Graduate Operations Planning Engineers (Feb 2024)

Transpower owns and operates New Zealand's National Grid - the unique High Voltage transmission network crossing mountain passes, forests, farmland and open sea, bringing electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed most.

With a whole-of-industry view of the electricity sector, we are at the forefront of the electrification and expansion of infrastructure New Zealand needs for a zero-carbon future.

Our Graduate Programme

In Graduate New Zealand's Top 100 for 2023, we were voted the No.1 graduate employer in the Energy and Utilities sector. Our Graduates tell us they enjoy:

• Work that has real meaning
• Our inclusive culture
• Being part of a community and forming lasting bonds that they will take with them throughout their careers
• The level of involvement they have in shaping their careers, which really can be 'Powered by you'

Commencing our programme in February 2024, you will be part of a cohort of 30 Engineering Graduates with various majors. You will gain a range of skills and put theory and first principals into practice while doing important work with a variety of different teams over your two-year rotational placement plan. 

About the Opportunity  

As a Transpower Operations Planning Graduate you will gain a range of skills including risk assessment, analytics, and critical thinking. You'll have the opportunity to put theory and first principles into practice as you play a part in shaping the future of New Zealand's electricity industry.   

Based at our Wellington head office, you'll complete a two-year rotational programme building relationship across the business. We will provide you with regular coaching and mentoring from a variety of technical experts to give you an overview of Power System careers at Transpower, with a focus on operational planning. You will experience real work from day one!

You may be part of: 

• Ensuring a secure and reliable grid by assessing daily risks and longer-term issues
• Conducting assessment and coordination of outages to enable secure and efficient access to the power system
• Reviewing plans to enable commissioning of new power system assets, and assessing the impact of assets or network changes to our models
• Liaising with Transmission Analysts or planners in generation or other power system companies
• Providing plans, advice, and data for the real-time control room teams on operational engineering to maintain system security

As we work across different time frames (from real-time to looking at major projects and changes on the Grid over the longer term) you will be involved in a variety of work during the programme. You will gain deep technical knowledge of how we operate the Grid, how we assess outages, and how we manage the changes and risks that Grid activities have on the electricity market.

You'll also spend time with closely related teams i.e. our Electricity Market team or control rooms. This will help your technical understanding, knowledge of key transmission business drivers, and support you to build a good understanding of both internal and external customer needs.  Ultimately, you will explore where and how you wish to shape your Engineering career with us.

What will you bring

By December 2023 you will hold a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical engineering or other relevant discipline e.g. Mechatronics/Computer Systems Engineering or you may be completing your master's or further study in a relevant field.

You will have achieved/are achieving a B+ average or GPA of 5.5 or above in your studies and demonstrate diligence, attention to detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and active listening.

Your analytical and problem-solving skills will support your love of detail-orientated work/study. An organised, unflappable person, you will be able to work comfortably under pressure, close to real-time operations, and see challenges as opportunities.

While not essential, please tell us if you have:

• Basic knowledge/experience of the New Zealand electricity supply industry
• Skills in scripting/programming/coding
• Proficiency in the use of relevant load flow analysis computer applications

Why work for Transpower?

Aotearoa is powered by the people who work here. Every home, every marae, every electric vehicle, every hospital relies on the electricity we manage and deliver. This is your opportunity to join us on a mission that affects all New Zealanders, the planet, and the economy.

You will get to collaborate widely and be part of making an enduring difference.

We encourage further learning and progression over time. As an Engineering New Zealand Professional Development Partner, we can support you in moving from Emerging Professional to full Member status. Proudly, 30% of our roles are filled via lateral or internal promotion.

Our people tell us they enjoy our flexible, friendly work environment and the broad range of health and wellness benefits available - check them out here: www.transpower.co.nz/about-us/careers/benefits 

When Transpower is your mahi, Aotearoa is powered by you.