Systems Engineer – junior role

Ministry of Defence | Manatū Kaupapa Waonga

Fixed term till June 2029
Wellington CBD
2-3 years post graduate engineering experience

About the role I Mō te tūnga

This role would suit early career candidates with 2-3 years of post graduate engineering experience, looking to advance their career in systems engineering. You will be working with an experienced team, and will benefit from close collaboration and leveraging the combined knowledge of Ministry of Defence (MoD) and New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) project subject matter experts and requirements leads.

You will be joining the Frigate Life Extension (FLE) Programme. This Programme has been established to manage the oversight of projects needed to extend the life of the Anzac frigates for the (NZDF) to mid-2030s. It provides a mechanism to balance frigate capability, operational availability and value for each investment decision made within the Programme. This Programme is midway through the Investigative Phase for the tranche of work encompassing up to 150 projects.

What you will bring

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited university.
Up to 3 years of post-graduate engineering experience (relevant internships or co-op placements count toward this).
Software Proficiency: Foundational knowledge of industry-standard software (e.g., CAD, MATLAB, FEA/EEA tools) and standard MS Office applications.
Standards Awareness: Basic understanding of relevant local engineering standards, safety regulations etc.
Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills with a proactive approach to diagnosing and fixing technical issues.
Communication: Clear written and verbal communication skills for technical reporting and team collaboration.
Learning Agility: A strong desire to learn, take on feedback, and continuously develop technical capabilities.

You don’t have to tick every box. If the role sounds like you please apply.

We know that some people, especially women, can be unsure about working in the defence sector. If you’d like a confidential conversation about what it’s like working at the Ministry of Defence please email us at [email protected]

Who we are I Ko wai mātou

We are the Government’s lead civilian advisor on defence. We also purchase major equipment which becomes a capability when it is used by those in service of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Ko mātou ngā kaitohutohu matua ki te kāwanatanga mo ngā kaupapa waonga. Nā mātou hoki, ngā taputapu nunui i hoko, hei āheitanga i roto i ngā ringa o ngā tāne me ngā wahine o Te Ope Kātua o Aotearoa.

Salary and Benefits I Utu ā-Tau

We are careful to maintain pay relativities amongst our people and our roles. For this reason the salary offered for this role will be between $85,000 to $100,000, depending on skills and experience.

We have a great range of benefits including:

Kiwisaver contribution on top of remuneration
An annual wellbeing subsidy
Some flexible working options that support the individual, the team and the organisation
Contributions towards childcare for children up to age 14
Eyewear subsidy
A range of employee led networks you can join

Before you apply

Working within our environment means we have to ensure you're eligible for employment.

You must:

Have been a New Zealand Citizen for at least 10 years

Hold a current NZ Residency Class Visa and ideally have been a citizen of the UK, USA, Canada or Australia for at least 10 years

For most roles you'll have a 10 year checkable background in countries NZSIS Vetting can make meaningful and reliable checks.

Still unsure? Use this online tool to self-check your eligibility for a security clearance: http://www.protectivesecurity.govt.nz/eligibility-tool

Please direct any queries regarding this role to [email protected] we will however, not consider applications emailed to this address.

Applications close: 5pm Tuesday 17 November 2026