Senior Project Engineer

Contact Energy; Clyde; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

KiwiSaver

Contact Shares

Home setup & wellbeing allowance

Parental leave policy

Product discounts

Job summary

Contact Energy invites a Senior Project Electrical Engineer to work client-side across the full project lifecycle—from early design through procurement, manufacturing, installation and commissioning. Based in Clyde or Christchurch, you will review technical designs, coordinate interfaces, and lead project packages on site to bring solutions to life.

You will combine technical and commercial delivery experience to manage risk, quality, schedules and budgets, while mentoring others and

Qualifications

• Relevant electrical/engineering degree or equivalent qualification.
• Appropriate professional registration.
• Substantial project experience in a complex technical environment.
• Experience moving projects through design, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Knowledge of project controls: risk, quality, scheduling, document management and handover.
• Strong communication and relationship skills to influence decisions and explain complex technical information.

Responsibilities

• Lead discrete projects and work packages and procure critical plant and equipment.
• Coordinate site activities, interfaces and contractor delivery to bring solutions to life.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Engineering Leads, contractors and operations teams.
• Mentor others across the Hydro Engineering team and share best practices.
• Support design reviews and manage risk, quality, costs and schedules.

Skills

Communication

Risk management

Project delivery

Education

Electrical engineering degree or equivalent

Professional registration

Job description

Whakatakoto te tūāpapa | Laying the foundation

At Contact, we put our energy where it matters. We’re helping build a more sustainable energyfuture for Aotearoa, and our South Island hydro schemes sit at the heart of that ambition.

Our South Island Schemes are spread across the whole island from Marlborough/Tasman in theNorth, down the West Coast, Canterbury and Clyde, Roxburgh and Waipori in Otago Operatingand investing in critical renewable generation assets requires exceptional engineering capability,and we’re delivering projects that improve safety, reliability and performance across our hydrofleet while creating enduring value for the communities we serve.

For electrical engineers, this is an opportunity to work where engineering decisions have a realworld impact. You’ll contribute to projects involving a variety of generation plant, HV and LVtransformers, circuit breakers and electrical systems, protection and control, asset renewals andcomplex multidisciplinary interfaces. Add either the Christchurch or the Central Otago lifestyle,with its lakes, mountains, trails, ski fields, wineries and welcoming communities, and you have thechance to build an exceptional career in places where life outside work is every bit as rewarding.

Job Description

Te āhua o te tūranga | The nature of the role

As our Senior Project Electrical Engineer, you’ll work client-side across the full project lifecycle,helping take complex electrical engineering projects from early design through procurement,manufacturing, installation and commissioning. Based in Clyde or Christchurch, you could bereviewing technical designs one day, working through a critical interface the next, then heading tosite to coordinate contractors and see the solution come to life. You’ll have the opportunity to leaddiscrete projects and work packages, procure critical plant and equipment, and help deliverassets that will support renewable generation for years to come.

You’ll bring together technical detail, commercial awareness and practical project deliveryexperience. That means supporting design reviews, managing risk, quality, costs and schedules,working through contract variations and making sure project controls provide a clear picture ofprogress. You’ll collaborate with Project Managers, Engineering Leads, contractors andoperational teams, while also mentoring others across the Hydro Engineering team. The mahi is varied, the assets are significant and your contribution will directly support the safe, reliableperformance of some of New Zealand’s most important generation infrastructure!.

Qualifications

Ko wai koe | About you

First and foremost, you’ll need a relevant electrical/engineering degree or equivalentqualification, along with appropriate professional registration and substantial project experiencegained in a complex technical environment. You’ll understand how projects move throughdesign, procurement, construction and commissioning, and you’ll be confident working withcritical project controls such as risk, quality, scheduling, document management and handover.Strong communication and relationship skills are also essential, as you’ll need to influencedecisions, navigate challenging conversations and make complex technical information clear to
different audiences.

An electrical engineering background is essential, particularly if you’ve worked with power
generation, high voltage infrastructure, protection and control, major plant upgrades or assetrenewal programmes. Client-side project engineering experience and knowledge of EPC,design-build or construction contracting frameworks would also be valuable, but we know greatengineers don’t always arrive through the same pathway. What matters is that you’re curious,composed under pressure and comfortable solving problems when the answer isn’t immediatelyobvious. You’ll bring people together, welcome different perspectives and take genuine pride indelivering quality outcomes. If you meet the core requirements but not every preference, tukuna
mai tō tono, we’d still love to hear from you!

Additional Information

Contact is not a place you’ll stagnate. We’re growing, evolving, and investing in our people. We also offer a bunch of other perks like free health insurance cover, boosted KiwiSaver, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail-blazing parental leave policy, twice yearly payments towards our products if you’re a Contact customer, and more!

Applications close on5pm on Friday the 2nd of October

Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand.

We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact.

Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way.
The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us.
We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy.

At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills.

Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role.