Senior / Principal Substation Design Engineer / Manager - Relocate to New Zealand

Explore a new life in New Zealand.

Climate17 is ElectroNet’s exclusive UK recruitment partner, supporting the growth of its New Zealand business by engaging experienced substation design engineers across the UK and Ireland.

ElectroNet combines electrical engineering consultancy with construction and commissioning capability. For engineers, this means greater visibility throughout delivery, practical feedback from construction teams and the opportunity to see their designs become operational infrastructure.

The business is seeking experienced primary design engineers and design managers to support high-voltage substation and renewable energy projects.

Positions are available in Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington, with Christchurch the preferred location.

The opportunity

You will combine detailed primary design expertise with responsibility for coordinating multidisciplinary substation projects. The balance of technical delivery, design management and leadership will reflect your experience and appointment level.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and reviewing concept and detailed primary designs for high-voltage transmission and sub-transmission substations.
• Coordinating primary, secondary, protection, SCADA and communications workstreams.
• Working with civil, structural, geotechnical and specialist engineering teams.
• Preparing and reviewing layouts, drawings, technical reports, specifications and design deliverables.
• Managing technical interfaces, client expectations, programme, budgets and quality.
• Providing technical leadership and mentoring colleagues.
• Supporting project scoping, proposals and client relationships.

Projects include electricity network infrastructure and connections for wind, solar and battery storage developments.

Your background

We are interested in speaking with engineers who bring:

• At least six years of relevant industry experience for Senior appointments, or typically 15 years or more for Principal appointments.
• Strong high-voltage substation primary design experience, including the ability to deliver detailed designs.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary design teams on transmission and/or sub-transmission projects.
• A consultancy background, or comparable experience delivering complex utility projects.
• Strong communication, technical judgement and ownership of project deliverables.
• 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.
• Chartered status or progress towards it would be advantageous.

A career move and a life move

Moving to New Zealand is a significant decision. Alongside the technical opportunity, this is a chance to consider where you want to live, how you want to work and what your next chapter could look like.

ElectroNet is a New Zealand-owned group backed by Westpower. It offers a collaborative environment, mentoring and professional development, with flexible and hybrid working arrangements where appropriate.

Benefits include a personal wellbeing allowance, life and critical illness cover, and service recognition benefits starting after two years, subject to eligibility and company policy.

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

Explore the possibility before committing

You don’t need to have decided to move to start a confidential conversation.

An introductory webinar is planned for Thursday 29th October, giving you the opportunity to learn about ElectroNet, its projects and the practicalities of relocating. Its leadership team will also be visiting the UK during the week commencing 2nd November, with opportunities for individual meetings or Teams discussions.

Apply through Climate17 with your CV, or contact Neeraj Ghale at neeraj@climate17.com to explore the opportunity.