Title:  Asset Engineer - Traction and Electrical

Asset Engineer – Traction and Electrical

Position Description

• Provide stewardship, assurance and technical expertise
• Bring your extensive experience
• Permanent, Wellington based

He kōrero mō mātou | About us:

At KiwiRail, we connect New Zealanders sustainably, powering economic growth and ensuring vital freight and passenger services run smoothly. Our mission, "Stronger Connections, Better New Zealand," highlights our dedication to sustainability and community well-being. 

Our people make KiwiRail exceptional. By fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace, we empower everyone to contribute their best. If you’re passionate about innovation and safety, we’d love to welcome you aboard. 

He whakamārama mō te tūranga mahi | About the role:

This role exists to provide engineering stewardship, assurance, and technical expertise for traction and electrical assets across the Wellington Metro network. Reporting to the Network Planning & Integrity Manager, the Traction and Electrical Asset Engineer is accountable for understanding asset condition, risk, and performance, and for providing engineering input that supports safe operations, compliant maintenance, and informed planning and investment decisions. The role does not own access or work planning but supports planners and inspectors with engineering advice and requirements.

This role is required to:

• Provide engineering stewardship for Wellington Metro traction and electrical assets, including overhead line equipment, substations, power supply, and associated systems.
• Produce and complete a traction engineering inspection programme to maintain asset data records in accordance with engineering requirements
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of asset condition, performance, and risk across the electrified network.
• Produce code compliance reports identifying any non-compliances and ensuring these are escalated to the relevant teams.
• Provide engineering advice and requirements to support maintenance, renewals, and intervention activities.
• Interpret inspection findings and defect data to determine asset condition, risk, and required responses.
• Support the development and maintenance of traction asset management plans and strategies.
• Provide engineering input into access and work planning by defining constraints, requirements, and sequencing considerations.
• Support investigations, testing, commissioning, and technical assurance activities as required.
• Provide engineering advice during incidents, failures, and degraded operating conditions.
• Contribute to audits, assurance activities, and regulatory engagement related to traction assets.
• Maintain accurate engineering records, asset data, and technical documentation.
• Assess asset condition using inspection outputs, monitoring data, and engineering judgement.
• Confirm that traction and electrical assets are safe and compliant for train operations.
• Define maintenance, renewal, and intervention requirements based on condition, risk, and performance.
• Develop and maintain traction and electrical related inputs to the Asset Management Plan.
• Set engineering priorities and intervention thresholds for traction and electrical assets.
• Review and endorse traction and electrical s-related work scopes, methodologies, and standards from an engineering and asset integrity perspective.
• Identify, manage, and escalate asset risks, including recommending and supporting interim controls (e.g. speed restrictions).
• Ensure accurate and reliable asset data is maintained and used to inform engineering decisions.
• Support investigations into traction and power related defects, incidents, and performance issues.
• Provide specialist engineering advice to planners and delivery teams without owning access or work planning decisions.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of engineering standards, inspection regimes, and asset strategies.

Ngā pukenga e rapu nei mātou | What (skills) you will bring:

Knowledge and experience

• You have extensive experience in traction, electrical, or heavy electrical engineering roles.
• You will have 5+ Years of experience in Traction and Electrical engineering, asset management, or rail infrastructure.
• You have strong knowledge of electrified rail systems, including 1500V DC traction systems.
• You understand asset management principles and engineering assurance.
• You have experience supporting operations and responding to incidents in a rail environment.
• You have experience interpreting inspection, condition, and performance data.
• Experience in keeping asset management records up to date and ability to produce queries and reports.
• You understand rail engineering standards, operating rules, and safety requirements.
• Expertise in analysing, evaluating and problem-solving

Ways of working / Work-related qualities

• You apply sound engineering judgement
• Familiar with engineering codes and code supplements.
• You communicate technical issues clearly.
• You balance risk, performance, and practicality.
• You remain calm and objective in safety-critical situations.
• You work effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Willingness to complete required rail and health & safety training

Other Requirements

• Ability to meet required medical, drug and alcohol, and background checks.
• Comfortable wearing PPE and following site access rules.
• Current and valid NZ driver’s licence.

Qualifications

You need either:

• You have a relevant degree in engineering
• You have a post tertiary education qualification.

And

• You hold relevant industry certifications
• Traction and electrical s engineering or rail-specific certification is highly desirable.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you:

• Competitive salary plus 4% KiwiSaver employer contribution
• 25 annual leave days
• Access to join NZ Rail Staff Welfare Trust where you will enjoy a range of benefits including access to holiday homes across New Zealand, as well as support for optometry, physiotherapy, GP services and prescription costs
• A wide range of discounts at retailers and on scenic trains and Interislander

• Be part of a diverse and inclusive workplace dedicated to innovation, sustainability and community impact

Kua rite, kia rite | Ready to Make a Difference?

Rā aukati | Applications close:  12 July 2026