Ground & Satellite Based Navigation Radio Systems Engineer

About Airways:
Our people manage New Zealand's 30 million square kms of airspace, providing air traffic control, surveillance, communication, flight inspection, mapping, and airspace design services. We work with government, regulatory authorities, airlines, airports, and the general aviation community to ensure pilots, passengers and goods reach their destination - safely. At Airways, our values underpin all that we do. We value Safety, One Airways, Excellence and Success in all that we do.  

Our organisation is made up of operational business groups that are supported by governance and corporate services functions. To learn more about our people and organisational structure, check out www.airways.co.nz/about.

About the Business Unit:
The Technology Group is responsible for maintaining the comprehensive network of hardware and software required to maintain safe skies across Airways’ airspace. This includes an array of surveillance, communications and navigation systems located across the country and the hardware and software used every day by air traffic controllers to stay connected to pilots and each other.

The Technology Group is also responsible for working alongside the ATS group to develop the necessary technologies to support the future aviation industry, as well as providing day to day and future focused technology support to the wider business.

About the Team:
The Communications, Navigational and Surveillance (CNS) team provide national design, installation through to commissioning and escalated support functions.

Communications systems include Voice Switches, Recorders, Radio Links, HF/VHF Radios, VSATs, Telephony and Aerodrome Communications infrastructure. Navigation systems include ground based Non-Directional Beacons, Distance Measuring Equipment, Instrument Landing Systems, VHF Omnidirectional and Ranging Systems and space based GNSS and future Satellite Based Augmentation Systems.

Surveillance Systems include Primary and Secondary Surveillance Systems, Multi-lateration Systems, Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast Systems, Drone Detection Systems and Remote Camera Surveillance. Other technologies managed by the team are National Supervision Control and Data Acquisition, NTP Clocks and Aerodrome Meteorological systems.

About the Role:
We have a permanent full-time opportunity for a Communications, Surveillance and Navigation (CNS) Systems Engineer to join us at our Christchurch based campus.

Reporting to the Systems Manager, the focus of the role is to take a lifecycle approach to system engineering from requirements, design, planning, installation and commissioning.

Additionally, you’ll provide advice and escalated support using a safety by design systems methodology to our critical aeronautical communications, navigation and surveillance assets used by Airways New Zealand and our overseas clients.

For a full list of tasks and responsibilities, please refer to the position description (attached to advert on our careers site).

About You:
This role is well suited to someone with a genuine passion for aviation, transport or the technology industry.  

To be successful, you will hold:

• A university qualification in a technology field, Washington Accord specialising in Radio Communication and Electronics preferred.
• Five (5) plus years’ experience in systems design, systems engineering and maintenance/operations practices as well as supplier/vendor management.
• Proven success with designing and delivering complex solutions on time and to budget with quality outcomes.
• A good understanding of a wide range of technologies, and capable of understanding not only how the technology functions, but how it is used and where it fits into the business.
• Efficient user of MS Office 365, analytical tools for radio coverage (ATDI); surveillance analysis (SASS-C); reliability (Reliasoft + Reliability Centred Maintenance (SAE 1011 and 1012)).
• Strong radio frequency (RF) knowledge, monitoring architecture, supporting infrastructure/managing civil contractors, systems of systems/integration, space-based technologies.
• Fundamental networking (TCP/IP, Multicast, SNMP, LINUX, PC/Servers - Virtualisation, VMWare), python coding and systems security knowledge.
• Confidence needed to interact with both internal and external customers.
• Eligibility and willingness to work towards becoming a Certified Professional Engineer.
• Motivation to learn and seek out the information needed to deliver at the highest quality and standard.
  

About Our Offering:
Airways offers a competitive package inclusive of a solid base salary and a generous superannuation scheme with employer contributions of up to 11% of earnings (T&Cs). Additionally, we offer five (5) weeks annual leave, vast learning and career progression opportunities.

Airways is honestly a great place to work, with an international reputation for innovation and success. You'll work with some of the most experienced, talented, and dedicated engineers and technicians in the industry.

To Apply:
If you are customer focused, attentive to detail and can appreciate the safety and quality requirements of the aviation industry, then please submit your application (CV and Cover Letter) via the job advertisement.

Please note that you must be legally eligible to work in New Zealand to be considered. This role will require the successful candidate to undergo pre-employment background checks including references, drug and alcohol screening, criminal conviction and related.

Application closing date is Friday, 31 October 2025.