Process Engineer (New Grad December 2026)

FREEFORM; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Relocation assistance provided

Paid vacation, sick leave, and company

Generous Paid Parental Leave

Free daily catered lunch and dinner

Stock options

Job summary

Freeform, based in Hawthorne/LA, seeks a Process Engineer (New Grad December 2026) to help invent novel metal additive processes and work with multi-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment. You will analyze large in situ data sets and post-print material characteristics to iteratively improve printing technology using machine learning.

Strong candidates have a physics foundation, experience with Python/MATLAB, and a passion for solving hard problems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, physics, mechanical engineering, or a similar engineering discipline from an ABET accredited university or college.
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to interpret important information from large data sets.
• First principles thinker with strong fundamentals in physics.
• Experience with Python and/or MATLAB.

Responsibilities

• Support the Process Engineering team in developing a deep understanding of the metal additive process and hardware operation by analyzing massive in situ data sets to gain insight into physical mechanisms of the printing process
• Assist in the execution of experiments, analyze data, and help develop and optimize processes on a metal additive system
• Perform post build metrology measurements and analysis of material properties such as tensile strength, surface roughness, and alloy microstructure
• Generate and track quality metrics of printed customer parts such as dimensional accuracy, defect distribution, and surface roughness
• Assist in the development and implementation of tool qualification procedures
• Collaborate with mechanical, software, and simulations engineers to analyze data and support rapid improvement of printing processes

Skills

Python

MATLAB

Data analysis

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

ABET fundamentals

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science, physics, or mechanical engineering

ABET accredited program

Master's or PhD (nice to have)

Tools

R

JMP

Minitab

Job description

Process Engineer (New Grad December 2026)

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 a Process Engineer at Freeform, you will have the unique opportunity to help invent novel processes for the world's most advanced metal 3D printing systems. You will work alongside senior engineers to deep dive into complex, multi physics phenomena, gaining a fundamental understanding of the system and using those learnings to support the creation of new state of the art processes. You will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of mechanical, software, and simulations engineers to analyze massive in situ data sets as well as post print material characteristics, helping rapidly iterate on improving the printing technology with machine learning.

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!

• Support the Process Engineering team in developing a deep understanding of the metal additive process and hardware operation by analyzing massive in situ data sets to gain insight into physical mechanisms of the printing process
• Assist in the execution of experiments, analyze data, and help develop and optimize processes on a metal additive system
• Perform post build metrology measurements and analysis of material properties such as tensile strength, surface roughness, and alloy microstructure
• Generate and track quality metrics of printed customer parts such as dimensional accuracy, defect distribution, and surface roughness
• Assist in the development and implementation of tool qualification procedures
• Collaborate with mechanical, software, and simulations engineers to analyze data and support rapid improvement of printing processes

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, physics, mechanical engineering, or a similar engineering discipline from an ABET accredited university or college
• First principles thinker with strong fundamentals in physics
• Coursework or research experience with experimental design and statistical data analysis
• Strong data analysis skills and ability to interpret important information from large data sets
• Experience with Python and/or MATLAB

Nice to Have:

• Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) in materials science, physics, or a similar engineering discipline
• Undergraduate research experience in material science, physics, or mechanical engineering
• Process development experience from cutting edge industries such as semiconductor, solar, or displays
• Experience with statistical data analysis software such as R, JMP, or Minitab
• Experience operating complex equipment
• Familiarity with metallurgical sample preparation such as cutting, grinding, polishing, acid etching, and optical microscopy
• Passion for developing new processes from scratch
• Comfortable working in fast paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly (comfortable building the plane as we fly it)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• 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.
• 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-$120 ,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.

Export Compliance:Due to the nature of various Freeform customers, the person hired will have access to information and items controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), and, therefore, must be a “U.S. person” as defined in the ITAR which include U.S. Citizens, lawful Permanent Residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

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 hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential 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.

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 measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis 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.