ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER (EARLY CAREER)

Freeform is deploying software-defined, autonomous metal 3D printing factories around the world, bringing the scalability of software to physical production. Our proprietary technology stack leverages advanced sensing, real-time controls, and data-driven learning to produce digitally-verified, flawless parts at unprecedented speed and cost. Our mission is to make the transformative power of 3D printing available to all industries at scale and unlock the future of innovation.

As an Additive Manufacturing Development Engineer at Freeform, you will play a critical role in the development of our advanced metal 3D printing technology including machine functionality, part quality analysis, print file preparation/generation, and providing 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 will leverage your technical insights to advance system capabilities using a first principles mindset. 

This is a unique opportunity to work alongside and learn from leaders and pioneers in the metal additive manufacturing space to disrupt the industry with our autonomous printing factory 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, 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:

  • Experience with metal 3D printing
  • Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering
  • Strong academic track record
  • Passion for additive manufacturing
  • Scrappy, first-principles approach to solving hard problems
  • Team-oriented mindset and positive attitude
  • Detail oriented with excellent verbal, graphical, and technical communication skills
  • DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) or LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) experience
  • Process development experience for metal additive manufacturing
  • Scripting experience in Matlab (or similar) for toolpath generation
  • Experience working with internal and/or external customers
  • Mechanical systems design experience 

Location:

  • We are located in Hawthorne, CA in a 35,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high growth startups and enterprises.

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  
    • As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. 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 $85,000-$200,000, inclusive of all levels/seniority within this discipline.
  • 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.

Apply for this Job

* Required
resume chosen  
(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)
cover_letter chosen  
(File types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf)
When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review
+ Add another education


Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Freeform’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.


Enter the verification code sent to to confirm you are not a robot, then submit your application.

This application was flagged as potential bot traffic. To resubmit your application, turn off any VPNs, clear the browser's cache and cookies, or try another browser. If you still can't submit it, contact our support team through the help center.