CNC Machinist

Kovari • San Francisco, CA

9d • Onsite

About The Position

Kovari is hiring a CNC Machinist to own machining for its robots. The role turns engineering drawings and CAD into precise parts using an in-house CNC mill, including a Haas VF-2SS and related equipment. The machinist programs, sets up, cuts, and inspects parts, maintains the shop, and addresses parts that need fixes after field use.

This is a hands-on role alongside engineers who iterate designs daily. Work includes quick-turn prototypes, one-off parts, and short production runs in aluminum and steel, with tight lead times. Parts must fit robot actuators, drivetrains, and structures used in demanding live environments such as hotels. The machinist also contributes to design-for-manufacturing improvements and supports the shop workflow so engineers can get parts without delay.

Kovari develops technology for physical businesses, partners with established operators, and builds and operates businesses through its subsidiaries. The company describes itself as a small team of builders, operators, and researchers, with more than $6 million raised from investors. It is based in San Francisco and works in person. The company emphasizes pace of learning, continual refinement, low ego, ownership, and commitment to its mission; this role is not a 9-to-5 position.

Requirements

• Hands-on CNC milling experience, including setup, tooling, and producing good parts independently.
• CAM fluency with Fusion, Mastercam, or similar software.
• Ability to read engineering drawings with GD&T.
• Strong metrology skills and the ability to determine whether a part is within specification.
• Experience machining aluminum and steel.
• Comfort with one-off parts and short runs rather than only high-volume production.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Haas CNC mills.
• Lathe experience.
• Welding experience.
• Manual mill experience.
• Fixture-design experience.
• Robotics, FSAE, combat robotics, or similar shop background.

Responsibilities

• Program and operate CNC mills, including CAM, setups, fixtures, tool selection, and repeatable processes.
• Machine robot parts from engineering drawings and CAD, including brackets, plates, housings, shafts, linkages, and custom fixtures.
• Own shop workflow, including material, tooling, workholding, inspection, and turnaround.
• Inspect parts to print using measuring tools and basic GD&T, and identify defective parts before they reach a robot.
• Maintain machines and the shop, including tooling inventory, consumables, cleanliness, and basic preventive maintenance.
• Partner with mechanical engineers on design-for-manufacturing changes that improve machining speed, tolerances, or assembly.
• Support quick-turn prototypes and small production batches as robot designs evolve.
• Fix or refine parts and processes when issues arise in the field or machining process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed