Engineering requires good judgement, decision making and ability to fight through the complex.
At Lutra, our process engineers investigate, design, optimise and commission treatment plants. We critically analyse the data to aid our clients in making key decisions with their assets. We work towards a clear outcome, and that passion is where we find our purpose.

We’re looking for a Senior Process Engineer to join our consultancy team. If you’re a self-starter who doesn’t wait to be told what to do next, this is the position for you.

About the Role

This is a senior technical role with real ownership. You’ll lead water and wastewater treatment projects end to end. You’ll scope the work, estimate the effort, set the programme, manage the budget and invoicing, and coordinate the engineers working with you. You’ll be the person the client calls, and the person who makes sure the answer is right.

The work covers the full plant lifecycle: investigations, process design, optimisation, commissioning and operations support. Your scope of work ranges from running a pilot trial to developing upgrade options, and completing a risk assessments ahead of a compliance review.

You’ll also be the engineering voice behind Infrastructure Data: Lutra’s SaaS end-to-end water management software. You’ll give technical input on how the platform is set up and used, and occasionally help clients see what it can do for their plants.

What you’ll own:

Leading water and wastewater treatment projects from scope to close-out, including effort, duration, budget, invoicing and the people working on them
Providing technical expertise across investigations, design, optimisation, commissioning and operations
Carrying out performance assessments, process investigations, pilot trials and risk assessments, and developing practical options for optimising treatment plants
Assessing project risk and applying sensible, proportional contingencies
Building strong relationships with councils, water utilities and industrial clients across NZ and Australia, and putting yourself in their shoes when shaping solutions
Growing the pipeline through business development, and spotting new ways to add value to what Lutra offers
Providing technical input to Infrastructure Data, including intermittent technical sales support
Contributing to our quality review process and sharing your knowledge with the wider engineering team

Who are we?

Everything we do at Lutra is to support our purpose of protecting water, the environment, and people’s health by delivering smarter solutions. The people we work for, and with, is the foundation of our purpose. Our focus on excellence, innovation and sustainability is why we’re a key player in the water and wastewater sector.

Lutra provides specialist process engineering and data management services in both New Zealand and internationally.

Our clients set the expectations, and our team responds by thinking critically, advising on outcomes and then striving to over-deliver on every aspect of the engagement. Most importantly, we have fun doing it and prioritise staff wellbeing above and beyond most elements. Our culture is our core:

Flexible working arrangements
Personal development opportunities including support for professional memberships
Fully covered health insurance
Generous employee assistance programme (EAP)
Wellbeing days and allowances
Additional parental leave
Long-term leave
Social committee planning monthly staff events (where joining in is truly optional)
A diverse, inclusive team where you get to shine as your individual self!

We’re a great group of passionate people who believe in living our values every day:

Demand Excellence: We’re not just here to meet expectations – we want to exceed them.
Get Things Done: We take action and achieve results. Challenges are opportunities for us to shine.
Raise the Bar: good is fine, but excellent is better. We’re always moving to push boundaries and set new standards.
Trust and Respect: Teamwork is essential to our success.
Have Balance: We love balance. Our wellbeing matters, your wellbeing matters, and real work-life balance matters.

How we Work

Lutra is a hybrid employer with employees around the country; our main office is based in Lower Hutt, Hamilton is our secondary office, with a bunch of us based remotely - while still working together as one big team. We have a large client base within NZ, with a growing base internationally including Australia, UK and USA. This position is preferred to be based from our Lower Hutt office, but we can be flexible for the right person.

We regularly work across different parts of NZ and abroad. These experiences are a core part of how our people grow, and we actively encourage it. As a Senior, you’ll have access to professional development opportunities both in NZ and internationally.

Skills and Experience

You will have an Engineering Degree (Washington Accord) and 5+ years’ experience, but we rate fitting in with our culture and values higher than any education. Experience with New Zealand Water or Wastewater treatment is essential, and experience with process design, optimisation and commissioning is required. Having pre-existing NZ client relationships is a plus. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, the ability to prepare professional, high-quality reports, and demonstrating leadership capabilities are required.

We offer:

A fun, diverse, inclusive, and energetic company

Competitive salaries, performance increments and an annual bonus
Relaxed and friendly atmosphere in a cool working space
Flexibility, flexibility, and flexibility
Personal development opportunities, support with chartership and ongoing growth

If you are passionate about making a difference and possess the required skills and experience, we invite you to be a part of our dynamic team at Lutra. Join us in our mission to deliver smarter solutions for a sustainable future.

If Lutra sounds like your place to work, but this isn’t the right position for you – keep an eye on our Careers page for other hiring opportunities, or register your interest in working with us so we can contact you when a suitable position opens.