Data & AI Engineer

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Kō wai mātou? Who are we?

Zespri is more than simply the world's single-largest marketer of kiwifruit. We like to think of ourselves as fruit on a mission and as rebels with a cause: to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We are proudly the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit in more than 50 countries. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which we supply through our distribution partners to wholesale and retail customers. We are one of New Zealand's best-known international brands, dedicated to creating sustainable long-term value for growers.

He aha te mahi? What's the role?

Based in Bologna or Aprilia, the Data and AI Engineer is accountable for the data and platform backbone on which every analytics, AI, and BI initiative depends (across the entire data lifecycle). The role designs, builds, and owns the pipelines, data quality, and governance that turn fragmented, manual processes into a trusted, accessible single source of truth. The role prepares the launch of Zespri's data engineering and platform into the next agentic AI environments, rethinking the way data is integrated and enabling powered automation that replaces repetitive workflows. The Data and AI Engineer embeds cross-functional analytics support and data literacy through direct collaboration across teams and coordination with the global Digital Team.

Accountabilities

Data Foundation & Pipeline Engineering
- Design, develop and maintain data pipelines to ingest, process and transform data from different sources into a cloud platform.
- Connect currently unintegrated platforms through robust API integrations.
- Develop and maintain feature stores, data catalogues and curated datasets to deliver the Zespri Data & Technology Strategy’s initiatives.

Data Quality, Governance & Audit
- Audit data availability and quality across Zespri: profile datasets for completeness, consistency and duplication, defining Zespri's data reliability metrics.
- Stand up the data governance framework: designate the system-of-record platform for each data domain, remove duplication across platforms, and own data definitions.
- Phase out Excel-based processes, migrate high-risk data and systems to strategic platforms, and version source code on GitHub Enterprise.

Analytics Support & Business Intelligence
- Partner with business stakeholders to translate data needs into actionable solutions.
- Prepare and serve curated, model-ready datasets for AI/ML development.
- Prepare and structure data for Databricks Apps and Dashboards and/or SAP Analytics Cloud.

Agentic AI & Innovation
- Design, build and orchestrate agentic AI/LLM workflows that automate manual, repetitive processes, building multiple agents within a single, well-governed ecosystem.
- Lead the next-generation agentic-AI architecture planning.

Ko wai koe? Who are you?

You are a curious, analytical and proactive professional who enjoys solving complex problems and turning ideas into practical outcomes. You think from first principles, make well-reasoned decisions, and focus on the details that matter while keeping sight of the bigger picture. You take ownership of your work, act on opportunities, and continuously look for ways to improve how things are done.

You thrive in collaborative environments, building trust through openness, reliability and clear communication. A team-first mindset, willingness to contribute wherever needed, and the ability to explain complex topics to different audiences are key strengths. You are eager to learn, embrace new ideas and technologies, and welcome feedback as an opportunity for growth.

You will also fulfill the following:

• At least 3+ years of delivering data engineering in a real-world business context.
• Proficiency in Python and large-scale data processing (e.g. Spark, PySpark).
• Strong understanding of data modelling and data warehousing concepts.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or equivalent.
• Hands-on experience with ETL/ELT pipelines, orchestration, and API integrations.
• Understanding of ML/AI lifecycle and data requirements.
• Exposure to large language models (LLMs), AI agents, and orchestration frameworks is a plus.
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Our people are what makes our culture so irresistible and uniquely Zespri. We are a passionate and mighty team of 850+ employees in 23 different locations globally. Working at Zespri is an opportunity to join a fast-paced, culture-driven environment unlike any other. We want people who share our values of making it happen, creating real connections, and leaving a legacy. Join us in shaping our future and be part of a truly unique organisation.

• Competitive base salary of between EUR53,000 and EUR68,000, including a short term incentive scheme opportunity. Please note that individual total compensation will vary based on
• factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, performance and work location.
• FlexWELL flexible work ethos; WFH & the office.
• Additional paid annual leave day per year (Zespri Day).
• Two additional paid leave days for you to proactively support the moments that genuinely boost your mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing (Boost Days).
• Global Life and Permanent Disability Insurance.
• Group Medical Insurance benefits.

At Zespri, we understand the importance of diverse perspectives and experiences, and a fair hiring process is the first step to getting there. We want to attract a diverse range of people and encourage everyone from all backgrounds and walks of life to apply. Please let us know if you need any assistance or reasonable adjustments to take part in the recruitment and selection process by reaching out to our Talent Acquisition team via email [email protected].