Senior Lead Manufacturing Development Engineer

SENIOR/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 Senior/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.   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 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 lead