Join our evolving team of creative problem solvers!

At Holmes Solutions, we work on some very cool projects. Whether we are revamping construction methods or designing thrill rides, we pride ourselves on finding amazing new ways to do things.

Whoosh® is a genuinely new kind of transportation system - one that combines on-demand ride-hailing, autonomous electric vehicles, and an elevated cable-and-rail guideway to move people and goods above street-level congestion, non-stop, point to point. We're building something that hasn't been built before, and we need talented people to help us do it.

We have an incredibly exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior Systems Engineer to join part of our growing team at the core of the Whoosh programme. Whoosh is at an early and exciting stage of development. We learn by doing - through physical prototyping and testing as much as through engineering analysis, simulation, and design - iterating at pace and sharing insights openly across the team.

This is a full-time role based in Christchurch, with flexible working options. If you’re keen to be part of the action, please read on!

Key duties & responsibilities:

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of the end-to-end system architecture for the Whoosh vehicle, guideway, stations, and control systems.

• Develop trade studies and design decisions that balance performance, safety, cost, and constructability across diverse urban and operational environments.

• Shape Key Decisions across the development programme, ensuring reasoning and outcomes are documented and traceable.

• Set and champion standards for systems engineering practice, tools, and documentation suited to an early-stage, fast-moving development environment.

• Capture and maintain clear, testable, and traceable system requirements from all stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle.

• Own the technical baseline - defining what the system is at any point in the programme, and managing changes through a disciplined process as the design evolves.

• Track sub-system technical maturity across the programme, using readiness assessments to inform key decisions, prioritise learning, and report status to leadership.

The ideal person will demonstrate:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, or Systems Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• Typically, 8+ years of experience in complex, multidisciplinary systems - such as autonomous vehicles, EVs, robotics, aerospace, or rail.

• Demonstrated systems engineering leadership across architecture, requirements, interfaces, integration, risk, and V&V in multidisciplinary projects.

• Experience in a start-up or high growth environment, comfortable with ambiguity, rapid iteration, and shifting priorities.

• Proven cross-discipline collaboration across mechanical, electrical, software, and operations, with experience owning integration strategies that bring sub-systems together.

• Experience leading small technical teams or workstreams, mentoring others, and influencing technical direction.

• Eligible to work in New Zealand.

It would be desirable to have the following:

• Professional registration (e.g. CPEng with Engineering New Zealand) or equivalent senior level standing, or a clear pathway towards it.

• Training in System Engineering through recognised Systems Engineering bodies.

• Hands-on experience with autonomous or battery-electric vehicles, including sensors, power, and control system integration in a prototype-driven environment.

• Experience with transport systems, rail, ropeway/cable systems, or other guided or elevated transport technologies.

• Experience applying RAMS principles at system level, including sub-system allocation and lifecycle tracking.

About Holmes Solutions:

We work with international clients in many industries including adventure recreation, construction, and roadside hardware. We cover everything from ideation and R&D, to testing, compliance and accreditation. It’s fair to say there’s never a dull moment in our design hub!

Why Join Holmes Solutions?

We're a close-knit team that champions innovation, knowledge-sharing, and work-life balance. We celebrate diversity, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds because we believe in the power of varied perspectives to drive innovation.

Ready to choose a new path?

If you want to work on something epic, that matters and that nobody has quite done before - we'd love to hear from you!