Protection Engineer at Contact Energy

Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

23 Jul, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

24 Apr, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Electrical protection, Instrumentation engineering, Hydro power systems, Fault investigation, Risk management, HV systems, LV systems, Machine protection, PLC, SCADA, Technical documentation, Project management, Contract management, Regulatory frameworks, Communication

Industry

Utilities

Description

Company Description Whakatakoto te tūāpapa | Laying the foundation At Contact Energy, we’re on a journey to put our energy where it matters. We generate electricity to power Aotearoa, while working hard to decarbonise the energy system and create a better future for our communities. Our people are at the heart of this mahi, curious, practical, and driven by purpose, with a shared commitment to doing what’s right and doing it well. Our hydro fleet plays a critical role in keeping the lights on. Spread across some of the most stunning parts of the country, our hydro dams and systems are complex, reliable, and built to last. They help balance the electricity system every day, supporting renewable generation at scale. Looking after these assets means thoughtful engineering, smart decision making, and people who care deeply about safety, reliability, and continuous improvement. Job Description Te āhua o te tūāpapa | The nature of the role This role sits at the heart of our Hydro Engineering team and is all about protecting what matters most. As a Protection Engineer, you’ll take ownership of our Hydro Protection Improvement Programme, shaping how we identify risk, uplift systems, and strengthen the way protection is applied across our hydro fleet. You’ll work closely with site teams, engineers, and leaders, turning complex technical challenges into practical solutions that keep our people and assets safe. Your days will be varied and purposeful. You might be developing protection trip documentation with a station team one day, investigating a fault the next, or providing expert advice into an outage or major project. Over time, you’ll grow as a subject matter expert in your chosen area, contribute to technical standards, and help guide the next generation of engineers. Travel to our hydro sites is part of the role, offering the chance to connect with our assets, our people, and the places we operate, kanohi ki te kanohi. Qualifications Ko wai koe | About you You’re an electrical/instrumentation engineer who enjoys getting into the detail but can also step back and see the bigger picture. Ideally, you’ll bring solid experience in protection engineering within the power sector or a similar heavy industry, along with a degree in engineering and a pathway toward professional registration. Experience with HV and LV systems, protection and machine protection, and exposure to PLC or SCADA environments are important foundations for this role. Some things are must haves, a strong grounding in electrical protection, the confidence to investigate faults and manage risk, and the ability to communicate clearly with people who may not share your technical background. Other things are nice to have, like project or contract management experience, a deeper understanding of regulatory frameworks, or experience acting as a technical authority. Just as important as your skills is how you show up. You’re curious, collaborative, open to new ideas, and committed to learning. If you don’t tick every box but feel excited by the work and the purpose, we’d still love to hear from you. Additional Information There are a bunch of perks to being a permanent Contact kaimahi. Along with great leadership, teammates, development, and growth and progression opportunities, free health insurance cover, better-than-your-average leave, access to Contact Shares, a ‘Good to be Home’ annual payment toward your home set up & wellbeing, a trail-blazing parental leave policy, bi-annual payments towards Contact Energy products, and more! Applications close 5pm Friday the 8th of May Here at Contact Energy (Te Mata Hiko), we know our strength lies in developing a sense of belonging - one that helps us attract and retain people with a broad range of perspectives and experiences. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to bring their whole selves to work. Our goal is to reflect the diversity of our customers and communities to help build a better Aotearoa New Zealand. We have a rich community of talented people that we support to thrive at Contact. Our inclusive hiring process is designed to embrace the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are included in our decision-making and helping reduce bias along the way. The wellbeing of our kaimahi is super important to us. We use employee insights to offer a range of initiatives and resources to support physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing – including flexible working arrangements, employee network groups and a market-leading parental leave policy. At Te Mata Hiko, we want everyone to thrive. We welcome applicants far and wide - of every age, stage, background, and pride. Join us and be part of a team that values your passion and attitude just as much as your experience and skills. Please note, only candidates with the right to live and work in New Zealand will be considered for this role. Research shows that while men apply to jobs where they meet 60% of the criteria, women and those in underrepresented groups tend to only apply if they tick every box. We're not about box ticking, so if you think you have what it takes but don't meet everything stated above, please still get in touch. We'd love to kōrero. Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) does not accept any CVs received from recruitment agencies where a formal engagement has not been confirmed and agreed to with our Talent team. In the event that unsolicited CVs are submitted by recruitment agencies, Te Mata Hiko (Contact Energy) reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and consider them for current/future vacancies without any financial obligation to the recruitment agency in question. This will also apply to any CVs sent directly to line managers. Department: Generation & Trading

Responsibilities

The Protection Engineer will lead the Hydro Protection Improvement Programme to identify risks and uplift system performance across the hydro fleet. They will investigate faults, develop technical documentation, and provide expert guidance on protection standards and major projects.