Senior Secondary Engineer

Jacobs; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jacobs is seeking an experienced Senior Secondary Engineer to drive secondary and protection engineering on transmission and distribution projects up to 500kV in New Zealand. You will work across the NZ/APAC region, delivering design deliverables, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and mentoring junior engineers.

You’ll apply IEC 61850 standards, contribute to client engagement, and help deliver technical excellence within a collaborative, global network.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in secondary systems, protection and control engineering within the transmission and/or distribution sector.
• Experience developing designs for high‑voltage substations and power system projects.
• Expertise in protection schemes, relay coordination studies, protection settings and fault analysis.
• Knowledge of IEC 61850 and substation control and communication systems.
• Experience producing, checking and reviewing engineering deliverables and participating in formal design reviews.
• Experience leading engineering packages, coordinating multidisciplinary stakeholders and supporting project delivery outcomes.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving and stakeholder management skills.
• A passion for mentoring and developing junior engineers

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver secondary, protection and control engineering packages across transmission and distribution projects up to 500kV.
• Develop and review protection, metering and control schemes, including relay coordination studies, protection settings and logic configurations.
• Prepare and review detailed engineering deliverables including single line diagrams, panel layouts, interface schedules, I/O lists, interlocking and inter-tripping schemes.
• Apply IEC 61850 and modern substation communication systems to project solutions.
• Act as lead engineer (or as support engineer on more complex projects), ensuring delivery to technical, schedule and budget requirements.
• Contribute to proposals, estimates and client engagement activities to support growth.

Skills

Secondary systems

Protection & control

Relay coordination

IEC 61850 knowledge

Lead engineer

Stakeholder management

Mentoring

Job description

At Jacobs, we're challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world's most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission‑critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting‑edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Jacobs' Energy & Power team is seeking an experienced Senior Secondary Engineer to join our team and help deliver some of the region's most significant transmission and distribution projects.

Working across New Zealand and the wider APAC region, you'll provide secondary and protection engineering expertise on projects up to 500kV while contributing to multidisciplinary project delivery, technical excellence, client engagement and team development. You'll have the opportunity to work alongside industry‑leading specialists across our global network, delivering innovative solutions for our clients and mentoring the next generation of engineers.

In this role, you will

• Lead and deliver secondary, protection and control engineering packages across transmission and distribution projects up to 500kV.
• Develop and review protection, metering and control schemes, including relay coordination studies, protection settings and logic configurations.
• Prepare and review detailed engineering deliverables including single line diagrams, panel layouts, interface schedules, I/O lists, interlocking and inter-tripping schemes.
• Apply IEC 61850 and modern substation communication systems to project solutions.
• Act as lead engineer (or as support engineer on more complex projects), ensuring delivery to technical, schedule and budget requirements.
• Contribute to proposals, estimates and client engagement activities to support growth.

Here's what you'll need

• Demonstrated experience in secondary systems, protection and control engineering within the transmission and/or distribution sector.
• Experience developing designs for high‑voltage substations and power system projects.
• Expertise in protection schemes, relay coordination studies, protection settings and fault analysis.
• Knowledge of IEC 61850 and substation control and communication systems.
• Experience producing, checking and reviewing engineering deliverables and participating in formal design reviews.
• Experience leading engineering packages, coordinating multidisciplinary stakeholders and supporting project delivery outcomes.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving and stakeholder management skills.
• A passion for mentoring and developing junior engineers

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits and opportunities, from well‑being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs here.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of diverse perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging. Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Our meticulously curated employee benefits support ALL employees throughout every stage of life. From paid parental leave to a lifetime financial allowance for you and your partner to access family forming Fertility & IVF treatment, adoption, and surrogacy assistance along with menopause and Low T treatment.

We are steadfast in our commitment to the wellbeing of you and your loved ones with a comprehensive suite of wellbeing resources supporting you physically, emotionally and financially. This is demonstrated in our company being recognised by WGEA for 12 consecutive years as an employer of choice for gender equality along with our industry leading GOLD employer status by the Australian Workplace Equality Index.

Cultural Support

Māori and Pasifika peoples are strongly encouraged to apply. Jacobs aims to provide cultural safety at our interviews. Māori and Pasifika people are invited to nominate a Whanau, family or cultural representative to participate on the interview panel; please let your recruiter know in your application. No matter what drives you, you'll discover a way to cultivate, nurture and achieve your goals – all at a single global company.

We value collaboration and believe that in‑person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.