Entry Level Marine Engineering Jobs in Minnesota

About Verterra

Verterra Energy is reimagining how the world makes power from moving water. Our VOLTURNUS turbine is a clean-sheet design - not a windmill dropped underwater - built to drop into rivers, canals, and oceans and turn the energy already flowing past us into electricity. We're a small team of engineers and builders in New Brighton, MN who design, machine, mold, and assemble the entire system under one roof, and we're scaling. The composite structures that let the turbine survive out in the water are built by hand in our composites shop - and we are growing the team.

Role Overview

We are looking for a sharp, motivated person to join our composites team and learn the trade from the ground up. You do not need composites experience - we will train you. What we need is someone who shows up, listens, and works hard.

You will work alongside and learn directly from our senior composites technician, a former GM Le Mans body and brake specialist. The parts you build go into real hardware that has to survive out in the water, so the standard is high from day one.

Core Responsibilities

Composite Fabrication
Layup of carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other composite materials
Mold preparation, release agents, and surface finishing
Vacuum bagging and resin infusion

Finishing & Quality
Trimming, sanding, and post-cure finishing
Quality inspection on parts that go into our hydro turbines
Contamination control - clean bench, clean tools, clean habits; contamination ruins parts

Shop Support
Keep the composites bay clean, organized, and safe
Support the wider shop as builds come together

Who Thrives Here

We care less about what's on paper and more about how you work:
Drive - you want to learn a trade and are willing to put in the reps to get good at it
Work ethic - you push through the hard parts of the day without being told
Coachability - you take direction, follow instructions exactly, and ask questions when you don't understand
No ego - you don't need to be right, you need to learn the job
Reliability - on time, every day, ready to work
Attention to detail - small mistakes ruin parts; you get the small stuff right the first time

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent
Strong written and spoken English - you can read safety procedures and technical instructions and follow verbal direction precisely
Reliable transportation to New Brighton, MN

Preferred Qualifications

Any hands-on background - auto body, boats, fabrication, custom builds, mechanical work, model-building, restoration projects
If you have built things with your hands and cared about how they came out, tell us about it

What Success Looks Like

Within your first months, you are executing layups and bagging safely under supervision
Within a year, you are running core processes independently and training on the next skill
Your parts pass inspection the first time and your bay is the cleanest corner of the building
You are on a real career path - composites is a trade in strong demand across aerospace, motorsports, marine, and defense

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life, disability, and basic protection
• 401(k) with employer match
• Unlimited paid time off + 2 weeks sick and safe leave
• 7 company-paid holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
• Stocked kitchen

Equal opportunity