Additive Engineer

ADDITIVE ENGINEER (NEW GRAD SUMMER 2027)

Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software, hardware, and physics to produce industrial-scale parts at the speed of human ideation. By treating manufacturing as a single integrated system, we unlock a new era of innovation where complex hardware is designed, built, and scaled without limits.  

As an Additive Engineer at Freeform, you will play a critical role in advancing our metal 3D printing technology, including machine functionality, part quality analysis, print file preparation and generation, and DFAM recommendations for some of the world's largest manufacturers. You will own projects from cradle to grave as a responsible engineer, taking customer designs from concept through printing, testing, and delivery. You will develop a fundamental understanding of the printing factory and leverage your technical insights to advance system capabilities using a first principles mindset.

3D printing experience is not required to be successful here, rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology!

Responsibilities:

• Understand printing system capabilities and roadmap, and work with internal engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software) to implement solutions that further automate the printing process for high volume production
• Drive all stages of print production development, including design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) feedback, file preparation, printing, post processing, and quality control
• Analyze in situ data and post print part quality to drive continuous improvement
• Use first principles thinking to understand problems, define test methods, evaluate solutions, iterate, and provide technical recommendations to internal and external stakeholders
• Document application requirements and objectives, statements of work, standard operating procedures, next steps, and action items to align all internal and external team members
• Interface with external customers to communicate Freeform's technical capabilities; work with customers on improving Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM)
• Contribute to Freeform's internal technology development with feedback from internal and external stakeholders via detailed design and systems level improvements

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering from an ABET accredited university or college
• Hands on design experience from internships or engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar
• Full life cycle hardware design experience from hand calcs to CAD to fabrication and testing
• Well versed in mechanical engineering fundamentals and comfortable taking a first principles approach to solving problems

Nice to Have:

• Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) in mechanical or aerospace engineering
• Experience with metal 3D printing, particularly LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
• Process development experience for metal additive manufacturing
• Scripting experience in Matlab (or similar) for toolpath generation
• Passion for improving the state of metal 3D printing
• Comfortable working in fast paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly (comfortable building the plane as we fly it)
• Strong communicator who collaborates across disciplines and proactively seeks support when needed
• Willing to take ownership of tasks big and small, with a hands on, problem solving mindset
• Experience working with internal and/or external customers
• Mechanical systems design experience
• Strong work ethic with a refuse to fail mindset
• Demonstrated indicators of excellence and/or achieving success against adversity (i.e. top academic performance, leadership in engineering clubs, first generation college student, or other examples of resilience and achievement)

Location:

• Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof. We operate at the center of LA’s deep tech ecosystem, surrounded by some of the most ambitious hardware innovation happening anywhere in the country.
• Our fast-paced, cross-functional environment is built on close collaboration, and as such, this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week), with very limited exceptions.

What We Offer:

• We have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions.
• We offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology.
• Benefits
  • Significant stock option packages
  • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options)
  • Life insurance
  • Traditional and Roth 401(k)
  • Relocation assistance provided
  • Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays
  • Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent
  • Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette
  • Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events
• Compensation  
  • Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role. 
  • In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $95,000-$110,000, dependent on the candidate's academic level (Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) and demonstrated out of classroom experience. 
• Freeform is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity; employment with Freeform is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.