Operations Engineer

Are you someone who thrives on solving technical challenges that keep the lights on? We are looking for an Operations Engineer to be a key technical problem-solver and trusted support for our Operations team, providing day to day support. You'll bring deep understanding of protection and secondary systems and be keen to expand your expertise across other assets within the network. From fault investigations and system improvements to helping ensure our network remains safe, reliable, and resilient.

You'll collaborate closely with operational, engineering, and asset management teams providing practical advice, hands-on support, and confident decision-making when it matters most. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, teamwork, and the satisfaction of seeing their technical skills make a real impact in the field and across the business.

About us

Passionate, curious and innovative are a few words that describe our people.  We are powering the future, connecting communities and igniting innovation. Orion owns and operates the electricity distribution network that provides power to central Canterbury. As the third largest electricity distribution network in New Zealand, we cover remote rural areas, regional towns and the city of Christchurch.

We are an essential service and take our responsibilities seriously. We are community owned and working here means a career with meaning and purpose that makes a difference in your very own neighbourhood.

The role

• Support the Operations and Control Room teams with day-to-day network challenges and performance and urgent technical queries
• Investigate faults, analyse causes, and deliver effective technical solutions to maintain reliability
• Apply expertise in protection, control, and secondary systems to ensure safe, efficient operation
• Collaborate across engineering and asset teams to drive improvement and embed lessons learned
• Manage critical spares, review test plans and commissioning docs, and support new equipment rollout
• Champion safety, continuous improvement, and operational excellence - including after-hours support

About you

• Previous experience in the electricity distribution sector, with a solid grounding in how complex networks operate. An NZDE Level 6 or higher is preferred alongside a current electrical practising licence
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset: you don't wait to be told there's a problem to start solving it
• Collaborative and forward-thinking approach, you'll thrive on bringing people together to solve technical problems and deliver shared success
• A willingness to learn and grow your understanding across our wider asset base
• A commitment to safety, reliability, and doing what's right for our customers and community
• Adaptable and curious, you stay ahead of emerging technologies and constantly look for smarter, safer ways to do things

We offer

You'll find at Orion, you can come as you are and just be you. You will be joining a workplace that values who you are, the work you do, and the way you think. Importantly, we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements, and flexible locations with our Head office in Burnside and satellite offices in Rolleston and Ferrymead
• Three days of "My Days" leave
• A broad range of workplace benefits, from a wellbeing allowance to our holiday house in Hanmer

You might be surprised to find out that the company that brings the power to your home is innovative, inclusive, progressive, and quite good fun.

To apply

We encourage you to be you in your application We are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and lifting our cultural capability. You don't need to be knowledgeable in these areas, but you do need to be on board with learning.

Please reach out to us with any questions at We will be screening applications as we receive them to move swiftly to interviews. To learn more about us, check out our careers site to find out more about working at Orion.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this job. Pre-employment checks are part of our recruitment process.