Mechanical Engineer

Kovari; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Kovari in San Francisco seeks a hands-on Mechanical Designer to own robotic systems from concept to field deployment. You will select actuators, design drivetrains and enclosures, and run prototyping in our in-house shop, ensuring robust performance in real-world operations.

Sample responsibilities include sizing parts via load and tolerance analyses, integrating motors, and driving manufacturing readiness while collaborating with vendors and operators in live settings.

Qualifications

• Strong mechanical fundamentals with emphasis on GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Experience designing actuated or mobile mechanisms.
• Proficient CAD skills in SolidWorks, Fusion, or Onshape.
• Hands-on fabrication experience with mills, lathes, welding, or sheet metal.
• Portfolio of personal builds or projects.
• Bias toward rapid prototyping, testing, and iterative fixes.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical design of robots, from actuator selection to field-ready assembly.
• Design drivetrain, structure, actuation, linkages, and enclosures.
• Select and integrate motors, gearboxes, bearings, and actuators.
• Run load, stress, and tolerance analysis to size parts and predict failure.
• Build prototypes in-house and drive manufacturing readiness.
• Design for manufacturing, serviceability, and field reliability.
• Debug failures on deployed robots and loop feedback into design.
• Manage vendors for machined, sheet metal, and molded parts.

Skills

Mechanical fundamentals

Actuated/mobile mechanisms

CAD proficiency

Hands-on fabrication

Portfolio of projects

Bias toward action

Bonus: robotics/build team experience

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Onshape

Job description

Kovari develops frontier technology to transform physical businesses. We partner with established operators to change how they run, and we build and operate businesses of our own through our subsidiaries.

We are a small team of builders, operators, and researchers. We deploy on site, alongside the businesses we serve, and iterate in the field. We have raised over $6M from leading investors.

We are based in San Francisco and work in person.

The Role

You will own the mechanical design of our robots, from actuator selection and structure to drivetrain, linkages, and field-ready assembly. You design it, machine it, assemble it, and fix it on robots running in live operations.

This is not a bench role. Your designs face real constraints: variable floors, tight corridors, elevator transitions, and duty cycles that push hardware hard.

What You'll Do

• Design mechanical systems: drivetrain, structure, actuation, linkages, enclosures
• Select and integrate motors, gearboxes, bearings, and actuators
• Run load, stress, and tolerance analysis to size parts and predict failure
• Build prototypes in our in-house shop (mill, lathe, welding, 3D printing, laser cutting)
• Design for manufacturing, serviceability, and field reliability
• Debug mechanical failures on deployed robots and drive fixes back into the design
• Manage vendors for machined, sheet metal, and molded parts

What You Bring

• Strong mechanical fundamentals: material selection, GD&T, tolerance analysis, DFM
• Experience designing actuated or mobile mechanisms
• CAD fluency in SolidWorks, Fusion, or Onshape
• Hands-on fabrication: you've run a mill and lathe, bent sheet metal, and welded
• Bonus: FIRST, FSAE, combat robotics, or similar build teams
• A portfolio of things you've built on your own time
• Bias toward action: prototype fast, test early, fix what breaks

Values

• Pace of learning trumps everything.
• Relentless refinement of our craft.
• Low ego, high ownership.
• All‑in on the mission. We work in person, and this isn't a 9-to-5.