in the field, working across a wide range of assets and projects, and supporting the delivery of Meridian’s growing automation programme.

Āumahi| What you’ll be doing

• Diagnosing and repairing PLC faults and issues on site or remotely.
• Supporting maintenance teams withsite activities (outages, modifications, testing etc)
• Updating and maintaining documentation for PLC modifications andstandards.
• Ensuring allnew andmodifiedphysical installation and software is alignedwith Meridian Energy standards.
• ProvidingPLC support for minor and major projects across hydro and windassets.
• Knowledge of Rockwell Automation PLC equipment and systems, especially PLC5 and ControlLogix.
• Current New Zealand electrical registration.
• Experience in fault finding (including root cause investigation) and modification of physical automation installations and OT networks.
• Experience in modification and testing of Rockwell PLC logic and hardware.
• Ability to work with cross-discipline teams and communicate technical problems to non-technical individuals.
• Knowledge of hydro power generating equipment is desirable but not required.
• You’ll be excited to live in and travel around Twizel!

We value work/life balance, so our flexible work options (where possible) make things easier for you and your whānau. We also offer:

• An attractive and competitive salary packagethat’sreviewed annually, performance-incentive plus discounts fromseveralpartnerships
• Southern Cross Healthcare - Wellbeing one insurance, funded scheme for eligible employees to give you that extra peace of mind
• Enhanced leave provisions: three company paid days (over the holiday period), enhanced parentalleaveand options to buy up to 12 daysadditionalleave
• Life,traumaand income protection insurance (which we hope youwon’tneed!)
• Enhanced KiwiSaver contributions
• Access to the Meridian employee share scheme
• Excellent learning and development opportunities, we want you to be the best version of yourself and will help you get there!
• Award winning wellbeing programme that provides support whenever and wherever you need it
• Employee discounts off your power with Meridian, every bit counts
• Aone-off $400 payment to support your work from home set-up (if needed)

We’re a great place to work with plenty of opportunities and career development for those that want it. We value and live by three ‘How to Be’s’: ‘be gutsy’, working together by ‘being in the waka’ and doing the right thing by ‘being a good human’.

We embrace diversity and inclusion and ensure that everyone feels like they belong, are welcomed, feel valued, and feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We want all our people to be the best that they can be, so we make sure that there’s room for everyone to be exactly who they are, andwelcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including individuals with disabilities, diverse health needs, and those who identify as neurodiverse, because we believe our differences make us stronger. We believe that fun is good for you, and we make sure that our office vibe reflects that. We support each other and celebrate our successes.

Sustainability sits firmly in our DNA – both socially and environmentally – and we’re doing what we can to help Aotearoa reduce their carbon emissions and we’re helping support others in our generation communities to do the same.

All in all, we’re a genuinely great place to work, with meaningful work, supportive teams, and a clear purpose.

If you’ve got any questions, please email [emailprotected] . We’re committed to becoming more accessible and providing support if needed. Please get in touch if there are parts of our process you would like assistance with (process found here: meridianenergy.co.nz/careers).

Advertising closesThursday 10th September.

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