Senior Data Engineer

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Meridian Energy is hiring a Senior Data Engineer for the Generation team to shape data and AI architecture across New Zealand’s portfolio. You’ll design modular, scalable data models, build data pipelines with DataOps, and ensure platform reliability, privacy and security while moving Generation toward modern AI practices in DigiGen. The ideal candidate will collaborate with product teams, have experience with Databricks and AWS or Azure, scalable Spark ETL/ELT pipelines, strong data modelling, PySpark, SQL and Python with Terraform for IaC. To apply, tailor your CV to outcomes, show energy or industrial data work, and indicate willingness to be onsite in Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland. Email [email protected] and apply by 30 June.

Company Description

Mai te hiku ki te taurapa, whitikina e te rā

From the tail of the fish to the tail of the waka, shines the sun

This whakataukī speaks to our journey across Aotearoa, one waka, one purpose, powered by the natural forces that sustain us. Meridian is Aotearoa’s largest renewable electricity producer, generating energy from the winds of Tāwhirimātea, the waters of Tangaroa, and the warmth of Tama-nui-te-rā.   

Together, our two brands, Meridian and Powershop retail electricity to more than 400,000 homes, businesses and farms across New Zealand. Now that’s a pretty impressive combo!   

Mō te tūranga | About the role

Across New Zealand’s largest renewable energy portfolio. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a new chapter in Meridian’s Generation business — helping shape the future of data engineering from the ground up. As we modernize our data platforms and practices, you’ll be at the forefront of designing and building the systems, standards, and tools that will power decision-making and innovation.

Āu mahi | What you’ll be doing

The Senior Data Engineer (Generation Business Unit) is a leader within the Generation team, playing a key role in shaping and executing data and AI architecture and engineering across the business, ensuring alignment with Generation and DigiGen programme goals.

You’ll;

• Design and implement modular and scalable data and AI architectures and data models, ensuring Generation data and platforms serve all required data personas.
• Develop and manage data pipelines from ingestion to serving, including automated quality and integrity using DataOps practices.
• Ensure platform high availability, performance, observability, privacy, and security for Generation’s operational and business data.
• Support the transition of Generation’s data practice to modern and AI-supported approaches, ensuring data is accessible and trusted.
• Contribute to enterprise governance, design and implement Generation-specific principles, patterns, and standards in alignment with DigiGen and Meridian’s overall data ecosystem.

Ngā pukenga kei a koe mō tēnei tūranga | What you’ll bring

• Proven experience collaborating with business and product teams to achieve shared outcomes, including design, build, enablement, and transition, with a focus on Generation operations.
• Proven track record with modern data platforms, such as Databricks and AWS or Azure native services, supporting large-scale energy data.
• Solid experience designing, building, and maintaining scalable ETL/ELT data pipelines, ideally using Spark for data at scale in energy or industrial contexts.
• Broad data modelling expertise across the data lifecycle, with an understanding of Generation business needs.
• Strong programming skills in languages such as PySpark, SQL, Python, and exposure to Terraform for IaC (Infrastructure as Code).

Ngā painga ki a mātou | What we can offer

We value work/life balance, so our flexible work options (where possible) make things easier for you and your whānau. We also offer:

• An attractive and competitive salary package that’s reviewed annually, performance-incentive plus discounts from several partnerships 
• Southern Cross Healthcare - Wellbeing one insurance, funded scheme for eligible employees to give you that extra peace of mind   
• Enhanced leave provisions: three company paid days (over the holiday period), enhanced parental leave and options to buy up to 12 days additional leave 
• Life, trauma and income protection insurance (which we hope you won’t need!) 
• Enhanced KiwiSaver contributions 
• Access to the Meridian employee share scheme 
• Excellent learning and development opportunities, we want you to be the best version of yourself and will help you get there!  
• Award winning wellbeing programme that provides support whenever and wherever you need it 
• Employee discounts off your power with Meridian, every bit counts 
• A one-off $400 payment to support your work from home set-up (if needed) 

He aha koe i hono mai ai ki a mātou? | Why join us?     

We’re a great place to work with plenty of opportunities and career development for those that want it. We value and live by three ‘How to Be’s’: ‘be gutsy’, working together by ‘being in the waka’ and doing the right thing by ‘being a good human’.

We embrace diversity and inclusion and ensure that everyone feels like they belong, are welcomed, feel valued, and feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. We want all our people to be the best that they can be, so we make sure that there’s room for everyone to be exactly who they are, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, including individuals with disabilities, diverse health needs, and those who identify as neurodiverse, because we believe our differences make us stronger. We believe that fun is good for you, and we make sure that our office vibe reflects that. We support each other and celebrate our successes.

Sustainability sits firmly in our DNA – both socially and environmentally – and we’re doing what we can to help Aotearoa reduce their carbon emissions and we’re helping support others in our generation communities to do the same.

Tono mai ināianei tonu | Apply now

All in all, we’re a genuinely great place to work, with meaningful work, supportive teams, and a clear purpose. If this role sounds like a fit and you’re keen to make a real impact on New Zealand’s energy future, apply today and tell us what you’ll bring to the role.

If you’ve got any questions, please email [email protected]. We’re committed to becoming more accessible and providing support if needed. Please get in touch if there are parts of our process you would like assistance with (process found here: meridianenergy.co.nz/careers).

View the full Senior Data Engineer JD.

Location – Wellington, Christchurch or Auckland

Advertising closes Tuesday 30th June.

Additional Information