The posting
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 Propulsion 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
- Electrical 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 take ownership of the design, integration, and validation of Vessev's electric propulsion systems—from today's production motorpods through to the next generation of larger, more powerful propulsion units. You'll be comfortable working across electric motors, power electronics, high-voltage DC architecture, cooling systems, sensors, and electromechanical packaging, balancing efficiency, reliability, manufacturability, and performance.
Completing the loop
Electric propulsion is central to every aspect of vessel performance. Motor efficiency, cooling, sensing, control, and packaging all influence vessel efficiency, reliability, and the overall customer experience. You'll use theory, calculations, dynamometer testing, and on-water data to validate designs to continuously improve how we propel the boat over the water.
Building integrated propulsion systems
Our propulsion systems combine electric machines, inverters, sensors, cooling, software, and mechanical structures into a single highly integrated product. You'll work closely with controls, firmware, electrical, systems, and mechanical engineers to optimise the complete propulsion system, making informed trade-offs between electromagnetic performance, thermal management, packaging, manufacturability, cost, and reliability.
Showcase your ingenuity
We're not looking for someone who simply integrates existing components. We want an engineer who enjoys solving first-principles engineering problems—finding simpler, lighter, more efficient ways to package electric machines, cool power electronics, improve reliability, or extract more performance from the complete propulsion system. If you've ever looked at a design and thought, "there has to be a better way," you'll fit right in.
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
You may come from the EV, aerospace, robotics, marine, motorsport, or industrial automation industries, with experience designing electric machines, power electronics, or complex electromechanical systems. You don't need to be an expert in hydrofoiling vessels, but you should be curious, analytical, and excited by solving multidisciplinary engineering problems. You're equally comfortable reviewing electromagnetic simulations, discussing inverter architecture, creating production CAD, or standing beside a dynamometer or test vessel working through the next engineering challenge.
We’re looking for someone with
- A degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Experience designing and optimising high-performance electric motors, considering electromagnetic performance, thermal behaviour, efficiency, manufacturability, and reliability.
- Hands-on experience planning and executing hardware commissioning, including dynamometer testing, hardware-in-the-loop development, and on-water testing.
- An understanding of PMSM control algorithms and experience configuring motor drives.
- The ability to collaborate with controls, firmware, electrical, and mechanical engineers to optimise complete propulsion systems, balancing electromagnetic, thermal, structural, hydrodynamic, and manufacturing requirements.
- Experienced in conveying component and assembly designs in CAD, producing detailed manufacturing drawings, and supporting products through manufacture and assembly.
Bonus experience
- Sensor integration, including torque, thrust, speed, position, temperature, pressure, or condition-monitoring systems.
- PCB design and layout for power electronics or embedded systems.
- General experience with electrical design including design of DC power grids
- 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.
