Engineering Cadet

Engineering Cadetship – New Plymouth

This is more than a job. It's the start of a career where you'll gain qualifications, experience, support, and opportunities that will help shape your future.

Join Downer and become part of a team that's building, maintaining, and enhancing the infrastructure that keeps New Zealand moving.

Own Your Career. Build What's Next. 

Ko te take ka parekareka e koe ki te mahi ki kōnei | Why you will enjoy working here

Downer is committed to delivering excellence by ensuring our people have the environment and the means to be successful.

We also offer:

• Earn While You Learn: We'll support your academic journey through financial assistance, study leave, mentoring, and practical workplace experience.
• Structured Rotations: Experience different areas of our business through planned rotations that provide broad exposure to civil construction, transport infrastructure, project delivery, and maintenance operations.
• Professional Development: Build both technical and professional skills through structured learning, mentoring, networking opportunities, and leadership development.
• Career Pathway: Successful cadets graduate into permanent engineering positions, setting the foundation for a long-term career with Downer.
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Te kōwhiringa | The Opportunity

This isn't the easy option. It's the smart one.

Our Engineering Cadetship combines full-time work with study, meaning you'll need commitment, discipline, and a willingness to learn. In return, you'll earn while you learn, gain real engineering experience from day one, avoid the large student loan many graduates face, and build a career with one of New Zealand's leading infrastructure businesses. By graduation, you'll have both your qualification and years of industry experience under your belt.

Following the successful completion of our current cadet's journey through the programme, we're excited to offer a new Engineering Cadetship based in New Plymouth.

This opportunity may suit you if you are:

• Looking to study towards a New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Civil) while gaining valuable practical experience (with study costs supported by Downer)
• Currently completing your final year of NZDE (Civil) and ready to commence full-time employment
• An experienced tradesperson seeking a career change into engineering and interested in completing the NZDE qualification

Programme Details

Programme Length: 2.5 to 4 years (depending on your current academic progress)

Support Provided:

• We pay for your NZDE – no student loans
• Study leave
• Dedicated mentoring
• Structured development plans
• Networking opportunities with cadets and leaders from across New Zealand

Start Date: The formal programme commencing in January next year. Earlier employment opportunities may be available by agreement.

Nga pūkenga matua | Important Skills:

We're interested in people who demonstrate:

A Growth Mindset: You enjoy learning, embrace challenges, and are motivated to continually develop yourself.

Initiative: You take ownership, ask questions, and actively seek opportunities to contribute.

• Adaptability: You're willing to work across different teams, projects, and locations to broaden your experience.

  Strong Mathematical Ability: You have achieved a minimum of NCEA Level 2 , or are working towards Level 3 Mathematics, or can demonstrate equivalent capability.

• Commitment to Safety: You understand the importance of keeping yourself and others safe and are prepared to contribute to a strong safety culture.
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Eligibility Requirements:

To be considered, you must:

• Must be a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Hold, or be willing to obtain, a Class 1 Driver Licence
• Be committed to Health, Safety and Wellbeing
• Successfully pass a pre-employment medical, drug and alcohol assessment

Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation

This is an excellent opportunity to develop a career with Downer and become part of a leading company that has a strong footprint in Infrastructure around New Zealand. We place huge value on developing our people and support ongoing training and development opportunities.

Successful cadets graduate into permanent engineering positions, providing the foundation for a long-term engineering career with Downer.

Me pēhea ki te tono | How to apply:

Here’s your chance to join a great team and start developing your engineering career with Downer! If this opportunity interests you, apply via www.downercareers.co.nz. Job number 738282.

Please submit your CV, cover letter and academic transcript (if applicable) through our online recruitment system. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted.

Please note that successful applicants will be required to pass a pre-employment drug test & medical.

Due to the fast-paced nature of Downer, our vacancy close dates may be subject to change, so don't delay and make sure you apply as soon as possible.