Additive Engineering Intern (Spring 2027)

About the job

ADDITIVE ENGINEERING INTERN (SPRING 2027)

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 an Additive Engineering Intern at Freeform, you will contribute to the development and scaling of our advanced metal 3D printing processes, including design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) feedback, print file preparation, toolpath automation, part quality analysis, and end-to-end process improvement. You will work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing engineers to support all stages of print development for high-volume production. Interns at Freeform own meaningful cradle-to-grave projects. Using first-principles thinking, you will help define test methods, evaluate solutions, iterate quickly, and synthesize information from engineering drawings, in-situ machine data, post-processing results, and inspection data to draw conclusions that improve printing and downstream machining processes.

3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving hard problems and creating amazing technology!

Responsibilities:

• Own a cradle to grave project that delivers meaningful impact to critical print factory capabilities or customer print workflows

• Support all stages of print development including design for additive manufacturing feedback, file preparation, printing, post-processing, and quality control

• Analyze in-situ data and post-print part quality to drive continuous improvement in system performance

• Use first-principles thinking to define problems, develop test methods, evaluate solutions, iterate, and provide technical recommendations

Basic Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering from an ABET accredited university or college

• Hands on design experience from internships or engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar

• Strong grasp of mechanical engineering fundamentals and comfortable taking a first-principles approach to solving problems

Nice to Have:

• Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) in mechanical or aerospace engineering

• Experience with metal 3D printing or additive manufacturing processes

• Experience with process development for metal additive manufacturing

• Scripting experience in MATLAB or similar tools for toolpath generation

• Experience with DFM and GD&T

• Experience with CNC machining

• Passion for improving the state of metal 3D printing

• 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.

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

• Compensation and Benefits

• The compensation for this role:

• Engineering Intern/Undergraduate: $30/hour

• Engineering Intern/Masters: $32.50/hour

• Engineering Intern/PhD: $35/hour

• Typical working weeks include regular opportunity for overtime

• Relocation assistance provided

• Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette

• Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events

• 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.