Senior Project Engineer – Electrical and Control Automation

Company Description

Let’s take care of work that matters - people, place and purpose. From roads to recycling to reporting, everyone at WM New Zealand (WM) helps take care of our people, protect our whenua and support our communities.

We’re more than waste management – we’re problem solvers, innovators, and hands-on doers. Every one of us, whether behind the wheel, on the tools, or shaping strategy behind the scenes, is helping build a better Aotearoa.

We all pull together on this waka and if you want work that matters, with people who’ve got your back, you’re in the right place.

Job Description

The role you’ll play.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Engineer – Electrical and Control Automation to join our Engineering and Asset Management team.

This is a senior technical role for a practical engineer who can support complex operating assets, challenge supplier designs, improve reliability and provide sound engineering judgement across electrical, controls and automation systems. You will help ensure our fixed plant and electrical infrastructure are safe, reliable, compliant and fit for whole-of-life performance.

You will work across a diverse national portfolio including material recovery facilities, tyre recycling operations, landfill gas generation systems, transfer stations, resource recovery plants and other critical infrastructure. The role includes design review, technical governance, troubleshooting, reliability improvement, lifecycle planning, contractor management, commissioning support and delivery of electrical and controls scope within capital projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide senior technical leadership and subject matter expertise for electrical, controls and automation systems across the business.
• Lead electrical aspects of capital projects from concept development through to commissioning and handover.
• Develop and maintain technical specifications, scopes of work, engineering standards and design expectations for electrical and control system assets.
• Review and challenge electrical designs, power distribution systems, motor control centres, protection systems, PLC, SCADA, HMI and contractor deliverables before approval or implementation.
• Lead reliability improvement initiatives for electrical and control system assets, including failure investigation, defect elimination and practical improvement plans.
• Conduct root cause analysis for significant plant failures and work with operations, maintenance, contractors and suppliers to implement verified corrective actions.
• Provide technical support for generators, switchgear, MCCs, VSDs, instrumentation and industrial control systems.
• Support automation and control system improvements, including PLC, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation, interlocks, sequencing, alarms and integration with mechanical plant systems.
• Manage electrical contractors, consultants and equipment suppliers to ensure safe and successful project delivery.
• Lead or support commissioning, testing, validation and handover activities for new and upgraded plant, ensuring operational readiness and safe transition into service.
• Identify opportunities to improve plant reliability, energy efficiency and operational performance.
• Ensure compliance with relevant New Zealand electrical regulations, safety requirements, engineering standards, isolation expectations, machine safety interfaces and good engineering practice.
• Provide practical site support across New Zealand as required, including troubleshooting, technical assurance, contractor oversight and support for operational risk reduction.
• Apply whole-of-life asset thinking, including maintainability, lifecycle cost, standardisation, operational impact, downtime risk and long-term reliability when developing recommendations.

Qualifications

What you’ll need.

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent recognised qualification.
• Minimum 8 years' experience in industrial, manufacturing, processing, utilities, energy, infrastructure, waste, resource recovery or heavy industry environments.
• Strong knowledge of electrical power systems, generation, switchgear, protection systems, MCCs and industrial electrical infrastructure.
• Experience delivering electrical engineering projects and plant upgrades.
• Proven troubleshooting, fault-finding and root cause analysis capability.
• Experience managing contractors, consultants and engineering service providers.
• Strong understanding of industrial automation, PLCs, SCADA, HMI, instrumentation and control systems, with the ability to troubleshoot issues and review integrator or supplier solutions.
• Proven ability to assess technical risk, challenge supplier claims and make practical recommendations that balance safety, reliability, cost and operational performance.
• Sound understanding of asset management, lifecycle planning, criticality, maintainability and whole-of-life cost principles.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage operational, technical and leadership stakeholders.
• Full New Zealand driver's licence.
• Willingness to travel to operational sites across New Zealand as required.

Desirable

• Experience with landfill gas generation, renewable energy or power generation systems.
• Experience in waste management, recycling, manufacturing, utilities or other heavy industrial environments.

Additional Information

What’s in it for you.

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• The opportunity to work on critical infrastructure and nationally significant engineering projects.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment that values innovation and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to contribute to sustainability and New Zealand's circular economy.

If you are a practical senior project engineer with strong electrical, controls and automation capability who can improve safety, reliability and performance across critical infrastructure, apply now to join our Engineering and Asset Management team.

WM New Zealand is an EEO employer and promotes drug and alcohol-free workplaces. You must be in New Zealand and hold a current work visa, residency or NZ citizenship.