Senior/Lead Manufacturing Development Engineer

Freeform; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid vacation and holidays

Free daily catered lunch

Job summary

Freeform is hiring a Staff/Lead Manufacturing Development Engineer to design and implement scalable post-processing and delivery systems for a high-throughput metal 3D printing facility in Hawthorne, CA. The role blends hands-on hardware development with manufacturing execution and cross-functional leadership.

You will lead integration of new hardware, drive efficiency using first-principles analysis, and collaborate across mechanical, electrical, software, and controls teams to accelerate

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering.
• 5+ years of professional experience in engineering development or manufacturing engineering.
• Experience in a fast-paced hardware development or manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable systems and processes to automate post-print operations, reduce lead time, and enable factory throughput expansion.
• Lead development and integration of new manufacturing hardware and tooling to support next-generation factory architecture.
• Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies using first-principles analysis and a data-driven approach.
• Act as a force multiplier for R&D teams, bridging development and operations to maximize efficiency and velocity.
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and controls engineers to co-develop factory solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the full post-processing workflow.

Skills

Hardware development

Manufacturing engineering

Data analysis

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering

Tools

CNC machining

Automation tooling

Job description

Staff/Lead Manufacturing Development Engineer

STAFF/LEAD MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT 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.

As a Staff/Lead Manufacturing Development Engineer, you will lead the design and implementation of novel factory technologies to accelerate and automate our post-processing and part delivery operations. This role blends deep technical engineering development with hands‑on manufacturing implementation. You will apply first‑principles thinking to streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and pioneer scalable, robust processes for the world’s first high‑throughput metal 3D printing factory.

We’re looking for a highly technical and hands‑on engineer with a background in hardware development and a passion for building the future of manufacturing. This is a high‑impact, cross‑functional role with opportunities for leadership and growth.

• Design and implement scalable systems and processes to automate post‑print operations, reduce lead time, and enable factory throughput expansion
• Lead development and integration of new manufacturing hardware and tooling to support next‑generation factory architecture
• Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies using first‑principles analysis and a data‑driven approach
• Act as a force multiplier for R&D teams, bridging development and operations to maximize efficiency and velocity
• Collaborate with mechanical, electrical, software, and controls engineers to co‑develop factory solutions
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across the full post‑processing workflow

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, or related Engineering discipline
• 5+ years of professional experience in engineering development or manufacturing engineering
• Experience in a fast‑paced hardware development or manufacturing environment

Nice to Have:

• 8+ years of experience in hardware or manufacturing development roles
• Technical leadership experience
• Prior experience leading factory buildouts, production line deployment, or automation systems integration
• Background in post‑processing operations (machining, heat treat, inspection, etc.)
• Hands‑on experience with factory infrastructure: power systems, industrial gases, material logistics
• Familiarity with metal additive manufacturing, CNC machining, casting, or similar complex metal manufacturing processes
• Strong Excel/data analysis capabilities
• Knowledge of OSHA/EHS standards

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)
• 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
  • Asa growing company, the salary rangeis intentionally wide as wedeterminethe mostappropriate packageforeach individualtaking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities asdemonstratedthroughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that iscommensurateforthe 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 $150,000-$200,000 . The upper end of the range is reserved for individuals who demonstrate exceptional experience, deep domain mastery, and a proven history of high performance and impact.
  • 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 (i.e., 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.