Data Engineer

About Us

WorkSafe New Zealand is the primary regulator for workplace health and safety, driven by the vision that every person returning from work is healthy and safe. Our organisation values unity, meaningful engagement, and duty of care.

Team Overview

The Enterprise Planning and Implementation group is newly formed to enhance coordination, prioritisation, and support through project delivery. Within it, the Data, Analytics and AI team supports data-driven decision making by building and maintaining essential data assets, collaborating closely with analysts, architects, engineers, and business units to underpin reporting and organisational analytics.

Role Summary

As a Data Engineer, you will be instrumental in designing, constructing, and maintaining critical data infrastructure that powers the organisation. Partnering closely with the Digital Information and Services team, your responsibility will be to develop reliable and secure data pipelines, storage, and platforms to promote accessibility and integrity of data. Your technical skills will support efficient data flow, enhance data quality, performance, and governance, thereby enabling strategic reporting and operational decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and maintain data infrastructure including pipelines and storage solutions to ensure secure and reliable organisational data access.
• Develop and fine-tune ETL/ELT pipelines to enable efficient and scalable data processing.
• Implement processes for data validation, cleansing, reconciliation, and error handling to uphold data quality and consistency.
• Oversee data platform health by monitoring performance, reliability, and stability.
• Contribute to data governance efforts ensuring security, compliance, and appropriate access controls to safeguard data privacy.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Proven experience with data storage architectures such as data warehouses and data lakes, including cloud-based environments.
• Expertise in developing and optimising ETL/ELT workflows focused on availability, efficiency, and dependability of data systems.
• Knowledge of government data privacy standards, regulatory frameworks, and cloud technologies.
• Competence in data modelling techniques and database management.
• A strong ethical commitment to public service and responsible data handling.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams.
• A degree in computer science or a relevant technical discipline, supported by extensive experience in comparable roles.
• Preferred familiarity with Azure Synapse and Pyspark.

Additional Information

This posting includes four fixed-term positions available until 30 June 2027, with locations open across WorkSafe offices. Inter-agency secondments are welcomed after consultation with current managers.

WorkSafe is undergoing organisational changes to improve role clarity and operational effectiveness, offering preference to affected staff in recruitment.

Applicants must have legal rights to live and work in New Zealand.

Salary and Benefits

The salary range for the role is NZD 103,059 to NZD 135,004 per annum, exclusive of KiwiSaver and SSRSS employer contributions, with increased KiwiSaver contributions from April 2026.

WorkSafe provides:

• Five weeks of annual leave
• Fifteen days of sick leave
• Flexible working arrangements
• A Reward and Recognition Framework valuing employee contributions
• Opportunities for professional development
• Employee-led networks supporting diversity including Rainbow, Pacific, Women’s, and Tū Rangatira Māori communities

Application Process

Applicants should prepare authentic CVs and cover letters showcasing their true skills and experience rather than relying exclusively on AI tools. Early applications are encouraged as recruitment may conclude before the deadline of 21 September 2026.