Senior Database Engineer

• Auckland based role
• Permanent, Full-time

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations - from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

As a Senior Database Engineer, you will play a key technical leadership role within our Application Databases team in the Digital Services directorate. You will be part of a national team responsible for deploying, configuring, and maintaining more than 15,000 application databases that support critical clinical, corporate, and consumer systems. In this role, you will provide expert guidance across complex environments, ensure the stability, availability, and security of our 24x7x365 services, and contribute to the development of national standards and best-practice approaches. You will bring deep expertise in at least one core database platform, support technical planning and implementation, and mentor Database Engineers to uplift capability across the team. Working closely with technical leaders, engineers, project teams and vendors, you will help design and deliver high-quality database solutions that meet evolving business needs.

About the Team/Service/ Location

You will be joining the Application Databases team within the Digital Enablers & Integration Portfolio of the Digital Services directorate - a nationally focused team of 20 Database Engineers and 6 Senior Database Engineers. Together, the team is responsible for supporting more than 15,000 application databases that underpin critical hospital clinical, corporate, and consumer applications across the country. This is a highly collaborative, technically skilled group that sets national standards for application database management and works closely with technical leaders, project teams, and vendors to deliver reliable, secure, and high-performing database services. The role operates within a dynamic digital environment that supports flexible, nationwide service delivery.

About you

You are an experienced ICT professional with a strong background in technical leadership, bringing deep expertise in at least one core database platform and a proven record of supporting complex, high-availability environments. With extensive experience in optimising systems, driving technical improvements, and contributing to enterprise standards, you excel at delivering robust, scalable solutions that meet evolving organisational needs. You combine strong problem-solving skills with a collaborative, people-centred approach, building effective relationships across technical teams, stakeholders and partners. You are adaptable, motivated, and ready to step into a role that requires both hands-on technical depth and influential leadership across a national digital service.

• Experienced ICT professional with proven technical leadership and expertise across complex IT environments.
• Skilled in core database platforms, with deep knowledge in at least one and exposure to others; supported by a relevant degree and 10+ years' experience or postgraduate database qualifications.
• Strong technical support and optimisation background, including 7+ years in day-to-day support and 3+ years improving and enhancing complex systems.
• Confident in planning and delivery, working with engineers and project teams to implement solutions and contribute to technical standards and processes.
• Professional, collaborative, and responsible, applying Te Tiriti principles, maintaining health and safety, and building strong relationships while delivering high-quality work.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click "apply now."  All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by Sunday 4th of January. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jayme Hellyer at

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.