Application Engineer - 3D Printing

3ECRUIT; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company is looking for an Application Engineer specializing in industrial 3D printing. This role involves direct customer interaction, operation of 3D printing systems, and establishing engineering best practices. Candidates should have a strong mechanical engineering background and hands-on experience with additive manufacturing. This position offers a salary range of $55,000 to $75,000, and is primarily on-site in Washington, D.C., making it ideal for those seeking a dynamic and impactful engineering role.

Qualifications

• Experience in commercial additive manufacturing is essential.
• Hands-on operation of 3D printing systems required.
• Strong communication skills for customer interactions.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with customers to understand requirements.
• Carry out Design for Additive Manufacturing reviews.
• Operate and troubleshoot industrial 3D printing systems.

Skills

Commercial experience within additive manufacturing / industrial 3D printing

Hands-on experience operating FDM 3D printing systems

Strong mechanical or electro-mechanical engineering background

Experience working directly with customers in a technical role

Confident reviewing CAD models

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

APPLICATION ENGINEER – INDUSTRIAL 3D PRINTING

WHAT YOU WANT TO KNOW

• Salary: $55,000 – $75,000 (dependent on experience)
• Working pattern: Predominantly on-site
• Contract: Permanent

JOB DETAILS

Our client is an established manufacturer of industrial 3D printing systems and is opening a new US branch in Alexandria to support a specialist application within additive manufacturing.

This is a key first hire for the US site. As the first Application Engineer on the ground, you will play a crucial role in supporting customers, operating the machines, and assessing whether customer parts are viable for additive manufacturing.

The role is highly hands‑on and requires close interaction with the machines, customers, and internal technical teams. You will be responsible for translating customer requirements into successful printed parts, while helping to establish application engineering best practices for the new US operation.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work directly with customers to understand component requirements, use cases, and performance expectations
• Carry out Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) reviews to assess feasibility and recommend design improvements
• Prepare and execute builds, including orientation, slicing, parameter selection, and print strategy
• Operate, monitor, and troubleshoot industrial 3D printing systems on‑site
• Evaluate printed parts and provide clear technical feedback to customers
• Document application processes, results, and best practices to build repeatable workflows
• Act as the technical link between customers and internal engineering teams
• Contribute to continuous improvement of application processes and machine performance

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Commercial experience within additive manufacturing / industrial 3D printing (OEM, service bureau, or end user)
• Hands‑on experience operating FDM 3D printing systems (not purely desk‑based design)
• Strong mechanical or electro‑mechanical engineering background
• Experience working directly with customers in a technical or applications‑focused role
• Confident reviewing CAD models and advising on manufacturability for AM
• Comfortable working independently and taking ownership in a first‑hire environment

NICE TO HAVES

• Experience with industrial polymer systems (FFF / FDM or production‑grade polymer printers)
• Exposure to print parameter optimisation and repeatability
• Any experience with metal 3D printers
• Understanding of production or industrialisation environments
• Basic inspection or metrology experience

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline
• Strong communication skills and confidence working in a customer‑facing environment

Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor for this position.