Senior/Intermediate Mechanical Design Engineer

About Vessev

At Vessev, we are pioneering an innovative segment of marine transportation with hydrofoiling electric vessels that prioritize people and environmental sustainability. Our boats utilize sophisticated hydrofoils, control systems, and electric propulsion, all developed and manufactured here in New Zealand.

Role Overview

We seek a Mechanical Design Engineer to become an integral part of our Hydrofoil Systems team. You will be responsible for designing and optimizing hydrofoils, managing control surfaces, and integrating propulsion systems to enable our vessels to efficiently lift and glide above water.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceiving and refining hydro-surface shapes for optimal performance.
• Development of mechanical mechanisms managing foil retraction and control surfaces.
• Integrating propulsion systems seamlessly with foil geometry.
• Ensuring smooth integration of foils with the vessel's platform.
• Producing and prototyping intricate mechanical assemblies.
• Conducting structural and finite element analyses to validate and enhance designs under load scenarios.
• Collaborating closely with design and manufacturing teams within a shared workspace to witness design realization firsthand.
• Employing feedback from onboard sensor data to iteratively improve vessel performance.
• Keeping up-to-date with industry trends and determining when to utilize off-the-shelf components versus custom solutions.
• Innovating by simplifying and optimizing mechanical systems to improve load management and reduce complexity.
• Partnering with both in-house and outsourced manufacturing teams to ensure practicality, cost-effectiveness, and production readiness of designs.

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• A degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related qualification.
• Between five and ten years of experience in designing and developing sophisticated mechanical systems.
• Proven history of bringing products from conceptual phase through prototyping to manufacturing.
• Decision-making expertise based on rigorous analysis and experimental testing.
• Sound knowledge of mechanical design fundamentals including lightweight structures and manufacturable mechanisms.
• Understanding of aero/hydrodynamics principles and fluid-structure interactions.
• Advanced proficiency in CAD with the ability to generate detailed engineering drawings and documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities applying fundamental engineering concepts.
• Team player mindset with experience collaborating across multidisciplinary groups.
• A practical, hands-on orientation with enthusiasm for building, testing, and iterating on hardware.

Additional Plus Points

• Experience leveraging Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), and similar simulation tools.
• Exposure to electric propulsion systems and actuator technologies.
• Knowledge of composite material applications and structural design.
• Competence in data analysis utilizing Python.
• Marine industry background.

Company Culture & Benefits

Our mission is to foster positive environmental impact, enabling cleaner air, improved commuting, and stronger connections with nature and community. Our vessels consume up to 90% less energy than conventional boats. We are supported by premier investors and feature a team composed of professionals from distinguished organizations such as America’s Cup, SpaceX, Rocketlab, Halter, Apple, and leading climate tech startups.

We emphasize an office-first work culture for optimal collaboration while respecting individual circumstances by offering trust and flexibility. Benefits include:

• Opportunity to contribute to revolutionary technology with meaningful environmental consequences.
• A highly talented, cooperative, and supportive team environment.
• Paid parental leave: 20 weeks for primary caregivers and 4 weeks for secondary caregivers (conditions apply).
• Competitive pay reflecting the impact and value of your work.
• Enjoyment of waterfront office locations and water-based activities as part of our lifestyle.
• A community of fellow boating, sailing, surfing, and kiteboarding enthusiasts.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume along with a brief cover letter describing your background and motivation for this role. We encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups who may not meet every requirement yet believe they can perform the job excellently.