Senior Cyber Engineer

New Zealand Government; Wellington; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

New Zealand Defence Force in Wellington seeks a Senior Cyber Engineer to lead cyber engineering and assurance for Army capabilities, ensuring secure by design, resilience, and interoperability across deployable systems.

You will design, engineer, integrate, and sustain secure capabilities, develop reference architectures and engineering patterns, conduct threat assessments and security testing, and mentor engineers while engaging with Defence partners.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in cyber engineering, cyber security, security architecture, or closely related disciplines.
• Strong knowledge of secure systems, cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and risk management practices.
• Experience working within complex technology environments.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• The ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences.
• Defence experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead cyber engineering and assurance activities to ensure Army systems are secure by design, resilient, interoperable, and fit for operational use.
• Design, engineer, integrate, and support the sustainment of secure Army capabilities, embedding security controls throughout the lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain secure reference architectures, engineering patterns, and technical standards.
• Conduct technical design reviews, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security-control validation.
• Engineer, integrate, and optimise security monitoring and provide support during incidents and outages.
• Provide specialist advice on cyber-security architectures and risk to stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Defence, government, and industry partners to ensure interoperable systems.

Skills

Cyber engineering

Security architecture

Threat & risk management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical thinking

Job description

## Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role**Mō te tūnga | About the role**Working within the Land Test Reference and Evaluation Centre (LTREC), this is a rare opportunity to play a key role in developing and maturing the New Zealand Army's cyber engineering capability.As a Senior Cyber Engineer, LTREC's lead cyber engineering specialist and a senior technical adviser across the Directorate of Land C4 portfolio. You'll provide expert technical leadership across cyber security, secure systems, systems integration, testing, and technical assurance, while helping define secure reference architectures, engineering patterns, technical standards, and standard configurations.You'll work within a unique environment, supporting deployable command, control, communications, computers capabilities and technologies rarely encountered outside Defence.As part of LTREC, you will work at the intersection of capability development, systems integration, cyber security, and technical assurance, helping Army deliver trusted, interoperable, and operationally effective capabilities throughout their lifecycle, from design and integration through to sustainment.Working alongside military and civilian stakeholders, you'll influence how cyber engineering is delivered across current and future Army capabilities, contributing to major transformation initiatives, including the Network Enabled Army Programme and the introduction of modern and emerging digital technologies.**You will:*** Lead cyber engineering and assurance activities to ensure Army systems, networks, and deployable capabilities are secure by design, resilient, interoperable, and fit for operational use.* Design, engineer, integrate, and support the sustainment of secure Army capabilities, embedding appropriate security controls throughout the system lifecycle.* Develop and maintain secure reference architectures, engineering patterns, standard configurations, and technical standards for Army capabilities.* Conduct technical design reviews, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security-control validation to identify weaknesses, verify the effectiveness of security controls, and support remediation and Certification and Accreditation activities.* Engineer, integrate, and optimise security monitoring and detection capabilities, and provide, as required, technical engineering support during cyber incidents, major system outages, remediation, recovery, and restoration activities.* Provide specialist advice on cyber-security architectures, secure systems design, engineering standards, and technical risks to support informed decision-making by capability, project, technical, and operational stakeholders.* Work with wider Defence, coalition, government, and industry partners to ensure systems are securely integrated and interoperable, representing Army in technical working groups, engineering forums, and interoperability activities.* Mentor engineers from other technical disciplines to strengthen their awareness and application of cyber-security principles, secure-by-design practices, and security requirements when developing and integrating Army capabilities.**Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and Experience**We're seeking an experienced cyber security professional who combines strong technical capability with the ability to influence, collaborate, and drive change.To be successful in this role, you'll bring:* Significant experience in cyber engineering, cyber security, security architecture, or closely related disciplines.* Strong knowledge of secure systems, cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and risk management practices.* Experience working within complex technology environments.* Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.* The ability to influence technical and non-technical audiences.* Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.While Defence experience would be advantageous, it is not essential. We are interested in candidates with strong cyber engineering expertise and the ability to transfer their skills into a unique and rewarding environment. Experience within Defence, government, or highly regulated environments would be advantageous but is not essential.**Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you**Your skills and dedication deserve recognition, and NZDF delivers with competitive pay matched to your experience. But that's just the beginning – safeguard your loved ones with a fully funded life cover of up to $300,000 and critical illness protection. Other benefits include discounted additional insurances, free will services and savings schemes for the Defence community. Get expert financial guidance and mortgage broker services. Find all our benefits and more on the Force 4 Families website.NZDF champions diversity and inclusivity, valuing every member and fuelling their success. We embrace uniqueness, understanding that diverse teams drive creativity, innovation, and excellence. With an open door to all – irrespective of gender, ethnicity, ability, age, or family dynamics – NZDF offers a flexible, empowering work environment. Join us in shaping a brighter future, where everyone thrives.**Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply**Applications close on **Wednesday 7 October 2026**.Use the links on this page where you'll be directed to the Defence Careers website.**Please Note:*** All applications must be made online, via the Defence Careers website. Each listing contains the Position Description and a Contact Us option for any queries or technical issues.* Your cover letter will be a key part of our selection process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key activities outlined in the Advert and Position Description.* Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug-screening test prior to any offer of employment being made.NZDF Employees/Members – please apply internally via the HR Toolkit; this will ensure that you are visible as an internal candidate.NZDF Contractors – please apply via the Defence Careers website.NZDF Reserves – please apply via the Defence Careers website if you cannot access the HR Toolkit.**Please Note:**To be eligible for the required level of government security clearance with the NZ Defence Force, you need to meet certain citizenship and residency criteria. Here's what you need to know:Higher Level Security Clearance* You **must** be a New Zealand Citizen for **at least** the last ten (10) years.* At minimum, **you must** hold New Zealand Permanent Residence **or** have a current New Zealand Residency Class Visa, **and** you must be a citizen of and have lived in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America or New Zealand continuously for the last ten (10) years.* To obtain this level of clearance, you **must** have a background history of fifteen (15) years that can be verified and assessed appropriately by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) to determine if you are suitable for a security clearance at this level.If you do not meet the minimum criteria, unfortunately, your application will not be accepted. We do welcome your application at a time when you will meet the requirements.## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | NZ Defence Force || Location: | Wellington - Wairarapa || Position type: | Ongoing - Full Time || Category: | Defence, corrections & security || Date listed: | 16-Sep-2026 || Salary range: | N/A || Closing date: | 07-Oct-2026 || Reference: | NZ/DF-2609033 |