Our water, our future.
The Principal Engineer – Wastewater Network role is a full‑time, 40‑hour position based in Wellington Water's Petone office, close to the beach and shops. It offers senior technical leadership to enhance the performance, compliance and long‑term resilience of the region’s wastewater infrastructure.
In this key role you will provide expert guidance for investigations, support strategic and asset planning, and assess upgrades and optimisation initiatives, ensuring wastewater services remain safe, reliable, sustainable and compliant with environmental stewardship goals.
You will lead and deliver complex investigations and early‑phase project development for network performance, renewals, compliance and capacity upgrades, review and advise on internally and externally designed projects, provide subject‑matter expertise on asset performance and renewal prioritisation, collaborate with operations and planning teams to embed data‑driven insights into asset management, and guide and mentor engineers in their professional development.
The successful candidate will bring over 15 years of wastewater engineering experience focused on networks, a bachelor’s degree in Chemical, Environmental or Civil Engineering (or a related discipline), experience supporting strategic investment, asset planning and prioritisation, a track record of mentoring engineers and leading technical workstreams, strong organisational and self‑motivation skills, and a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) qualification.
Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and will close once a suitable candidate is sourced. To apply, click the “apply” button or visit the Wellington Water Careers site; Wellington Water employees should use their work email. Candidates for safety‑sensitive roles must undergo drug and alcohol testing, and must be legally entitled to work long‑term in New Zealand.
Wellington Water offers flexible working arrangements, including up to two days remote, a comprehensive wellbeing programme with one paid wellbeing day annually, formal and informal professional development opportunities, and five weeks of annual leave after two years of continuous service.
Our water, our future. Wellington Water is a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) that manages the water infrastructure assets on behalf of Wellington, Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua city councils, South Wairarapa District Council, and Greater Wellington Regional Council, from source to sea. This includes all three waters - water supply, stormwater and wastewater. We supply water, plan, investigate, design, project manage and maintain pipes, reservoirs and pump stations in the region. We are passionate about water conservation, efficiency and providing the best level of service for ratepayers in the Wellington region. Want to work with us? People work at Wellington Water because they want to make a difference. If you want to help deliver great outcomes to the community and influence the health, environment and wellbeing of the region, then our fast-paced company wants to hear from you! We’re always on the lookout for great engineers, planners, operators and business folk with a passion and interest in the environment and the water industry. In our fun, family friendly and flexible working environment, you will thrive if you value collaboration, hard work and delivering results. If this sounds like you, then register your interest in working for us today at https://careers.wellingtonwater.co.nz/ and hear what’s it’s like to work at Wellington Water from the people who work here.