Subsurface Design Engineer

Syos Aerospace; Mount Maunganui; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Worldwide relocation support

Job summary

SYOS Aerospace is seeking a senior engineer to lead the design of next-generation underwater vehicles. You will guide AUV/ROV/UUV development, own the architecture of frames and pressure vessels, and drive critical decisions on materials, hydrodynamics and payload integration.

Expect mentorship of other engineers and hands-on prototyping and field validation. This is a senior, hands-on role based in Mount Maunganui, NZ, with relocation support for the right candidate and close collaboration

Qualifications

• 5+ years of underwater vehicle design experience.
• Proven ability to lead complex subsea projects.
• Hands-on design from concept to open-water validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of AUV/ROV/UUV systems from concept to deployment.
• Own vehicle frame architecture, pressure vessels, and components.
• Guide material choices, hydrodynamics, propulsion and payload integration.
• Mentor engineers, review designs, raise team technical standards.
• Lead prototyping, testing and field validation programs.
• Collaborate with sensors, electronics and subsea teams.

Skills

Underwater design

AUV/ROV/UUV

Mentorship

Hydrodynamics

Pressure vessels

CAD Solid Edge

Prototyping

Electronics integration

Project leadership

Tools

CAD Solid Edge

Job description

Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty 3150, New Zealand

Full-time Permanent Mid-level Senior

Posted 18 Aug 2026

Description

• Lead the design of our next generation of underwater vehicles
• Relocation support available worldwide for the right candidate
• Mount Maunganui, New Zealand location

SYOS Aerospace is a fast-growing global robotics and aerospace company building advanced uncrewed systems across air, land and sea. We're looking for a senior engineer with a proven track record in underwater vehicle design to take technical leadership of vehicle development within our Subsea Vehicles team.

This is a senior, hands-on role. You'll set the design direction for our AUV, ROV and UUV platforms, guide other engineers, and own vehicles from first concept through to open-water validation. You'll be the person the team looks to on subsea design decisions.

The SYOS Way

We're a down-to-earth, collaborative team with a startup mindset: we move quickly, take ownership and turn ideas into real-world capability. Bureaucracy is minimal, your expertise will directly shape what we build, and no two days are the same. You'll join a small group of engineers who love hard technical problems and want someone experienced to help lead the way.

In this role you'll:

• Lead the design and development of AUV, ROV and UUV vehicle systems, from concept to deployment.
• Own the architecture of vehicle frames, structural components and pressure vessels.
• Make and guide key technical decisions on materials, hydrodynamics, propulsion and payload integration.
• Mentor and support other engineers, reviewing designs and raising the standard of the team's work.
• Lead prototyping, testing and field validation programmes.
• Work across multidisciplinary teams to integrate sensors, electronics and subsea systems.
• Help shape new vehicle concepts and the long-term direction of our subsea capability.

What you'll bring:

• 5+ years' experience designing underwater vehicles (AUVs, ROVs, UUVs or similar), with vehicles you can point to that you've taken from design into the water.
• Deep expertise in pressure vessel design, subsea materials and hydrodynamics.
• Strong knowledge of underwater propulsion systems.
• Advanced CAD skills (Solid Edge or similar).
• Practical experience with subsea cabling, wiring looms and PCB integration.
• Hands-on familiarity with CNC machining and 3D printing for prototyping.
• Experience leading technical work, whether formally managing engineers or acting as a lead on design projects.
• Sound engineering judgement and the confidence to make calls in a fast-moving environment.

Nice to have:

• CFD analysis for underwater vehicle optimisation.
• Offshore or marine operations experience.
• Open-water deployment experience with AUV/ROV systems.
• CAM programming.

Ready to lead?

If you've spent years designing underwater vehicles and want to take the lead on building the next generation of them, we'd love to hear from you.