Regional technical lead for wastewater network performance and resilience
Own and steer complex, high-impact investigations across your portfolio
Petone-based role with easy access to rail, coast, and local amenities
This is a full time position of 40 hours per week
The opportunity
The Principal Engineer Wastewater Network provides senior technical leadership to improve the performance, compliance, and long-term resilience of the region’s wastewater assets. This role is focused on owning complex investigations and optioneering—defining problems, developing robust solutions, and shaping investment decisions across the network. You will provide expert technical guidance to strategic and asset planning, ensuring projects are well scoped and grounded in sound engineering. Acting as a key technical stakeholder through delivery, you will safeguard design intent and asset outcomes without being directly responsible for project execution. Your work will drive smarter investment, support sustainable water management, and ensure services remain safe, reliable, and fit for the future.
You will get to:
Own the front-end engineering of complex network challenges, from investigation through to optioneering—defining problems, exploring solutions, and recommending the best path forward for the asset portfolio
Provide authoritative technical input into the capital programme, shaping scope, influencing investment cases, and setting projects up for successful delivery
Maintain technical oversight as a critical stakeholder through delivery, ensuring solutions remain aligned with operational needs, performance expectations, and long-term asset value
Drive a data-informed approach to asset management, integrating analytics and operational insight to continuously improve network performance at scale
Guide and mentor others in their professional development
About you
To be successful in this role you will bring:
15+ years in wastewater engineering with a focus on wastewater networks
A bachelor’s degree in engineering (Chemical, Environmental, or Civil) or a related discipline
Experience supporting strategic, investment and asset planning and prioritisation
Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical workstreams
Organised, self-motivated, and committed to delivering public value
Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) qualification
Benefits
At Wellington Water, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.
Our benefits include:
Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home
Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually
Formal and informal professional development opportunities
5 weeks annual leave accrual will be available following 2 years of continual service
For a full list of our employee benefits click here.
About us
Wellington Water Ltd is the professional water services provider across Greater Wellington and South Wairarapa. Our job is to provide safe and healthy drinking water, collect and treat wastewater, and ensure the stormwater network is well managed. We’re a multi-council owned entity, tasked to manage the infrastructure and deliver water services to our communities. From 1 July 2026, a new chapter in water services begins. Tiaki Wai will take over responsibility for providing Three Waters Services to approximately 433,000 residents across the Wellington metro regions.
Tiaki Wai will own the water assets it operates giving it greater independence to manage and improve water services for current and future communities, Wellington Water employees will transition into this new council-owned entity.
The value of water (a precious taonga) sits at our organisational heart. Our people are passionate about providing waters services for our communities and environment which is reflective in our values; Tangata Tiaki, Whānau and Mana.
Applications Close Sunday 24 May 2026
How to apply
To view a copy of the position description: click here
To apply for the role, click on the ”apply” button or visit the Wellington Water Careers site, please note if you are a Wellington Water employee please apply using your work email.
For further information, email: JoinUs@wellingtonwater.co.nz
Applicants for safety sensitive roles will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Wellington Water. You must also be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand and have an appropriate Visa
Our water, our future.
Wellington Water is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) that manages the water infrastructure assets on behalf of Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua city councils, South Wairarapa District Council, and Greater Wellington Regional Council, from source to sea. This includes all three waters - water supply, stormwater and wastewater.
We supply water, plan, investigate, design, project manage and maintain pipes, reservoirs and pump stations in the region. We are passionate about water conservation, efficiency and providing the best level of service for ratepayers in the Wellington region.
Want to work with us?
People work at Wellington Water because they want to make a difference. If you want to help deliver great outcomes to the community and influence the health, environment and wellbeing of the region, then our fast-paced company wants to hear from you!
We’re always on the lookout for great engineers, planners, operators and business folk with a passion and interest in the environment and the water industry.
In our fun, family friendly and flexible working environment, you will thrive if you value collaboration, hard work and delivering results.
If this sounds like you, then register your interest in working for us today at https://careers.wellingtonwater.co.nz/ and hear what’s it’s like to work at Wellington Water from the people who work here.
