MANUFACTURING ENGINEER (NEW GRAD DECEMBER 2026)As a Manufacturing Engineer at Freeform, you'll be at the forefront of scaling production for high-performance metal 3D printed parts. You'll work with a talented engineering team from some of the world's most innovative companies across a range of projects to develop and refine the processes, tooling, and CNC machining workflows that enable precision manufacturing at speed and scale. This role is hands-on and fast-paced, ideal for someone eager to learn and contribute to the development of our autonomous metal 3D printing factories. You'll focus on optimizing post-processing and machining operations, helping to bridge the gap between R&D and production.
3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative individuals who love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology!
Responsibilities:- Work closely with engineers to design and implement scalable manufacturing processes for new hardware and printed parts
- Support part flow through the factory by improving fixturing, test procedures, and post-processing steps
- Develop lightweight documentation and process standards to support scaling production without slowing engineering iteration
- Build and iterate on tooling, jigs, and test setups to support reliable, high-throughput production
- Help identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in how parts, materials, and data move through the factory, and work with cross-functional teams to improve them
- Support early production of high-performance printed parts, helping bridge the gap between R&D and high-rate manufacturing
- Contribute to CNC machining workflows, including programming, setup, and optimization of multi-axis operations for post-processing of printed parts
Basic Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering from an ABET-accredited university or college
- Hands on manufacturing or build experience from internships or engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar
- Experience working with hand tools, machinery, or complex hardware assembly
Nice to Have: - Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) in mechanical, aerospace, or manufacturing engineering
- Experience with CNC machining, including 3 or 5-axis programming and/or setup
- Experience with metal additive manufacturing or precision post-processing
- Exposure to fixturing, DFM, or process validation
- Experience scaling early-stage R&D into production
- Familiarity with MRP/ERP tools and lightweight production tracking systems
- Familiarity with manufacturing process development in a fast-paced hardware environment
- Ability to translate high-level engineering goals into practical factory processes
- Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly (comfortable building the plane as we fly it)
- Strong communicator who collaborates across disciplines and proactively seeks support when needed
- Willing to take ownership of tasks big and small, with a hands-on, problem-solving mindset
- Strong work ethic with a refuse-to-fail mindset
- 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.
- 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
- 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-$110,000, dependent on the candidate's academic level (Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) and demonstrated out of classroom experience.
