Senior Engineer - Future Network and Planning
Based in Whakatāne or Auckland with occasional travel as required
Full-time Permanent | 40 hours per week
About Company
At Horizon Networks we do more than just keep the lights on — we manage the network that powers homes, businesses, and communities across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. As the region's trusted electricity distribution provider, we're the team behind the poles, wires and systems that keep life moving. From network design, engineering and asset management to managing the impacts of climate change and enabling electrification, our people are committed to supporting sustainable power across the communities we serve. Horizon Networks is accredited to ISO 55001, demonstrating our commitment to internationally recognised asset management practices and continuous improvement. Horizon Networks is proud to be a member of the Horizon Energy Group, which 100% locally owned by Trust Horizon.
About Role
This is a senior technical role where you will lead network planning, modelling, and investment decision-making. You'll provide expert engineering insight to guide how our network evolves in response to climate change risk, changing customer needs, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements. You will also play an instrumental role in ensuring our Asset Management Systems are current, effective, and aligned with ISO 55001 requirements
Key responsibilities include:
• Leading short, medium, and long-term network planning studies.
• Deliver complex connection assessments (DER integration, EV charging, generation, major loads)
• Maintaining and improving Power Factory models, planning tools, and analytical methods.
• Develop evidence-based investment recommendations and business cases
• Drive non-network solutions, innovation trials, and resilience planning
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and quality assurance across the business
• Lead and contribute to Asset Management Plan (AMP) and regulatory submissions
• Support Horizon's ISO 55001 asset management system and continuous improvement
• Providing technical mentoring and quality assurance across planning outputs and engineering studies
To be successful in this role, you will ideally have:
• Bachelor's degree or postgraduate qualification in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems, or related discipline; and OR aleast 10 years' experience in electricity distribution, transmission, power systems, or network planning.
• Strong experience with Power Factory and power system modelling tools.
• Exposure to DER, flexibility services, resilience planning, or electrification
• Experience with network planning, investment analysis, regulatory evidence, and business cases.
• Strong analytical, technical, and communication skills.
• Current driver licence or ability to obtain a NZ driver licence.
Desirable experience includes exposure to DER integration, resilience planning, Power BI, GIS, Python, SQL, or asset management systems.
What's in it for you?
• Relocation Support (if required)
• Career development working alongside a highly experienced technical team.
• Life & critical illness insurance.
• Paid birthday leave.
• Wellness Benefits including health checks, flu jabs, EAP
• Corporate Discounts
• Free Parking
• The opportunity to contribute to the resilience and future sustainability of critical electricity infrastructure.
We're looking for someone who not only brings strong technical capability, but also lives our SWITCH values:
• Sustainability – supporting long-term, resilient solutions.
• Winning – taking ownership and delivering results.
• Innovation – improving the way we work.
• Trust – acting with integrity and teamwork.
• Customer Focus – delivering great outcomes for customers.
• Health & Safety – putting safety first, always.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand.
If you're ready to make an impact and help shape the future of electricity distribution, apply now.
