Senior Asset Planning Engineer - Protection and Automation at Transpower New Zealand Limited, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Join a team that is planning over a challenging/evolving 15-year horizon
• Develop and review asset strategy, and asset plans, for protection & automation
• Bring your experience to Transmission and the centre of the electricity sector 

Unique career opportunity to look after the forward asset management/planning and the introduction of the new Digital Sub Stations options.

At the heart of the electricity sector in New Zealand, Transpower's position as Grid Owner and System Operator is unique. With $5B of assets and a whole of industry view, our work is essential to enabling accelerated electrification to meet climate change and sustainability goals that will impact generations to come. 

About the team 

Our Secondary Systems Planning team in Grid Development is responsible for the Asset Management of the assets in the Secondary Systems asset portfolio. This includes the Secondary Assets, HVDC, Dynamic Reactive Power, as well as the Capacitors and Reactors asset portfolios. The team is responsible for:

• Overseeing and directing development of design standards for secondary systems
• Secondary systems and control engineering including protection
• Substation automation and related telecommunications interfacing
• Specialist HVDC engineering

The team ensures that investment is targeted to the right asset, at the right time, for the most economic whole of life cost whilst continually managing risk to the appropriate level in accordance with Transpower strategic objectives.

The Opportunity - due to internal promotion!

You will play a key role in providing expertise in asset management and take a lead role to support the Asset Management Planning Manager and Secondary Systems in the areas of protection and automation. This is an asset owners engineer role and predominately office based.

To get a sense of what the team contribute to check out our 2022 Asset Management plan https://www.transpower.co.nz/our-work/industry/our-grid/asset-management our RCP 4 Proposal https://www.transpower.co.nz/our-work/industry/regulation/rcp4  and what is in the pipeline here https://www.transpower.co.nz/projects/digital-substation-project

 You will enjoy challenging and varied work and:

• Contribute to the strategic asset management of Secondary Assets by ensuring that whole of life costing principles are applied in our planning processes
• Develop and review asset strategy, and asset plans, for the development, upgrade, capital replacement of grid protection & automation, control systems, and communications
• Developing and reviewing policies and standards for design, procurement, and replacement of grid protection & automation, including new technologies like Digital Substations
• Collaborate with Grid Works Delivery in the investigation and development of investment cases for replacement and refurbishment works, and provide technical input into project investigations, and their planning, scheduling & optimisation
• Review the suitability of existing grid protection & automation to meet the safety, adequacy, and legal needs of the grid by applying current government legislation, Electricity Authority rules, and Transpower strategies and policies.

You will be involved in research and development to monitor new protection and automation technology through professional institutions, networking, conferences, and seminars and determine its suitability for use on the grid.

What will you bring? 

To be shortlisted, your CV and cover letter will clearly demonstrate outstanding communication skills and the ability to communicate complex issues to diverse groups at all levels. You will have: 

• A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (Washington Accord) with CPeng or an international equivalent and a minimum of a post graduate certificate or equivalent in power system protection
• Demonstrated experience in asset management/planning  
• Expertise in protection and automation
• Transmission Grid planning and/or relevant project experience 

You will understand how to make sound investment decisions using the principles of financial analysis and risk management and utilise your well-developed analytical skills to analyse and review large data sets. 

While our preferred location is Wellington or Christchurch, we will consider Auckland, Hamilton, or Palmerston North if you have the experience and skills required. 

Join us at Transpower 

Aotearoa is powered by the people who work here. Every home, every marae, every electric vehicle, every hospital relies on the electricity we manage and deliver. This is your opportunity to join us on a mission that affects all New Zealanders, every day and long into the future. 

With over 28 nationalities, our people provide diverse perspectives, knowledge, and deep and varied experience which they love to share. Our environment is family friendly with the option to work from home two days per week. Wellbeing is supported with a range of employee health and wellness benefits - check them out here https://www.transpower.co.nz/careers/working-transpower and on the job learning, professional development, and career progression over time. 

Next Steps  

To join our hardworking and committed team, please review the position description via our careers site https://careers.transpower.co.nz/search  and apply without delay! 

Role closes Thursday 28th September 2023. However, resumes will be reviewed as received and we may contact you to discuss your application and experience prior to the closing date. 

Please note: Existing eligibility to work in New Zealand is preferred however suitably qualified and experienced candidates will be considered.