At Vessev, we’re defining a new category of marine transport: hydrofoiling electric vessels that are genuinely better for people and the planet. Our boats fly above the surface using advanced hydrofoils, control systems, and electric propulsion – designed and built here in Aotearoa.

With strong momentum, global growth, and major milestones ahead, we’re looking for a Mechanical Engineer to be part of the Hydrofoil Systems team.

This is a rare opportunity to help build the technical capabilities of a category-defining, Kiwi startup from the earliest stage. There’s so much scope to make this role your own, and we want you to create something you’re insanely proud of.

What you’ll be doing

The Hydrofoil Systems team plays a central role in enabling Vessev’s hydrofoiling capability. Their work is what allows the vessel to operate efficiently on foils, forming a critical part of the overall system that brings the boat together as a complete, high-performance product.

The systems that fall under the care of this team include, but are not limited to:

Hydro-surface design/optimisation
Mechanical systems that facilitate foil retraction and control surfaces
Propulsion systems and its integration into the foil geometry, and
The integration of the foils into the vessel platform.

With everyone working out of the same facility, our boat production teams are tightly integrated with the design team. Rather than having the design and build team detached from each other, you can literally see your work materialise, day by day.

Owning mechanical design and analysis

You’ll need to be comfortable with designing and prototyping complex assemblies, structural analysis, finite element analysis (FEA) and CAD. This will help you validate designs against load cases, and optimize for strength, weight, and performance.

Completing the loop

A hydrofoiling boat is a complex product of interdependent systems, with each part of the conceptual design having a significant effect on several other aspects. When we get it right, this means that any improvements can get amplified through a design loop of cascading gains. Validating design decisions through onboard sensors and analysis is a key skill in this role.

Streamline mechanical design elements

Being early on in our commercial production journey, progress is fast but iteration moves faster. Our solutions require a thoughtful approach to our foil system design. You will always be on the cutting edge, on top of the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and design innovations to stay ahead of the curve. This might mean selecting off-the-shelf components when appropriate to streamline the design and reduce costs, but also knowing when a custom solution is necessary to meet specific project requirements.

Showcase your ingenuity

While there is plenty of experience and talent, Vessev is always open to new ways of doing things, better. You might come up with clever ways of improving existing solutions by reducing complexity or optimising load paths. It’s not just about buying a part and putting it on, it’s about looking at a particular problem and asking yourself “can I make something groundbreaking here?”

Manage designs through to production

Among their other roles, our engineers form the bridge between design and production, so you’re in constant contact with the manufacturing team (both in house and outsourced) to ensure every design is crafted with feasibility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in mind.

About you

Your experience might come from dabbling in motorsports, aerospace or the energy sector but you’ll have honed your skills in mechanical designs and complex assemblies. We don’t need you to be an expert on marine or electric vehicles, but you do need to be intelligent, a fast learner, and curious – this will have a much more significant impact on how you come up to speed on the technical details.

We’re looking for someone with

A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
Experience with mechanical component and system design, analysis and optimisation
An understanding of mechanical design from prototyping through to production
An understanding of aero/hydrodynamics and the fluid-structural interactions that result
Experience with FEA (Finite Element Analysis), CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and other simulation tools
Ability to create and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and assembly instructions

Bonus experience

Experience with electric propulsion systems and actuators
Knowledge of composite materials and structural design
Proficient in data analysis using Python
General experience within the marine industry

About us

We’re here to set a better world in motion – cleaner air, better commutes, and deeper connections with nature and each other. Our hydrofoiling electric vessels use up to 90% less energy than traditional boats, unlocking entirely new opportunities.

We’re backed by top-tier investors including Blackbird Ventures, and our team includes talent from the America’s Cup, SpaceX, Rocketlab, Halter, Apple, and leading climate startups. But titles don’t matter here – what matters is how we show up: with purpose, humility, and a restless optimism for what’s possible.

We’re office-first but not office-only. We believe in building together, in person, where the real magic happens. That said, we trust our team to do what’s right and we know life isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Why our people love Vessev

We’re building something different – from how we move on the water to the kind of team and workplace we’re creating
The chance to work on technology that can drive real, lasting impact in the world
A team of hugely talented and collaborative people
20 weeks fully paid parental leave for primary caregivers, and 4 weeks for secondary (conditions apply)
Competitive salaries that reflect the value of the work
Being on the water is part of our job – from trips on our vessels to our offices that border the Tamaki River
And if the water’s where you want to be, you’ll be in good company. You’ll find no shortage of boaters, beach goers, sailors, foilers, surfers, and kiteboarders here.

Apply now

To apply, send us your CV and a short cover letter that gives us a sense of who you are and why this role feels like the right fit.

Research shows that women and other under-represented groups often only apply when they meet every requirement – even though they could be an excellent fit. If you see yourself doing great work here, but don’t tick every box, we’d still love to hear from you.

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