Principal Substation Design Engineer

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• Want more influence? Help shape how we deliver HV design at Edison.
• Work on real projects with real impact - and see them come to life
• No layers, no egos - just solid engineering with a team that backs you.

Principal Primary Design Engineer – Substations
📍 Auckland | Wellington | Christchurch
Energy sector | Flexible working | Local projects

Thinking about your next move?
Maybe you’re comfortable where you are – but something’s missing.
Maybe it’s the same kind of project, again and again.
Or you're stuck in a big structure where change takes forever.
At Edison, things are different. We’re a smaller, tight-knit consultancy. We are focussed on energy designs – and we work on projects that actually matter to the future of New Zealand’s power system.

The role
We’re looking for a Principal Primary Design Engineer to join our national team. You'll lead substation and switchyard design from concept to delivery, for clients you’ll know and projects you’ll see built.
The work includes:

• Substation layout design (AIS and GIS)
• Electrical clearances and plant placement
• HV equipment specification
• Earthing, insulation coordination, and lightning protection
• Working with drafting, secondary, civil, and advisory teams
• Peer review, QA, mentoring, and technical leadership

You’ll be part of a growing team that values practical engineering, open communication, and having fun – and you’ll have the opportunity to shape how we work as we grow.

Real projects, real impact
Our work is local and makes a difference. Recent projects include:

• Detailed Design of new 33/11kV Kohia Substation for WEL Networks, including all primary, secondary and protection design
• Greytown 33kV Substation ODID Design for Powerco, to replace aging outdoor switchgear equipment
• 33kV Feeder designs from the Albany Substation GXP for Transpower to address load growth in the area
• Primary systems design for wind and solar farm connections across the country
• Upgrades and extensions for zone substations and GXPs across multiple EDBs

You won’t be stuck behind layers of management. You’ll work directly with customers like Powerco, Transpower, Vector, WEL Networks, and many others.

Why Edison
Our team is experienced, collaborative, and practical. We don’t do egos. We do solid design, good conversations, and plenty of shared learnings.
What makes us different:

• You’ll have influence – help improve our tools and processes with the Head of Design and Design Leaders
• You’ll be part of a team – not just a name in a system
• You’ll grow others – mentor juniors and shape future designers
• You’ll have flexibility – we trust you to manage your time and workload

What we’re looking for
You’ve been in this space for a while. You are familiar with substation layouts and have proven experience working on high-voltage (HV) projects. You might not be looking – but you’re open to something better.
You’ll have:

• Significant experience in primary electrical design
• Knowledge of HV substations, equipment layouts, and relevant standards
• Experience in the NZ power industry (or similar)
• Confidence leading jobs and reviewing work
• CPENG or working towards it

What we offer

• Competitive salary + benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Projects in the energy sector – that’s our focus
• A supportive, inclusive team where your voice counts

If you're in New Zealand and thinking, “What’s next?” – this could be it.
No red tape. No layers. Just real engineering, good people, and meaningful work.

Apply now through Seek or get in touch for a quiet chat - call Daniel on +64212762657