Opto-Mechanical Build Engineer

OPTO-MECHANICAL BUILD ENGINEER

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.

In this role, you will be responsible for leading the development and deployment of custom opto-mechanical systems for the world’s most advanced metal 3D printing systems. You will establish and scale processes for how we build, assemble, align, and integrate opto-mechanical systems. You will work with high-power lasers, high-speed cameras, and other proprietary hardware and software to integrate novel capabilities. This is a hands-on role in which you will be expected to own hardware development, testing, and implementation yourself. Opto-mechanical systems lie at the heart of our technology, so this is a high-impact opportunity at a rapidly growing deep-tech company.  

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:

• Build, assemble, align, and deploy complex opto-mechanical systems. 
• Develop procedures for scaling in-house opto-mechanical build processes from prototype to volume production. 
• Integrate high power lasers and high-speed camera solutions. 
• Design mechanical solutions to integrate optical design with precision and repeatability. 
• Create drawings specifically to opto-mechanical GD&T standards. 
• Establish and own the precision alignment process including method, procedure, and software used. 
• Perform test and characterization of optical performance including process, equipment selection, and passing criteria. 
• Work closely with process engineering team to solve physics-based interdependencies. 
• Work closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to develop a robust and scalable system architecture. 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Optics/Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics, and 2 years of hands-on professional experience; or a Master's degree in one of these disciplines and at least one hands-on opto-mechanical internship.
• Hands-on experience with opto-mechanical systems (build, assembly, alignment, etc.).
• CAD experience, including GD&T and detailed drawing documentation as it relates to opto-mechanics. 
• Strong mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals. 

Nice to Have:

• Master’s degree in optical engineering or mechanical engineering.