Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Phocas Software; New Zealand; Hybrid; NZD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading data analytics firm in New Zealand is seeking a skilled individual to leverage machine learning and data techniques to generate insights from customer data. You'll be part of a collaborative team dedicated to scaling innovative products and improving solutions that deliver real value. The role offers professional development time and a vibrant workplace culture.

Benefits

Professional development time

Flexible/hybrid working options

Health insurance

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience applying ML and data techniques to real-world problems.
• Ability to build scalable solutions dealing with messy, complex data.

Responsibilities

• Generate insights from customer data using machine learning.
• Help productise and scale a new data product.

Skills

Machine learning skills

Data engineering techniques

Statistical analysis

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Job description

What you’ll be doing

• Applying classic machine learning and data techniques alongside emerging AI methods to automatically generate insights from vast amounts of customer data — starting in the sales domain, with many more problem spaces to follow.
• Helping productise and scale a new product that combines Phocas’ long track record of success, deep customer knowledge, and modern data techniques to deliver measurable impact — saving customers time and helping them grow.
• Working with real-world, messy data across global customers, balancing pragmatism with innovation. You’ll thrive in a product team that values fast feedback, close collaboration with customers, and shipping products people genuinely love and use every day.

What we’re looking for

• Hands-on ML & data skills — experience applying machine learning, statistical, or data engineering techniques to real-world problems, ideally in a commercial SaaS or product context.
• Engineering mindset — ability to build scalable, reliable solutions that work with messy, complex data at production scale.
• Pragmatism with curiosity — excited about new AI/ML methods but grounded enough to ship things that work and deliver value fast.
• Growth mindset — eager to learn, adapt, and keep improving, both in your craft and as part of a team.
• Sense of urgency — bias for action and focus on outcomes; you know how to balance exploration with delivery.
• Collaboration first — a great communicator who enjoys working closely with product managers, engineers, and customers to co-create solutions, as part of an empowered team.

Why work at Phocas?

• The people – we hear it all the time: our team is the #1 reason people love working here.
• Plenty of fun and social events – including the occasional silly game and lots of food.
• 10% professional development time – every engineer gets one day per fortnight for learning.
• A sunny Sydenham office with lots of space and parking for all types of wheels.
• Southern Cross health insurance, life, TPD, and income protection cover.
• Extra paid parental leave.
• Flexible/hybrid working options.

Phocas is an Accredited Employer and typically we are strong supporters of international talent, but due to current visa settings and processing times, we can only consider applicants with current NZ working rights.

We do not currently offer a fully remote option.

Recruiters, please note: We don’t accept unsolicited agency resumes

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