Instrumentation Specialist

Damwatch Engineering - Wellington Central, North Island Damwatch Engineering is a specialist engineering consultancy focused on dams and associated infrastructure. We provide strategic engineering, dam safety, monitoring, and asset management services for critical infrastructure in New Zealand and overseas. Due to increasing demand for instrumentation and monitoring support, we are seeking an Instrumentation Specialist to join our Wellington-based team. This role is intended as a development pathway into a specialist dam safety instrumentation role. The ideal applicant may already have experience in geotechnical instrumentation, field investigations, monitoring systems, data acquisition, earth sciences, civil engineering, electronics, or practical technical fieldwork. We do not expect applicants to already match the full depth of experience held by our current senior instrumentation specialists. For the right person, Damwatch will provide structured mentoring over the first 12 months to build capability across dam instrumentation, monitoring systems, site investigations, data acquisition, and technical reporting. What We’re Looking For A practical, technically curious person interested in instrumentation, field investigations, and infrastructure monitoring. A degree, diploma, trade, technical, or equivalent background in earth sciences, geophysics, civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, instrumentation, mechanical systems, or another relevant discipline. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Some relevant experience in field investigations, monitoring, instrumentation, data acquisition, technical servicing, construction support, geotechnical work, hydrology, electronics, or infrastructure maintenance would be valuable, but is not essential where the applicant has strong practical aptitude. An aptitude for hands-on work, troubleshooting, fabrication, testing, and problem solving in field and workshop environments. An interest in developing specialist skills in dam safety instrumentation, including piezometers, weirs, data loggers, telemetry, geophysical testing, hydraulic systems, and monitoring systems. Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to clear technical records, field notes, and technical reports. A willingness to travel to project sites in New Zealand and Australia, including remote locations. What You Will Do Support the design, installation, maintenance, upgrading, and troubleshooting of geotechnical and structural monitoring systems for dams and associated infrastructure. Assist with instrumentation systems including vibrating wire piezometers, hydraulic piezometers, weirs, seepage monitoring equipment, thermistor strings, seismographs, data loggers, telemetry, and automated data acquisition systems. Undertake field investigations and testing, which may include downhole surveys, geophysical testing, flow measurements, seismic surveys, and other site-based monitoring activities. Contribute to the design, testing, and fabrication of custom tools, components, and monitoring systems for one-off or project-specific applications. Support dam safety, remediation, construction, and performance monitoring projects, including work on embankment dams, concrete dams, canals, tunnels, spillways, and hydraulic structures. Collect, check, manage, and interpret monitoring data, and assist with the preparation of technical reports and recommendations. Work closely with civil, geotechnical, structural, hydraulic, mechanical, and dam safety specialists across a wide range of projects. About the Role The role is Wellington-based, with time split between office, workshop, home, and field-based work. Fieldwork will include travel to dam and hydropower sites, often in remote and scenic parts of New Zealand and Australia. The work is varied and practical, combining hands-on field activities with system design, monitoring, data review, and technical reporting. The role offers a pathway to develop into a specialist in dam safety instrumentation and monitoring. Training and Development A structured 12-month mentoring pathway to build practical and technical capability in specialist dam safety instrumentation. Progressive hands-on experience with instrumentation system design, installation, maintenance, troubleshooting, data acquisition, telemetry, monitoring analysis, and technical reporting. Technical guidance from experienced dam engineers and instrumentation specialists, with supervised involvement in fieldwork, dam safety inspections, upgrades, and project investigations. Exposure to geotechnical, geophysical, hydraulic, structural, and environmental monitoring technologies across dam safety, remediation, construction, and infrastructure monitoring projects. Opportunities for professional development, industry training, and role-specific safety training such as confined space entry, working at heights, first aid, and other project-specific requirements. What Damwatch Offers A collegial, technically focused team environment with people who are passionate about dam engineering and dam safety. The opportunity to work alongside experienced specialists on critical infrastructure projects in New Zealand and overseas. A mix of office, workshop, and field-based work, with exposure to interesting and technically challenging projects. Personal, technical, and professional development in a specialist field. A competitive remuneration package, including health insurance and income protection benefits. Applications close 31 August 2026. #J-18808-Ljbffr