In the period 1896–1914 he was employed as a clerk in Wellington, a flaxmiller in the Manawatu and a commercial traveller based out of Auckland.

[6] Levien embarked for the Dardanelles on 2 August 1915, where he replaced Captain Beck as the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services(DADOS) for the Australian and New Zealand Division and was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 October 1915.

[7] Redeployed to Mudros on 28 November 1915, Levien became the Chief Ordnance Officer at Sarpi camp responsible for reequipping the now depleted Australian and New Zealand Division.

In 1917 Levien was attached to the Woolwich Arsenal and the Army Clothing Depot at Pimlico for 6 and 4 week respectively where he was taught the basics of ammunition construction and methods of accounting and issuing ordnance stores.

On his return he then inaugurated new and improved systems which was approved by the NZ HQ and distributed to all commands to become the basis of future Ordnance services in the NZEF for the remainder of its existence.