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 Vehicle Performance Engineer to help us understand, measure, and continuously improve how our vessels perform – both on the water and in simulation.

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.

The role

Every foil, every motor, every line of control software eventually shows up as a number on a vessel somewhere. You’ll be the person who turns that data into insight, working out how our vessels are really performing, why, and what we can do about it. It’s a role that sits right at the intersection of engineering rigour and curiosity, with the freedom to build the tools, models and processes that best support the vessel and business.

You’ll work closely with our engineering and design teams, feeding performance insight straight back into how we build and improve our vessels.

What you’ll be doing

Performance analysis & reporting

• Tracking and analysing vessel performance metrics to draw clear conclusions on operational efficiency.
• Conducting root cause analysis when performance issues crop up, and following through to a fix.
• Preparing detailed performance reports for management and stakeholders.
• Visually presenting findings and recommendations that drive real improvements in operational efficiency, using images and live dashboards.

Modelling & optimisation

• Developing and implementing strategies to optimise vessel performance.
• Building models to calculate nominal vessel performance under specified operating conditions, to monitor vessel health in real time.
• Using and developing our simulator software, Gomboc, as a core tool for modelling vessel behaviour and validating performance improvements before they hit the water.

Data infrastructure & management

• Creating scalable solutions for how we store and access performance data.
• Owning data admin and database management, keeping our data clean, structured and trustworthy.

About you

You don’t need to be an expert in marine, hydrofoiling, or electric transport but ideally, you’ll have worked in an industry that involved vehicle performance. You’ll be curiosity-driven rather than manager-driven, and care about doing meaningful work.

You’re someone who's happiest getting into the detail of a dataset, testing a hypothesis, and coming out the other side with a clear, well-evidenced answer. You can just as easily explain that answer to an engineer as you can to a non-technical stakeholder, and you take real pride in getting things right.

We’re looking for someone with

• A Bachelor of Engineering or another relevant equivalent qualification.
• 3+ years’ proven experience in vehicle/vessel performance analysis.
• A track record in performance optimisation, efficiency analysis, or operational improvement.
• Hands-on experience with data analysis, including data collection, cleaning, and interpretation.
• Experience running case studies to analyse performance changes and outcomes.
• The ability to communicate complex data insights clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
• A proactive, enthusiastic and self-motivated approach, and genuine openness to learning.
• The ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines, with a strong focus on getting things done efficiently, effectively and to the highest standard.
• A flexible approach and the ability to adapt to change quickly.
• Tenacity, a can-do attitude, and the ability to think on your feet with good judgement.

Bonus experience

• A background in the America’s Cup, SailGP, motorsport, aerospace, or another high-performance vehicle environment.

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, Rocket Lab, 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

If this sounds like the kind of work you want to be doing, hit the apply button. Include 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. We’re building a team where everyone has the chance to do their best work.