Senior/Intermediate Mechanical Design Engineer

About this role

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 Design Engineer to join our Hydrofoil Systems team, responsible for the design and performance of the foils, control surfaces, and propulsion integration that let our vessels fly above the water.
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.
Hydro-surface design and optimisation
Mechanical systems that facilitate foil retraction and control surfaces
Propulsion systems and their integration into the foil geometry
The integration of the foils into the vessel platform

With everyone working out of the same facility, our design and build teams are tightly integrated so you’ll see your work materialise, day by day.

Owning mechanical design and analysis
You’ll be designing and prototyping complex assemblies, run structural and finite element analysis (FEA), and use CAD to validate designs against real load cases. Strength, weight and performance aren’t trade-offs you balance after the fact, they’re what good design looks like from the first sketch.
Completing the loop
A hydrofoiling boat is a complex interdependent system, pull one thread and everything else moves. When we get it right, this means that any improvements can get amplified through a design loop of cascading gains. You’ll validate design decisions through onboard sensors and analysis to continuously improve the performance of the vessel.
Streamlining mechanical design
We move fast, and iteration moves faster. You’ll always be on the cutting edge, on top of the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and design innovations to stay ahead of the curve. That means always knowing the smart call: when an off-the-shelf part will do the job, and when only a custom solution will cut it. You’ll stay ahead of the curve, so our foil system design never falls behind.
Showcasing your ingenuity
We’re always open to new ways of doing things, better. We want someone who looks at a problem and asks “can I make something groundbreaking here?”. You might come up with clever ways of improving existing solutions by reducing complexity or optimizing load paths that other engineers might miss. It’s not just about buying a part and putting it on.
Managing designs through to production
You’re the bridge between design and production, working hand-in-glove with our manufacturing team, both in-house and outsourced, so every design you hand over is feasible, efficient and cost-effective.

About you
We don’t need you to be an expert on marine or electric vehicles, but you do need to be sharp, a fast learner, and relentlessly curious. Your background might be motorsport, aerospace, defense, energy, or somewhere else entirely. What matters is that wherever you’ve come from, you’ve been the engineer other engineers go to when something has to work.

We’re looking for someone with
A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline
5–10 years' experience designing and developing complex mechanical systems
A strong track record taking products from concept through prototyping and into production
Experience making engineering decisions based on analysis and testing
A clear understanding of mechanical design principles, including lightweight structures, mechanisms and manufacturable designs
An understanding of aero/hydrodynamics and fluid-structure interactions
Excellent CAD skills and the ability to produce high-quality engineering drawings and documentation
Strong problem-solving skills, with a first-principles approach to engineering
A collaborative mindset and the ability to work across multidisciplinary engineering teams
A hands-on approach, with enthusiasm for building, testing and refining hardware

Bonus experience
Experience with FEA (Finite Element Analysis), CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and other simulation tools
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…