Network Designer – Help us shape the future of Waipā’s electricity network

Are you an experienced electricity distribution professional with a talent for network design and a passion for delivering quality solutions?

Waipā Networks is looking for an experienced Network Designer to support our growing community by designing and estimating new customer connections, private network projects, and essential network upgrades. With a mix of network growth, asset replacement, and customer-driven workstreams, this role is critical to ensuring the safe, efficient, and sustainable development of our electricity distribution network.

Whether you’re looking to make a move to the beautiful Waipā region or seeking an exciting new challenge, this role offers the opportunity to work at the heart of a progressive, community-focused network that’s committed to innovation and excellence.

Why Waipā Networks?

We own and operate the electricity network serving Cambridge, Te Awamutu, and the surrounding region. We’re 100% owned by the Waipā Networks Trust, serving more than 40,000 customers across a dynamic mix of rural, urban, and industrial landscapes.

Waipā Networks' key benefits:

• Excellent career development
• Competitive remuneration
• The ability to purchase additional annual leave
• Fully covered health insurance for you and your family
• Fully covered life insurance, equivalent to twice your base annual salary
• Flexible working arrangements available.

The role of a Network Designer

You’ll play a pivotal role in the design, planning, and development of our electricity distribution network, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for new connections, private customer projects, and critical network upgrades. Your expertise will be essential in surveying, scoping, and designing 11kV and LV network extensions, incorporating industry best practices and engineering standards to support a resilient and future-ready network.

Beyond technical design, you’ll collaborate closely with internal teams, contractors, and key stakeholders to optimise network performance and ensure seamless project execution. From preparing work packages and cost estimates to obtaining consents and approvals, you’ll have a direct impact on the delivery of high-quality network solutions that serve our customers and communities.

As part of our team, you’ll also have opportunities to share your expertise - working alongside colleagues to refine processes, enhance design capabilities, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of Waipā Networks' infrastructure.

Key responsibilities:

• Survey, scope, and design 11kV and LV network extensions for customer connections, network projects, and asset replacements
• Determine network connection points and ensure compliance with servicing requirements for new or altered designs
• Develop cost estimates and work packages, including material schedules and approvals
• Prepare designs using CAD, GIS, and other software, ensuring compliance with AS/NZ 7000 standards
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders, including customer, local councils, contracts, and internal project teams
• Maintain accurate records for new connections and network modifications.

About you

You will have:

• An appropriate tertiary qualification in Electrical Engineering or a related field, with a solid understanding of network design principles
• 2-5 years of experience in the electrical distribution industry, with a focus on designing 11kV and LV network extensions
• Experience in using design tools such as CAD, GIS, and CATAN, along with a solid knowledge of engineering standards and regulations
• A proven ability to develop cost estimates, work packages, and project schedules for network design projects
• Strong collaboration skills, with experience liaising with stakeholders, contractors, and internal teams to ensure successful project outcomes
• A commitment to health, safety and compliance, consistently adhering to industry best practices and regulations.

Application process

We run a structured recruitment process, including pre-employment vetting. To apply, you must have the right to work permanently in New Zealand without restrictions and be currently in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Join us at Waipā Networks and be a part of something remarkable.