Protection Design Engineer - Senior / Principal

What's On Offer

• A competitive total fixed remuneration package benchmarked at the upper quartile of the NZ electrical engineering market, reviewed annually
• The chance to work on technically demanding, high-profile infrastructure projects; Transpower connection works, EDB capital programmes, and generation connection studies that genuinely shape New Zealand's energy future
• A principal-level role with real autonomy: you will lead projects, make decisions, and be trusted to deliver without layers of bureaucracy getting in the way
• A collaborative, values-led team that genuinely looks after each other, embraces diverse perspectives, and takes pride in doing the right thing
• Investment in your professional development: a culture that supports upskilling, encourages innovation, and recognises great work
• A strong health, safety, and wellbeing framework: where safety is not a compliance exercise but a core value embedded at every level of the business
• An employee assistance programme and a team culture that recognises you are a whole person with a life outside of work

  New Zealand - The Lifestyle Advantage

• A country consistently ranked among the world's most liveable, with outstanding natural environment, low crime, and excellent public services
• Christchurch specifically offers mountains, coast, and open space on your doorstep:  ski fields less than 90 minutes away, world-class cycling and walking, and a city that has genuinely reinvented itself over the past decade
• A lower cost of living than London, Sydney, or Auckland — your salary goes further, and the commute is a fraction of what most UK engineers are used to
• A stable, well-regarded energy sector with long-term infrastructure investment and genuine engineering career depth

The Opportunity
Our client is a specialist high voltage engineering consultancy with a strong reputation across New Zealand's transmission and distribution network. This role sits at the technical centre of their secondary design practice — leading protection and secondary systems design for Transpower and EDB connection projects. If you have deep experience in HV substation protection and secondary design, ideally with direct Transpower exposure, this is a compelling step in your career.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading protection and secondary design for high voltage substations and distribution network connections
• Project scoping, specification, quoting, and end-to-end delivery management
• Engineering secondary, control, and protection design solutions for distribution aspects of the power system
• Authoring R&I diagrams, relay setting calculations, and detailed design documentation
• Providing technical guidance and mentoring to other engineers
• Liaising with Transpower, EDB clients, and internal multidisciplinary teams
• Identifying business development opportunities and supporting tendering activity
• Contributing to continuous improvement of quality and work practices

Your Background

• 10+ years' experience in protection and secondary systems design — NZ or Australian utility sector strongly preferred
• Washington Accord accredited degree, BE(Hons) NZQF Level 8, or NZ CPEng (or pathway-eligible)
• Direct Transpower experience highly regarded
• Previous NZ distribution company or design consultancy background advantageous
• Strong technical authoring and report writing skills

What Makes You Stand Out

• Deep understanding of NZ protection philosophy, documentation standards, and Transpower connection requirements
• Proven project management capability — budget, timeline, and quality accountability
• Strong communicator, able to engage technically with clients and stakeholders
• Analytical thinker with an eye for practical, constructable solutions
• Highly organised with a genuine commitment to health, safety, and quality

Apply online or email your enquiry to Matt Love-Smith: matt@talenthive.nz