Principal Engineer Drinking Water Network

• Lead challenging and interesting investigations across drinking water networks
• Provide technical expertise across your portfolio with a strategic lens
• Influence strategic investment and long-term asset decisions

This is a full-time position of 40 hours per week based in our Petone office

The remuneration range for this role is $120,817 to $170,565 p.a (including KiwiSaver) depending on skills and experience.

The opportunity

The Principal Engineer - Drinking Water Network offers senior technical leadership to enhance the performance, compliance, and long-term resilience of the region's drinking water infrastructure. In this key role, you will provide expert guidance in conducting and reviewing investigations, support strategic and asset planning, and assess upgrades and optimisation initiatives. Your work will ensure that drinking water services remain compliant, safe, reliable, resilient, and sustainable, contributing to the region's commitment to delivering safe and reliable drinking water to our communities

You will get to:

• Lead the technical direction of complex investigations into drinking water network performance, resilience, water quality, renewals, compliance, and capacity challenges
• Provide technical support and engineering assurance across the capital works programme
• Collaborate with operations and planning teams to ensure data-driven insights inform asset management and investment priorities
• Influence strategic asset planning and investment decisions across the drinking water portfolio
• Guide and mentor others in their professional development
• Act as a recognised technical subject matter expert and trusted advisor across the organisation

About you

To be successful in this role you will bring:

• 15+ years' experience in drinking water engineering, infrastructure planning, or asset management, with significant experience across drinking water networks
• A bachelor's degree in engineering (preferably Civil)
• Experience supporting strategic, investment and asset planning and prioritisation
• Experience mentoring engineers and leading technical workstreams
• Organised, self-motivated, and committed to delivering public value
• Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) qualification

Benefits

At Tiaki Wai, our purpose extends beyond delivering great water services for the region; we foster a thriving community, support a diverse workforce, and offer supportive development opportunities. We genuinely care about your safety and wellbeing.

Our benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements including up to 2 days working from home
• Comprehensive wellbeing programme, including one paid wellbeing day annually
• Formal and informal professional development opportunities
• 5 weeks annual leave accrual will be available following 2 years of continual service

For a full list of our employee benefits click here.

About us

Tiaki Wai is a council-owned organisation responsible for managing the delivery of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services across Hutt Valley, Porirua, and Wellington.

We manage public-owned extensive water infrastructure and oversee the delivery of safe and reliable services for our communities. We focus on long-term investment, asset management, maintenance, and delivering major infrastructure projects that support public health, environmental protection, and regional growth.

Water is a precious taonga. At Tiaki Wai, we put care into every drop and are guided by our values of Integrity, Care, and Leadership. We work directly with water consumers and in partnership with councils and mana whenua to deliver better water outcomes for current and future generations.

Applications close: Sunday 6 December 2026

How to apply

To view a copy of the position description: click here

To apply for the role, click on the ‘apply’ button or visit the Tiaki Wai Careers site, if you are a Tiaki Wai employee please apply using your work email.

For further information, email: JoinUs@tiakiwai.co.nz

Applicants for safety sensitive roles will be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to commencing employment with Tiaki Wai. You must also be legally entitled to work long-term in New Zealand or eligible to obtain a working visa.