Senior Applications Engineer, Metal 3D Printing (L-PBF)

Nikon SLM Solutions

Long Beach (CA)

On-site

USD 150,000 - 190,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage including medical, not

401(k) plan and 4% match

Holiday Pay and Paid Time Off

Paid parental leave

Gym reimbursement

Company‑paid disability coverage

Company‑paid life insurance

Job summary

Nikon SLM Solutions in Long Beach is seeking a Principal Application Engineer to lead complex metal additive manufacturing projects, guiding customers from design for AM through qualification and production across aerospace, defense, medical and energy sectors.

You will partner with cross-functional teams to develop manufacturable solutions, optimize processes, analyze data, and drive best practices while mentoring engineers and presenting technical proposals.

Qualifications

Master's degree or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
Hands-on experience with Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) metal additive manufacturing.
Experience across build preparation, parameter development, post-processing, inspection, and qualification.
Experience supporting customers in regulated industries (aerospace, defense, medical, energy).
Strong understanding of process-structure-property relationships and heat treatment.
Experience with L-PBF materials including Ti alloys, Al alloys, Ni-based, stainless steels, maraging steels, cobalt chrome, and copper alloys.
Knowledge of powder handling, material traceability, contamination control.

Responsibilities

Serve as senior technical lead for application projects, including FAT and manufacturability assessments.
Interface with strategic customers to translate requirements into L-PBF solutions.
Lead full L-PBF process guidance from DfAM through part release and qualification.
Evaluate manufacturability and propose design improvements via topology optimization and lattice structures.
Support material development and process optimization for new geometries and applications.
Lead investigations of build failures and quality issues with root-cause analysis.
Analyze machine data, CT scans, and test results to drive improvements.
Develop best practices, guidelines, and templates for application engineering.
Collaborate with Materials, Quality, Manufacturing, and Product teams to ensure compliance.
Mentor engineers and Sales teams with technical guidance.
Represent Nikon SLM Solutions at meetings, audits, and conferences.
Ensure compliance with quality systems and regulatory standards.