Maintenance & Reliability Engineer – Underground Assets

7 days ago

New Plymouth Central, New Zealand Powerco Full time NZ$80,000 - NZ$120,000 per year

Maintenance & Reliability Engineer - Underground Assets

Tauranga, New Plymouth, Wellington or Palmerston North

Permanent - Full-time

We're looking for a Maintenance & Reliability Engineer who is hands-on, curious, and keen to make an impact. In this role, you'll work primarily with our Underground Assets, alongside the wider Network Assets team and other delivery and planning teams, to keep our assets performing at their best. You'll monitor performance trends, optimise maintenance interventions, and proactively manage network risk. Most importantly, you'll build strong relationships across the business to help drive initiatives that improve network reliability and safety.

What you'll be doing

  • Optimising and implementing maintenance strategies that keep our assets safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
  • Developing and improving maintenance standards, procedures, and specifications in collaboration with internal teams and external partners.
  • Maintaining failure mode analyses and risk registers to guide inspection and maintenance decisions.
  • Supporting defect prioritisation to help manage backlog risk and assist maintenance managers.
  • Helping shape the 10-year maintenance plan and supporting the configuration of SAP Plant Maintenance and mobile platforms.
  • Conducting site reliability reviews and sharing insights to guide maintenance and improvement efforts.
  • Embedding reliability-focused approaches like RCM (Reliability Centred Maintenance) into our maintenance strategies.
  • Supporting strategic initiatives and innovative projects, from UAV inspections to condition monitoring, LiDAR, and beyond.

Who we're looking for

  • Qualified in engineering with at least 5 years' experience in electricity network equipment, maintenance, or design.
  • Solid understanding of failure modes, reliability engineering, and root cause analysis.
  • Project management experience with a track record of delivering change.
  • A natural problem-solver with strong critical thinking and analytical skills.
  • Confident communicating complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Results-driven, collaborative, and able to influence others to achieve great outcomes.

Why Powerco?

  • Your work matters: You'll help keep the lights on and the network safe for homes, schools, and businesses.
  • Innovate and improve: You'll be part of projects that shape the future of New Zealand's electricity network.
  • Supportive team culture: We work together, share ideas, celebrate wins, and back each other up.
  • Grow with us: We'll support your development, whether deepening your technical expertise or stepping further into leadership.

This isn't just another engineering role, it's your chance to take ownership, make meaningful improvements, and see the difference your work makes across the network.

Applications close: Friday 28 November 2025

Our ability to get the best out of people is what sets Powerco apart. We realise that candidates – especially from underrepresented and neurodiverse backgrounds – often won't apply for roles unless they meet ALL the criteria. We encourage anyone who shares our passion for connecting communities to apply for any role that aligns to your strengths and interests. We will provide a safe space where you can bring your whole self to work and thrive.

If you would benefit from support or adjustments in order to participate equitably in the recruitment process, please phone or email

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