Data Engineering Lead

Working with the AA | Me mahi tahi tatou ki AA

For over 120 years the AA have been helping Kiwis on their adventures! Today, we're one of New Zealand's most respected and trusted brands. From our humble beginnings as a motoring enthusiast's club, the New Zealand AA (Automobile Association) has grown into a large, dynamic organisation offering many services and products to more than a million Members.

And now, we’re building the organisation of the future – more connected, modern, and purpose-driven. We are a business in transformation, with opportunities to work cross-functionally, grow new skills, and make a meaningful impact. We’re investing in our people, platforms, and ways of working to stay ahead of what our Members and customers need.

What You'll Be Doing | Mō te Tūranga

As our Data Engineering Lead, you’ll play a key role in building AA’s new enterprise data platform while leading and developing a growing team of data engineers. You’ll stay hands‑on while setting the technical direction for the data platform, ensuring it is secure, scalable and reliable. Working closely with architecture, DevOps, data governance and the wider Data, Insights & AI team, you’ll help shape how AA designs, delivers and manages data for the future.

In This Role You Will

• Lead, coach and support the Data Engineering team, fostering a collaborative, high‑performing culture.
• Own the integrity, security, reliability and availability of AA’s data platform.
• Develop and deliver the data engineering strategy, framework and roadmap.
• Design, implement and maintain modern data architectures and models in collaboration with architects.
• Work closely with analytics, insights and AI teams to provide high-quality, governed data.
• Champion data engineering best practice, including ETL/ELT, CI/CD, metadata, lineage and data quality.
• Manage key relationships with external platform and tool partners.

About You | Mōu

You’re an experienced, hands‑on data engineer who is already leading a team or someone who is ready to take that next step and lead a team while remaining technically active. You work well in complex, well‑governed environments and are excited by the chance to shape an enterprise data platform from an early stage.

You Will Bring

• Exceptional hands‑on experience with Snowflake and dbt, and proven ability to build and optimise modern data pipelines in cloud environments, e.g. AWS.
• Current, practical engineering capability- you enjoy being close to the tools and delivering solutions yourself.
• Experience working in large, complex or regulated organisations with strong governance and data quality expectations.
• Either experience as a current Lead/Manager who stays hands‑on, or as a Senior Data Engineer ready to step up.
• A proactive and independent working style - you take ownership and don’t require close supervision.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work confidently with architects, modellers and technical stakeholders.

What We Offer | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

• Free AA Membership for you and your whānau
• A day off for your birthday
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Training available / career development
• Discounted insurance

Here, we offer a lot more than roadside assistance. We're constantly evolving and advancing into new businesses, offering new challenges and a range of opportunities.

If you’re a hands‑on data engineering leader who’s excited by the opportunity to shape a modern enterprise data platform and grow a talented team, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and play a defining role in building the AA’s data future.

Our teams celebrate diversity and believe that everyone should be able to bring their true selves to work every day. We want you to feel comfortable to be your authentic self throughout the recruitment process, please feel free to let us know if there is anything you need to allow you to participate equitably.

We are aware that there will be candidates who are interested in the role but may only feel comfortable to apply if they have ticked all the boxes. We want you to know that if you feel like you don't meet all the requirements, please still get in touch. We'd love to korero to see if you might be a great fit for the role.

Key skills/competency

• Snowflake
• dbt
• AWS
• Data Pipelines
• ETL/ELT
• CI/CD
• Data Governance
• Data Quality
• Data Architecture
• Team Leadership