Mechanical Engineer
Obvio · San Carlos
About Obvio AI
Each year, more than 40,000 people in the U.S. leave home and never make it back due to traffic crashes. At Obvio, we believe these deaths are preventable. We deploy solar-powered, AI-assisted cameras to enforce traffic laws where pedestrians are most vulnerable, automating enforcement in ways that traditional systems cannot. Our approach has already led to a 50% reduction in reckless driving in early partner cities.
Founded by the team behind Motive's AI dashcam and backed by Bain Capital Ventures and Khosla Ventures, we are building the intelligence layer for safer streets globally.
About the Role
We are looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to join our hardware team and help design the next generation of Obvio products.
You’ll work across the mechanical product-development cycle, from early concepts and CAD through prototyping, testing, DFM, and production. You’ll design components and assemblies that integrate cameras, electronics, sensors, and other hardware into products deployed in demanding outdoor environments.
This is an ideal role for an engineer early in their career who has a strong foundation in mechanical design and wants significant ownership of real, shipped hardware. You won’t just design parts in CAD - you’ll build prototypes, assemble and test your designs, work with manufacturing partners, troubleshoot problems, and iterate until products are ready to ship.
What You’ll Do
Mechanical design: Design components, enclosures, brackets, mounts, and assemblies for Obvio’s hardware products using 3D CAD.
Design for manufacturing: Develop parts for manufacturing processes including plastic injection molding, sheet metal forming and stamping, CNC machining, and other production methods.
Electromechanical integration: Design mechanical systems around cameras, PCBs, sensors, antennas, wiring, connectors, and other electronics.
Outdoor product design: Help develop robust hardware for long-term outdoor deployment, considering sealing, water and dust ingress, UV exposure, temperature, vibration, serviceability, and other real-world conditions.
Rapid prototyping: Build and iterate prototypes using 3D printing, CNC machining, off-the-shelf components, and other rapid fabrication methods.
Testing & iteration: Assemble prototypes, develop practical tests, identify mechanical failures or weaknesses, and rapidly improve designs based on what you learn.
Production drawings & tolerancing: Create clear engineering drawings, define appropriate tolerances, and ensure components can be manufactured and assembled reliably.
DFM/DFA: Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners to review designs, incorporate DFM feedback, improve manufacturability, and prepare components for production.
Material & process selection: Select appropriate materials, finishes, manufacturing processes, fasteners, seals, and other mechanical components based on product requirements.
Product ownership: Take ownership of components and subassemblies from initial requirements through design, prototype, validation, and production release.
Cross-functional development: Work closely with electrical, software, operations, and other engineering team members to turn product requirements into reliable physical products.
What We’re Looking For
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field.
2–5 years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
Strong 3D CAD skills and experience designing mechanical parts and assemblies.
Working knowledge of engineering drawings, dimensional tolerancing, tolerance stack-ups, and basic GD&T.
Understanding of design for manufacturing and assembly (DFM/DFA).
Experience with one or more common production processes such as injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, stamping, or CNC machining.
Strong mechanical intuition and practical problem-solving ability.
Comfortable building, assembling, modifying, and testing your own designs.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-moving environment where requirements evolve and engineers are expected to take ownership.
Strong communication skills and willingness to collaborate directly with engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.
Bonus Points
Experience designing injection-molded plastic parts, including practical considerations such as wall thickness, draft, ribs, bosses, inserts, parting lines, and assembly features.
Experience designing formed or stamped sheet-metal components.
Experience with IP-rated, weather-resistant, or ruggedized products, including gaskets, seals, vents, cable entries, and enclosure design.
Experience designing products intended for continuous outdoor deployment.
Experience mechanically integrating cameras, optics, PCBs, sensors, antennas, connectors, or other electronics.
Hands-on experience with 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, or other rapid-prototyping tools.
Experience working directly with machine shops, injection molders, sheet-metal vendors, contract manufacturers, or tooling suppliers.
Experience developing products in a hardware startup, robotics, automotive, IoT, industrial equipment, security/camera systems, or another electromechanical product environment.
Experience with SolidWorks, Fusion 360 or another professional 3D CAD platform, with proficiency in parametric part and assembly design.
Why This Role
Build products that matter. Your work will directly contribute to technology designed to reduce dangerous driving and improve road safety.
Ship real hardware. You’ll see your designs move from CAD and prototypes into production and deployment in the field.
Own meaningful engineering work. You’ll have substantial responsibility for components and designs without needing to wait years to get meaningful product ownership.
Work across the entire development cycle. Design, prototype, build, test, manufacture, deploy, learn, and improve.
Learn quickly. Work closely with an experienced hardware team while gaining exposure to mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, and field engineering.
Move fast. We’re a Series A hardware startup where good ideas can become physical products quickly.
Competitive compensation and early-stage equity.
Why Obvio
Your work will help save lives and improve road safety
Series A of $54M
Fast-moving startup environment with meaningful ownership
Competitive compensation and early-stage equity
Obvio is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Obvio considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Obvio is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please let your recruiter know.
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