Principal Cloud Test Engineer| Kaipūkaha Whakamātau Kapua Mātāmua

Role Overview Fixed-term or secondment opportunity until June 2027 Play a key role in the data development and delivery as part of our Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) project, here at Stats NZ. The IDI is a world first in leading the integration of datasets to link information from key Government agencies, surveys and NGOs, to translate into better social outcomes for all New Zealanders. In this newly created fixed‑term role, the Principal Cloud Test Engineer will be part of a multidisciplinary team shaping and advancing our cloud and infrastructure platforms for the IDI, through automation, modern engineering practices and technical leadership. This role requires a senior practitioner who can provide technical and thought leadership across the full quality‑engineering lifecycle. You will influence architecture, design, delivery, and engineering decisions that ensure long‑term testability, resilience, maintainability, and platform maturity. Scope of the Role Leading the adoption of modern quality‑engineering practices across the Data Platform team and associated delivery initiatives through standards, governance, coaching, and technical leadership. Developing and maintaining the Data Platform quality‑engineering approach, including test automation, data quality, assurance practices, reusable frameworks, and quality controls. Establishing and embedding automation‑first practices, including CI/CD‑integrated testing, automated quality gates, and repeatable assurance processes. Designing and evolving reusable test architectures, frameworks, tooling, and patterns that support multiple teams, products, and programmes. Providing technical guidance across usability, accessibility, scalability, security, reliability, performance, maintainability, operational resilience, and business continuity. Contributing to standards for ingestion, transformation, data quality, lineage, observability, security, privacy, controls, and operational resilience. Evaluating emerging testing technologies, techniques, and practices and applying those that provide demonstrable value. Producing clear test strategies and technical documentation that support sustainable ownership by internal teams. Driving continuous improvement using evidence from testing outcomes, defects, incidents, operational performance, and delivery feedback. What You Bring Proven experience operating at Principal Test Engineer level, or in an equivalent senior technical leadership role. Deep experience designing and implementing test automation architectures and frameworks that are scalable, maintainable, reusable, and integrated with CI/CD pipelines. Strong full‑stack engineering capability, with sound technical judgement across architecture, data, applications, APIs, integration, performance, and maintainability. Senior‑level experience working with modern cloud platforms and cloud‑native engineering practices. Experience testing data platforms, data pipelines, analytical solutions, distributed systems, or other complex data‑intensive services. The ability to work through ambiguity, balancing delivery and platform stability with longer‑term quality and architectural direction. A strong engineering mindset, with a focus on quality, resilience, scalability, automation, security, and operational excellence. Pragmatic, risk‑based advice that supports compliance with organisational policies, quality standards, security controls, and regulatory requirements. Well‑developed written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly and present detailed information in plain language. Excellent judgement and sound decision‑making skills, with the ability to mitigate risks to focus on value. The ability to confidently coach, influence, and mentor across delivery teams. What’s In It For You? 15 days sick leave allowance (to be used for yourself or people under your care). Funded counselling and coaching through our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). Visual and hearing health benefits (for permanent kiamahi). Corporate rates for a variety of services and products. Study assistance programmes. An active social club in each office. Starting Salary Starting salary for this position: $119,795 - $162,075 + kiwisaver. Equal Employment Opportunity You must have the right to live and work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Background and various pre‑employment checks are part of our recruitment process. #J-18808-Ljbffr