Move to New Zealand - Technical Strategist

Job Overview

At Propellerhead, the Technical Strategist role focuses on delivering resilient software systems that power everything from complex infrastructure to innovative new platforms. The role works alongside Product Strategists to shape the technical specification and platform direction for a portfolio of client products.

We’re looking for someone who combines architectural insight with a strong hands‑on engineering background and a genuinely AI‑native way of working. You should have spent the formative part of your career as a software developer and still be confident with understanding the structure of software solutions. You need to have knowledge of emerging trends and be agentic‑first, rapidly prototyping new ideas and judging their value in hours, not weeks, and you should be comfortable directing an AI‑assisted delivery pipeline.

You will lead and guide the design of complex systems, ensuring early delivery and continuous improvement. You’ll apply and reinforce Engineering standards for programming, shape technical solutions our AI‑assisted pipeline builds, and keep client platforms aligned with our technical strategy. You will work closely with the Chief Technologist and Engineering Principal to apply standards, patterns, and tooling in client contexts, and provide informed input into technical strategy through client platform insights and delivery experience.

This role is based in Auckland, New Zealand. While a hybrid working model is offered, regular in‑person office attendance is required. The position requires that the employee be based in Auckland, but we warmly welcome applications from across New Zealand and internationally who plan to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Design the architecture of complex software applications, especially for corporate enterprise environments where solutions combine existing services with custom development. • Define and enforce engineering standards and best practices across the portfolio. • Mentor technical teams and foster growth while ensuring quality measures such as speed‑to‑value, security, reliability, maintainability, performance and functional fit. • Communicate with senior client stakeholders, presenting solutions and securing technical alignment. • Act as the primary technical point of contact for client solutions, facilitating pre‑delivery technical prerequisites and responding to operational feedback. • Lead the transition of the code base from C# to Rust and develop the supporting toolchain, patterns and practices, incorporating AI into requirements, testing and code generation. • Build trusted relationships with key client decision‑makers, clearly explaining solution design and influencing decisions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing multi‑tier and distributed applications.
• Agentic‑first mindset; very comfortable using AI to rapidly prototype, shape solutions and direct AI‑assisted delivery pipelines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with examples of bridging technical solutions and business needs.
• Experience with React user interfaces and services written in C#; confidence in working with Typescript, Java, Go, and Rust is required.
• Hands‑on experience designing solutions on Azure, including CI/CD pipelines and operations instrumentation.
• Experience with streaming and messaging platforms such as Kafka or NATS is highly desirable.
• Proven leadership in designing complex software applications, preferably for corporate enterprise.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in digital identity, verifiable credentials, open banking, AI agent authorization, edge or device‑based deployment.
• Authority to author, review and communicate solution architecture and specifications with Development teams and the core Engineering team.
• Capability to champion Propellerhead’s technical strategy as a key business differentiator and align design and implementation with that vision.
• Ability to manage quality measures such as speed‑to‑value, security, reliability, maintainability and performance.
• Experience in facilitating evolution of code bases and ecosystems of tools and services.

Benefits

• Innovative team culture focused on learning and collaboration.
• Opportunity to work on diverse, commercially minded projects for well‑respected clients.
• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• Fortnightly knowledge sharing sessions with lunch.
• Competitive salary with Employee Share Purchase Scheme.
• Hybrid working model: office in a beautifully designed space and working from home.
• Equal opportunity workplace free from discrimination.

About Propellerhead

Propellerhead is a leading software services company that designs, delivers and maintains large‑scale, custom‑built digital platforms across a range of technologies. We emphasise meaningful technology that creates value and difference, and we cultivate long‑lasting, trustful relationships with clients. For over 20 years we have worked with a diverse range of commercial, non‑profit and government organisations.

How We Build Software

We structure solutions product‑centricly and focus on continuously delivering measurable outcomes to production. Our work begins with real stakeholder needs and the value they unlock. An AI‑assisted pipeline now generates much of the code, yielding custom components and external services that together produce a powerful, engaging experience.

Legal and Application Notes

Propellerhead is an equal opportunity workplace free from discrimination. Candidates who progress may be asked to agree to a police background check, credit history check, other assessments and provide evidence of qualifications.

We kindly request applicants to submit a cover letter. Only applications with a cover letter will be reviewed. We use AI thoughtfully in our delivery practices; however, AI is not used to assess skills, experience or suitability for a role. Every application is reviewed by a real person to maintain a fair, engaged, human process.

Learn more about our company.