Engineering Intern - Summer 2026/27

Engineering Intern
Electrical, Mechanical or Mechatronics  -  Summer 2026/27

This is a paid summer internship doing the detailed engineering work behind real renewable energy infrastructure. You’ll build the technical picture of the instrumentation and assets across our hydro, thermal and other sites. Cataloguing equipment, building instrument datasheets, and developing P&IDs alongside our engineering and operations teams. The mix of office and site work depends on the position, but the thread is the same: precise, practical work that becomes part of how we run and maintain these assets.

We’re hiring for two positions this summer. Tell us which one you’re applying for:

Position 1 — Electrical Intern (Christchurch)
Final-year Electrical or Mechatronics student

Build an accurate, up-to-date inventory of instrumentation across our Renewables sites. You’ll identify and catalogue onsite devices, develop instrument datasheets (purpose, location, performance), and create P&IDs for selected sites.

Position 2 — Mechanical Intern (Christchurch or Alexandra)
Final-year Mechanical or Mechatronics student

Update P&IDs for our thermal sites and complete a hands-on survey of PER assets — including inspection and measurement of pedestals on the lower Roaring Meg pipeline. This one’s outdoors: expect walking over uneven terrain, standing for long stretches, carrying gear, and working in whatever weather Central throws at you.

What you’ll bring

• Final-year Electrical, Mechanical or Mechatronics engineering study
• Sharp attention to detail and solid record-keeping
• Comfort reading equipment specifications and datasheets
• Site-based or industrial project experience is a bonus, not a must

The details

• Full-time: 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day, five days
• $29.90 per hour
• Mid-November 2026 to early February 2027
• Reporting to the Engineering Team Leader
• Please note our sites observe a two-week Christmas/New Year closedown period; we’ll confirm the arrangements and how this affects your hours during recruitment

About us

Pioneer Energy Renewables operates and maintains more than $400 million of renewable energy assets — hydro schemes, wind farms, thermal energy and our wood fuel division — with people and plant from Auckland to Bluff and our head office in Alexandra, Central Otago. We’re part of Pioneer Energy Group, majority owned by Central Lakes Trust with a strategic equity partnership with Tōtara Energy LP, all backing long-term, community-focused renewable energy in Aotearoa.

Our values guide how we work:

• We care for each other — compassion, respect, commitment
• We embrace kaitiakitanga — protecting our people, communities and environment
• We take ownership — accountable and empowered to act
• We focus on what matters — delivering with purpose
• We are one team — collaborating for the best outcomes

Why you’ll like working here

You’ll work with a knowledgeable technical team, build experience across a varied renewable energy portfolio, and see your work contribute directly to safe, reliable infrastructure. You’ll also have access to our Employee Assistance Programme.

How to apply

Sounds like your summer? We’d love to hear from you. To be considered, you’ll need to:

• Be eligible to work in New Zealand
• Hold a current New Zealand driver licence
• Be able to meet the travel and physical requirements of the position you apply for
• Pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol test

Shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide a recent academic transcript.
Apply now with your CV and cover letter. We’re reviewing applications as they come in.