Senior Data Engineer: Lead Data Platform & AI Solutions

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; New Plymouth; On-site; NZD 134,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working arrangements

Life insurance

Income protection

Critical illness insurance

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to lead complex data delivery, coaching engineers and shaping engineering practices. You will design and evolve data products, pipelines and the enterprise platform to support analytics and AI across the organisation.

This permanent, full-time role can be based in any NZTA office location. You’ll work across squads, collaborate with stakeholders, and contribute to standards and patterns that lift performance and data

Qualifications

• Significant experience designing, building and operating enterprise‑scale data platforms and pipelines.
• Strong SQL and Python skills with Databricks expertise.
• Experience with modern cloud data platforms and Lakehouse patterns.
• Proven ability to deliver analytics, BI, ML and AI use cases.
• Experience applying DataOps, automation, observability and operational excellence.
• Good governance, privacy, security and compliance understanding.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and mentor others.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of enterprise data solutions for analytics and AI.
• Shape NZTA's modern data platform and engineering practices.
• Coach and mentor data engineers across squads and communities.
• Balance hands‑on delivery with technical leadership and standards.

Skills

Advanced SQL

Python

Databricks

Cloud data platforms

Lakehouse architecture

Tools

Databricks

SQL

Python

Job description

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is seeking a Senior Data Engineer to lead complex data delivery, coaching engineers and shaping engineering practices. You will design and evolve data products, pipelines and the enterprise platform to support analytics and AI across the organisation.

This permanent, full-time role can be based in any NZTA office location. You’ll work across squads, collaborate with stakeholders, and contribute to standards and patterns that lift performance and data