Lead Protection & Control Engineer

Lead Protection & Control Engineer

Auckland or Wellington

Mott MacDonald is a global, employee‑owned engineering consultancy supporting clients across transmission, distribution, generation and renewable energy. In New Zealand, our Energy team plays a critical role in strengthening grid reliability and enabling the energy transition.

We are seeking a Lead Protection & Control Engineer to provide technical leadership across protection and control systems, supporting complex substation and power system projects from concept through to commissioning.

Your role

As a Lead Protection & Control Engineer, you will be responsible for the technical leadership, coordination and delivery of protection and control engineering activities across multiple projects.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading protection and control design for HV substations and power systems


• Owning protection philosophies, schemes and technical standards


• Reviewing and approving protection and control designs, settings and documentation


• Providing technical input into system studies, fault analysis and scheme selection


• Supporting commissioning, testing strategies and outage planning where required


• Acting as the primary technical interface with clients and network operators


• Coordinating with OEMs, contractors and multidisciplinary teams


• Mentoring and developing protection engineers and early‑career staff


• Supporting energy bids and proposals through technical leadership

About you

You will bring:

• A degree in electrical engineering


• Over 10 years  experience in protection and automation engineering


• Strong knowledge of protection schemes, relays and substation control systems, and New Zeeland codes and standards


• Experience leading or reviewing protection designs for transmission  networks


• A methodical, high‑ownership approach to safety‑critical engineering


• Strong communication skills and stakeholder confidence

Experience with transmission‑level protection or system operator standards is desirable.

Why join Mott MacDonald

• Take a lead role in shaping NZ’s power system reliability and resilience


• Work across transmission, distribution and renewable energy projects


• Influence technical standards and capability development


• Flexible working and strong professional development support


• A culture where technical excellence and people leadership are equally valued

If you’re ready to take the next step in your engineering career and want to work on projects that truly matter, we’d love to hear from you.

Make a difference today. Shape tomorrow’s energy network with Mott MacDonald.

Employee ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.


• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.


• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.


• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.

Our benefits package is designed to enhance your experience: 

•    A flexible and agile work atmosphere that caters to your professional journey and life's special moments
•    A competitive salary complemented by Discretionary Group and Personal Performance Bonuses for eligible employees
•    Comprehensive coverage including life, personal accident, and salary continuance insurance, providing peace of mind during uncertain times
•    Opportunities to enhance your work-life balance through the option to purchase extra annual leave
•    Employee resource groups including the Inclusive Network for Women, Corporate Social Responsibility and more

You've got this!
We endorse a diverse and inclusive workplace and look to provide suitable opportunities for employees including the opportunity for part time and job shared roles where possible. If you are interested in this role and looking for a part time permanent opportunity, please apply!