Innovation Engineer Ai Wellington Permanent

Development high-fidelity software prototypes using AI that bring emerging technologies to life
- Collaborate across design, research, and engineering
- Influence MSD's technology roadmap with your insights

Join a forward-thinking team where innovation meets impact.

**About our team | Mo te tima**:

- Every week, around 1.4 million New Zealanders count on MSD for income support and services to connect with work, housing and better lives for their families.
- Information Systems & Technology (IST) provides the technologies, innovation and expertise that enable MSD staff and partners to deliver these essential services, today and into the future.
- We're driving a once in a lifetime transformation of services for New Zealanders. IST is a key enabler of this change bringing together strategic thinkers, technology specialists and delivery leaders to design solutions and deliver change while keeping vital services running reliably every day- **About the role | Mo te tunga**:

- As part of MSD's Emerging Technology team, you'll evaluate new technologies, craft interactive prototypes, and help stakeholders understand how innovation can solve business challenges.
- You'll help MSD safely explore and prototype the novel uses of cutting-edge technologies to solve real-world problems.
- **Key responsibilities include**:

- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend areas for deeper exploration
- Build functional prototypes that integrate with MSD sandbox environments
- Collaborate with analysts and specialists to align prototypes with business needs
- Translate user experience mock-ups into interactive prototypes
- Document and share learnings across MSD
- Support research and feedback gathering from prototype users
- Contribute to technology roadmaps and knowledge sharing- Please contact us if there is any support that we can provide to ensure the recruitment process is accessible to you.

**What you bring | Ou pumanawatanga**:

- A mix of technical know-how and creative problem-solving, with a passion for emerging tech and prototyping.
- Experience in creating software prototypes using AI tools such as Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Github Copilot, Lovable, or Cursor
- Ability to influence technical stakeholders on new ways of software development using AI
- Experience influencing change in large, traditional tech environments
- Agile mindset and collaborative working style
- Strong knowledge of emerging technologies and new ways to prototype and develop software solutions
- Skilled in prototype development using Azure AI Foundry
- Familiar with AI concepts and implementation
- Proficient in AI requirements creation, AI systems design, and AI system testing
- Able to model user interfaces and design systems using AI tools
- Comfortable working with Service Designers to interpreting user feedback
- Effective communicator with a knack for translating tech into business value-
**Position Description | He Whakaahuatanga Tunga**: A copy of the postion description can be found here. Innovation Engineer postion description.

**Salary | Utu-a-tau**: $103,846.00 - $125,998.00
- **Applications close | Ka kati nga tono hei te: Sunday 23 November 2025.**

**About us | Mo matou**:
The Ministry of Social Development is a people-centred organisation. We're in communities across the motu, working with partners to help New Zealanders be safe, strong and independent.

We provide social policy and advice to government and assistance, including income, employment and housing support to people of all ages, families, whanau and communities.

Our people are as diverse as the communities we serve. We care about the wellbeing and success of our people and provide a supportive and inclusive working environment where people can thrive and be who they are.

**Note**: Your cover letter will be a key part of our assessment process, so please highlight how your experience relates to the key responsibilities listed in the position description.

**Joining us | Ko te hono mai**:
Joining MSD means being part of a whanau that celebrates the diversity each individual represents.

We show manaaki, we care about the wellbeing and success of people and want everyone to thrive and be who they are in a supportive and inclusive working environment. We work together to make a difference for communities while doing the right thing with integrity. You can find out more about our values here.