Senior Technology Test Specialist

Airways New Zealand; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

Flexible working

Passionate colleagues

Job summary

Airways New Zealand in Christchurch seeks a Senior Technology Test Specialist to provide specialist expertise in network and software testing, lead testing in complex projects, and ensure quality and safety of technology changes.

You will work autonomously, report to Technology Test Team Lead, collaborate with engineers, project teams and stakeholders, contribute to testing framework improvements and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in testing, QA or test management in complex environments.
• Strong knowledge of testing principles, methodologies and industry practices.
• Experience across full testing lifecycle including planning, analysis, design, execution, reporting and closure.
• Ability to lead testing within complex projects with multiple workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate testing activities across software, hardware and networking projects.
• Apply risk-based testing to inform quality decisions and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and maintain testing frameworks and best practices.
• Collaborate with engineers, project teams, and stakeholders to ensure requirements are met.

Skills

Testing lifecycle

Test design

Test planning

Test execution

Risk-based testing

Stakeholder management

Automation frameworks

Systems engineering basics

Aviation testing domain

Regulatory compliance awareness

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

Jira

Xray

Zephyr

QMetry

Azure DevOps

Job description

• Join N Z’s sole Air Navigation Services Provider
  
• SOE with an international reputation for innovation and success
  
• 5 weeks annual leave , flexible working, and passionate colleagues!

About Airways

Our people manage New Zealand's 30 million square kms of airspace, providing air traffic control, surveillance, communication, flight inspection, mapping, and airspace design services. We work with government, regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, and the general aviation community to ensure pilots, passengers and goods reach their destination - safely. At Airways, our values underpin all that we do.We value Safety, One Airways , Excellence and Success in all that we do. Our organisation is made up of operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporate services functions. Our team members are located in offices , workshops, Air Traffic Control Towers and surveillance centres across Aotearoa.

About the Team

They are also responsible for designing, deploying, and maintaining the infrastructure that enables Airways to deliver its Air Traffic Management (ATM) services nationally and our Pacific FIR. Airways technical assets are spread widely across the country and form a resilient mission critical infrastructure of national significance. Systems are often located in areas that are remote.

About the Role

Join our Christchurch campus in this newly created, permanent, full-time Senior Technology Test Specialist role. You ' ll provide specialist expertise in both network and software testing to inform quality decisions and support the safe delivery of technology change.

You’ll work autonomously, reporting to the Technology Test Team Lead and collaborating with engineers, project teams, user representatives and subject matter experts across software, hardware and networking projects. You’ll identify quality risk s ; design, plan, coordinate and carry out testing tailored to project risks and objectives - helping ensure solutions meet requirements and are fit for operational use.

You’ll lead and coordinate testing within complex projects, including those that integrate multiple workstreams, addressing dependencies, system interfaces and end-to-end outcomes.

Through risk-based testing, requirements traceability and evidence-based reporting, you will support project delivery, regulatory compliance and ongoing assurance of Airways’ safety- and mission-critical systems. You ’ l l also work with our regulator, contributing to the reliability, resilience and safety of our operations.

You’ll also contribute to improving our testing framework and practices, helping teams apply consistent, practical and risk-based approaches.

For full details of the tasks and responsibilities, please see the position description attached to this advert on our careers site.

About You

You ’ l l bring at least 10 years’ experience in testing, quality assurance or test management, with a strong understanding of testing principles, methodologies and industry good practice. You ’ ll have worked across teams and with a range of stakeholders in complex environments, supporting both day-to-day operations and project delivery.

Additionally , you must have :

• A relevant tertiary qualification.
• Experience across the full testing lifecycle , including planning, analysis, design, execution, reporting and closure, and leading and coordinating testing within complex projects or programmes.
• Experience in using test management and defect management tools – Jira and popular test management plug‑ins (Xray, Zephyr, QMetry ); Azure DevOps; etc.
• Experience managing testing deliverables, stakeholder relationships, risks, issues and dependencies.
• A sound understanding of risk-based testing, requirements traceability and defect management.
• The ability to build and maintain relationships across multidisciplinary teams and work with business and technical stakeholders.
• The ability to assess issues in their wider context, draw conclusions and make recom me ndations .
• The ability to interpret complex information and data accurately and communicate it in ways that meet different stakeholders’ needs.
  
• Experience creating test automation frameworks.
• Understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking protocols.
• Experience automating tests on cyber-physical systems.
• Experience leading or implementing performance testing.
• Knowledge of systems engineering lifecycle processes.
• Knowledge of the aviation industry, particularly testing in an aviation environment.
  

Please note that you must be legally eligible to work in New Zealand to be considered.

This role will require the successful candidate to undergo pre‑employment background checks including references, drug and alcohol screening, criminal conviction and related checks.

At Airways, our people are at the heart of what we do to keep NZ skies safe. We are committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where people feel they belong and can bring their whole self to work. We currently hold the Rainbow Tick and NQTick (neurodiversity) and are working towards Gender Tick. We make our recruitment decisions based on the best candidate for the job and therefore encourage applications from diverse candidates.