Electric Propulsion Engineer

Vessev; Auckland; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid parental leave

Competitive salaries

Office near Tamaki River

Job summary

Vessev in Auckland is seeking an engineer to own the mechanical design and analysis of its electric propulsion systems, from production motorpods to next-generation propulsion units.

You will collaborate with controls, firmware, electrical, systems and mechanical engineers to optimize propulsion, thermal, electromagnetic, and manufacturability aspects, and you will provide CAD drawings and production-ready designs.

Qualifications

• A degree in Mechanical, Mechatronics or Electrical Engineering.
• Experience designing high-performance electric motors with attention to EM, thermal, reliability and manufacturability.
• Hands-on hardware commissioning including dynamometer testing.
• Understanding PMSM control and motor drives.
• Ability to collaborate across controls, firmware, electrical and mechanical teams.
• Proficiency in producing detailed manufacturing drawings with CAD.

Responsibilities

• Own the design, integration and validation of Vessev’s electric propulsion systems—from production motorpods to next-generation propulsion units.
• Work across electric motors, power electronics, high-voltage DC architecture, cooling, sensors, and packaging.
• Validate designs using theory, dynamometer testing, and on-water data to improve propulsion performance.
• Collaborate with controls, firmware, electrical, systems and mechanical engineers to optimize the propulsion system for electromagnetic, thermal, and manufacturability requirements.
• Bridge design and production to ensure feasible, cost-effective manufacturing.
• Provide production CAD and manufacturing drawings to support production.

Skills

Electric motor design

Power electronics

Electromechanical systems

Thermal management

Dynamometer testing

Education

Mechanical/Mechatronics/Electrical engineering degree

Tools

CAD software

Job description

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.

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 find no shortage of boaters, beach goers, sailors, foilers, surfers, and kiteboarders here

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.