Senior Mechanical Engineer - Hydro

Company Overview

At Contact Energy, we dedicate ourselves to providing New Zealand with safe, sustainable, and durable electricity solutions. Our team is central to this mission, overseeing vital hydroelectric assets across the South Island that have a distinguished history and essential role in consistent power generation. Our hydro teams collaborate cross-functionally to maintain and enhance these sites’ efficient and secure operation for the long term.

Role Summary

The Senior Mechanical Engineer will be instrumental in ensuring the effective, safe, and cost-efficient functioning of hydroelectric generation assets. This role combines hands-on engineering involvement with strategic influence over asset management, maintenance approaches, and project execution. You'll serve as a key authority within the Hydro Engineering team, interfacing with asset managers, operations personnel, and project groups to uphold optimal plant performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate Opex and Capex projects related to hydro plant equipment.
• Investigate mechanical plant issues and provide actionable insights.
• Develop and support long-term asset management plans to sustain equipment efficacy.
• Make well-informed engineering decisions to optimize asset life cycle performance.
• Communicate complex mechanical engineering concepts clearly to diverse internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely across teams to ensure operational safety and reliability of mechanical systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Relevant engineering qualification in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Proven experience with heavy industry or power generation assets, particularly mechanical systems and rotating machinery.
• Strong skills in condition monitoring, asset lifecycle management, and project coordination.
• Capable analytical thinker with sound engineering judgment.
• Professional institution memberships and financial/commercial acumen are advantageous but not mandatory.
• Comfortable explaining technical matters to varied audiences and supporting a collaborative culture.

Additional Information

Preference will be given to candidates based near Clutha, though Christchurch-based applicants are also considered. The position involves regular travel across the South Island.

As a permanent member of Contact Energy, employees enjoy numerous benefits including superior leadership, continuous development opportunities, complimentary health insurance, enhanced leave, employee share schemes, wellbeing payments for home setup, a progressive parental leave policy, and bi-annual discounts on company energy products.

Contact Energy fosters an inclusive workplace valuing diverse perspectives, providing flexible work arrangements and wellbeing initiatives supporting physical, mental, financial, and emotional health.

Applicants must hold the legal right to live and work in New Zealand. Contact Energy embraces applications from all candidates regardless of background, emphasizing attitude, passion, and potential over checklist qualifications.

Note: Recruitment agencies must have formal agreements with Contact's Talent team prior to submitting CVs; unsolicited submissions will be handled directly by Contact without financial obligations to agencies.