Chapter Lead Engineering

• Lead and grow a high-performing Software Development chapter delivering innovative, high-quality digital products.
• Champion best practices in software design, coding standards, and agile delivery.
• Implement continuous improvement in software development processes and product quality.
• Location: Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

As Chapter Lead - Engineering (Software), you will establish and lead a technical chapter within Te Aukaha Digital, responsible for our Engineering. You'll combine your leadership skills with deep technical knowledge, ensuring your chapter delivers value and functional excellence in agile delivery squads. Your focus will be on building engineering mastery, deploying talent to high-value opportunities, and embedding new technologies and automation to drive performance, delivery excellence, and risk management.

The key responsibilities of the role will see you:

• Lead the adoption of modern software engineering practices, including CI/CD, automated testing, and cloud-native development.
• Implement continuous improvement and automation to increase team effectiveness and reduce risk.
• Leverage emerging technologies and prototype solutions to embed into the Centre of Excellence.
• Attract, develop, and mentor engineering talent, fostering a culture of learning and technical mastery.
• Champion agile ways of working and collaborate with delivery leaders to deploy talent to the right squads.
• Set and uphold standards for software design, development, and code quality.
• Provide strategic input to planning, resource management, and organizational culture.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, vendors, and industry peers.

You will find out more about the role here: Position Description.

Ko koe tenei | About you

To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Proven experience (ideally 5+ years) in a technical leadership role, such as Chapter Lead, Engineering Manager, or similar.
• Deep understanding of engineering practices, specifically expertise in software architecture, coding, and agile product delivery.
• Strong knowledge of agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban, Lean) and experience in agile matrix environments.
• Demonstrated curiosity and commitment to staying current with technology trends, tools, and best practices.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills to develop high-performing engineering teams.
• Strategic thinking and the ability to align engineering work with business goals.
• Outstanding communication skills for collaborating with technical and business stakeholders.
• Experience building partnerships with external suppliers to scale engineering capability.

You will demonstrate knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an understanding of Te Ao Maori and promote tikanga and Te Reo Maori. You will also have knowledge of, or a willingness to gain an appreciation of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) as it applies in the public sector.

Mo matou | About Us

Te Aukaha Digital strengthens Waka Kotahi by delivering future-focused solutions, enabling digital change, and providing quality data, information, and security services. We create flexible, collaborative workspaces and support our people to deliver value for Aotearoa's transport system.

Ka whiwhi koe i te aha | What you will get in return

At NZTA, you'll join a team that values your expertise and supports your professional growth. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, flexible working arrangements, and a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Along with our other benefits, we also have 5 weeks annual leave and an Income Protection and Critical Illness Insurance scheme available for all permanent employees.

Ready to take the next step in your engineering leadership career? We'd love to hear from you. Apply today and join our team who is going places.

Me pehea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please click apply to upload your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability for the role.

Ra Katinga | Applications close:

1 December 2025

For further information, email:

To be considered for this position you must have a legal right to live and work in New Zealand.

NZTA| Waka Kotahi is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We recognise the importance of diversity and inclusion and are committed to providing a working environment that embraces these values. Please let us know if you need any support or have any access requirements that will help you through the recruitment process.

Please note that we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications. We encourage early applications as we may withdraw the advertising at any time.