Principal Protection Engineer

The Company

Our client is a well-established engineering consultancy delivering specialist power systems and electrical engineering solutions across New Zealand's electricity distribution sector. Working alongside a diverse range of network owners and renewable energy developers, they provide practical engineering expertise on projects that support critical infrastructure and the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

Due to continued growth, they are seeking an experienced Principal Protection Engineer to join their growing team.

The Role

This is an opportunity to work on a diverse portfolio of protection and control projects across multiple electricity distribution networks. Rather than being limited to a single asset owner, you'll gain exposure to a wide variety of network configurations, system challenges, and infrastructure programmes.

You'll play a key role in delivering protection design, coordination studies, and technical solutions for both existing network upgrades and new infrastructure developments. Working closely with commissioning and delivery teams, you'll see your designs progress from concept through to implementation on live networks.

Responsibilities

• Act as a technical authority for protection and secondary systems across a range of electricity distribution networks.
• Lead protection design and coordination for complex network upgrade and development projects.
• Prepare and interpret protection coordination studies, fault analysis, and wider power system assessments.
• Develop practical protection philosophies and schemes that balance safety, reliability, compliance, and operational requirements.
• Provide technical guidance throughout project delivery, from concept design through commissioning.
• Work collaboratively with clients, project managers, commissioning teams, and field personnel to deliver practical engineering outcomes.
• Support renewable generation connections and emerging network technologies.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and mentor junior engineers where appropriate.

Skills and Experience

• A tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in protection engineering within electricity distribution, transmission, or power systems environments.
• Strong knowledge of protection relays, coordination studies, fault analysis, and secondary systems.
• Experience developing protection philosophies and detailed protection schemes.
• An understanding of New Zealand electricity industry standards and practices.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with clients and project stakeholders.
• Chartered Professional Engineer status (or working towards) will be highly regarded.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work across multiple electricity networks and a diverse range of technically challenging projects.
• Exposure to renewable energy integration, network growth, and critical infrastructure programmes.
• Work within a collaborative team where engineering solutions are carried through to construction and commissioning.
• Ongoing professional development, technical mentoring, and genuine career progression opportunities.
• Flexible working arrangements and a supportive team culture.

If you're looking to take the next step in your protection engineering career and work on meaningful projects that shape New Zealand's electricity infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now or contact me on 02777 22 711 for a confidential discussion.