Senior / Principal Protection Engineer - Relocate to New Zealand

Bring your protection expertise to New Zealand

Climate17 is ElectroNet’s exclusive UK recruitment partner, supporting its growth in New Zealand through a targeted search for experienced engineers based in the UK and Ireland.

ElectroNet is a New Zealand-owned electrical engineering and infrastructure group backed by Westpower. Its integrated consultancy and contracting capability gives engineers the opportunity to see their designs built, tested and commissioned, with direct feedback from the teams delivering them.

As the business grows, ElectroNet is seeking Senior and Principal Protection Engineers to work across network infrastructure and renewable generation connections. Positions are available in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, with Christchurch the preferred location.

The opportunity

You will develop practical protection solutions across transmission, sub-transmission and distribution systems, working on both existing networks and new infrastructure.

Responsibilities will include:

• Delivering protection modelling, coordination and local and wide-area studies using PowerFactory and/or PSCAD.
• Assessing protection performance in networks with inverter-based generation, including anti-islanding requirements.
• Developing protection philosophies, setting calculations, relay settings and associated technical documentation.
• Working with primary, secondary, SCADA and commissioning specialists to deliver coordinated solutions.
• Providing technical guidance, reviewing deliverables and mentoring less experienced engineers.
• Supporting project scoping, client relationships and successful delivery.

Your background

We are interested in speaking with engineers who bring:

• At least six years of directly relevant industry experience for Senior appointments, or typically 15 years or more for Principal appointments.
• Strong protection studies and settings experience, ideally gained within a design consultancy.
• Practical knowledge of transmission and/or sub-transmission protection schemes.
• Experience using PowerFactory and/or PSCAD.
• Relevant relay settings experience, including Siemens and Schneider equipment.
• An engineering qualification meeting ElectroNet’s stated requirements: a Washington Accord-accredited degree, a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours at NZQF Level 8, or an appropriate qualification supported by Engineering New Zealand assessment.

Why ElectroNet?

Alongside technical variety and involvement through project delivery, ElectroNet offers mentoring, professional development, flexible working arrangements, a personal wellbeing allowance, life and critical illness cover, and service recognition benefits starting after two years.

Relocation assistance is available and includes flights for you and your family, moving costs, temporary accommodation and visa support.

Explore the opportunity confidentially

You do not need to have decided to relocate to start a conversation.

Climate17 is coordinating an introductory webinar planned for Thursday 29th October, followed by opportunities to meet ElectroNet’s leadership team during their UK visit in the week commencing 2nd November. Meeting locations will be considered around candidate availability, with Teams discussions also available.

Apply through Climate17 with your CV, or contact Neeraj Ghale at neeraj@climate17.com for a confidential discussion.