Assistant Engineer – Operations

About the role

The Assistant Engineer – Operations will provide hands‑on engineering and operational support to water and wastewater treatment teams in Christchurch. This development‑focused position offers exposure to plant performance, compliance reporting, and improvement projects, preparing you for future Process Engineer roles.

Key responsibilities

• Support safe and effective operation of water and wastewater treatment plants.
• Provide engineering assistance to Process Engineers and Network Operations teams.
• Assist asset replacement, renewal, and maintenance projects.
• Develop and review standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Monitor plant performance, prepare KPI and performance reports.
• Support compliance activities, audits, and reporting with Quality & Compliance teams.
• Conduct site inspections, audits, and manage Permit to Work processes.
• Update SAP data, asset records, and maintenance planning.
• Provide leave and standby cover for operational and engineering roles.
• Participate in standby rosters and incident/emergency response.

Required profile

• Early‑career or developing engineer with a relevant degree (environmental, chemical, industrial or similar) or equivalent experience.
• Some experience in water, wastewater, process plant or other industrial environments.
• Interest in treatment processes, plant performance and operational systems.
• Strong attention to detail and accurate reporting.
• Ability to work independently and know when to seek guidance.
• Full New Zealand driver licence.

Required skills

• Microsoft Office suite.
• SAP or similar asset management/database systems.

What we offer

• Valuable exposure across drinking water and wastewater operations.
• Opportunities for professional development towards a Process Engineer career.