Senior Geospatial Engineer

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi; Auckland; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary & benefits

Flexible work

Cloud/geospatial tech

Collaborative culture

Career development

Five weeks leave

Insurance: Income Protection & CI

Job summary

NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi is seeking a Senior Geospatial Engineer to shape and advance geospatial capability across NZTA. You will provide senior technical leadership across enterprise geospatial platforms, services and delivery initiatives to support informed decision-making for New Zealanders.

You will design, build and support reliable, secure geospatial solutions, lead engineering activities and mentor teams while driving continuous improvement and modern DataOps practices.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering enterprise geospatial solutions.
• Experience with ArcGIS Enterprise and ESRI technologies.
• Experience with spatial databases (SQL Server).
• Experience ETL processes (FME).
• Strong communication and mentoring abilities.
• Experience in Agile delivery environments.
• Ability to translate business needs into technical outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Design, build and support geospatial solutions, integrations, data pipelines and services that are reliable, secure and fit for purpose.
• Provide senior technical leadership and assurance across programmes and projects with geospatial components.
• Lead geospatial engineering activities, coordinating delivery and ensuring successful outcomes across initiatives.
• Develop reusable components, automation and engineering patterns that improve quality, consistency and delivery speed.
• Apply modern DataOps, automation and observability practices to enhance platform reliability and operational visibility.
• Support technical governance, architectural assurance and continuous improvement across geospatial platforms and services.
• Coach and mentor engineers and delivery teams, helping grow capability and promote best practice across the organisation.
• Manage technical risks, dependencies and trade-offs while contributing to long-term platform sustainability and resilience.

Skills

ESRI Platform

Geospatial Pipelines

Agile Delivery

Mentoring

Stakeholder Engagement

DataOps

Leadership

Communication

Tools

ArcGIS Enterprise

SQL Server

FME

Job description

• Lead enterprise geospatial platforms, services and engineering practices
• Deliver reliable, secure spatial solutions that support NZTA outcomes
• Shape geospatial standards, mentor talent and drive continuous improvement

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

As Senior Geospatial Engineer, you'll play a key role in shaping and advancing geospatial capability across NZ Transport Agency | Waka Kotahi (NZTA). Working within the Chief Technology Office's Data function, you'll provide senior technical leadership across enterprise geospatial platforms, services and delivery initiatives, helping ensure geospatial technology continues to support informed decision-making and improved outcomes for New Zealanders.

You Will

• Design, build and support geospatial solutions, integrations, data pipelines and services that are reliable, secure and fit for purpose
• Provide senior technical leadership and assurance across programmes and projects with geospatial components
• Lead geospatial engineering activities, coordinating delivery and ensuring successful outcomes across initiatives
• Develop reusable components, automation and engineering patterns that improve quality, consistency and delivery speed
• Apply modern DataOps, automation and observability practices to enhance platform reliability and operational visibility
• Support technical governance, architectural assurance and continuous improvement across geospatial platforms and services
• Coach and mentor engineers and delivery teams, helping grow capability and promote best practice across the organisation
• Manage technical risks, dependencies and trade-offs while contributing to long-term platform sustainability and resilience

Ko koe tēnei | About you

You’ll be an experienced geospatial professional who combines deep technical expertise with strong relationship-building and influencing skills. You’ll be equally comfortable designing complex solutions, resolving technical challenges and working with stakeholders to translate business needs into practical outcomes. You’ll bring a continuous improvement mindset and a passion for building sustainable geospatial capability that delivers long-term value.

You Will Bring

• Extensive experience delivering enterprise geospatial solutions and web mapping applications using the ESRI platform
• Strong experience administering and supporting enterprise geospatial environments, including ArcGIS Enterprise
• Experience working with spatial databases, preferably Microsoft SQL Server
• Experience developing, maintaining and supporting ETL processes, ideally using FME
• Knowledge of software development practices, integrations and version control
• Experience working in Agile delivery environments and managing competing priorities
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
• A track record of mentoring others, sharing knowledge and contributing to technical capability uplift

Mō mātou | About Us

Te Aukaha | Digital exists to improve service offerings, support decision-making and make it easier for people to interact with NZTA. We provide modern, fit-for-purpose digital, information and technology solutions that enable our people, partners and customers to deliver better outcomes.

Within Digital, the Chief Technology Office (CTO) is a strategic business enabler responsible for delivering the digital capabilities, platforms and leadership needed to support NZTA's operational performance, regulatory responsibilities and future transport vision. The CTO ensures digital investments and services deliver measurable value while supporting efficient service delivery, improved customer experiences and long-term organisational success.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

At NZTA, you'll have the opportunity to work on enterprise-scale geospatial platforms and solutions that support critical transport services and decision-making across New Zealand while helping shape the future of geospatial capability across the organisation.

In Addition, You'll Benefit From

• A competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible working arrangements
• Opportunities to work with modern geospatial, data and cloud technologies
• A collaborative, inclusive and purpose-driven environment
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• Five weeks annual leave
• Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance for permanent employees

If you're motivated by solving complex geospatial challenges, enabling better decisions through spatial technology and helping shape NZTA's future geospatial capability, we'd like to hear from you.

Rā Katinga | Applications close

24 November 2026

For further information, email: [e-mail]

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.