Additive Engineering Intern (Spring 2027)

Freeform
Los Angeles +1 more
On-siteCareer-pivot friendly

Who this role is best for

Geared toward mechanical or aerospace engineering students comfortable with cradle-to-grave project ownership and first-principles problem-solving, working on-site in a fast-paced, vertically integrated manufacturing environment.

Best fit for

  • Mechanical or aerospace engineering undergraduates with strong design club or internship experience
    — “Hands on design experience from internships or engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar”
  • Candidates who enjoy iterative, hands-on process improvement and data synthesis
    — “Analyze in-situ data and post-print part quality to drive continuous improvement in system performance”
  • Individuals who thrive in vertically integrated, cross-functional engineering teams
    — “Work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and manufacturing engineers”

Things to consider

  • On-site presence is required in Hawthorne, CA, with potential for overtime
    — “Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, R&D, and production together under one roof”
  • The role requires ownership of end-to-end projects, which may demand significant autonomy and initiative
    — “Own a cradle to grave project that delivers meaningful impact to critical print factory capabilities or customer print workflows”

How to stand out

  • Highlight specific design or engineering projects that demonstrate hands-on problem-solving
    — “Strong grasp of mechanical engineering fundamentals and comfortable taking a first-principles approach to solving problems”
  • Emphasize experience with process development or system-level thinking in your resume and interviews
    — “Use first-principles thinking to define problems, develop test methods, evaluate solutions, iterate, and provide technical recommendations”
  • Showcase your ability to synthesize data from multiple sources to inform decisions
    — “Synthesize information from engineering drawings, in-situ machine data, post-processing results, and inspection data to draw conclusions”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Individual

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • project completion
  • process improvement
  • technical recommendations
Typical background
mechanical engineeringhands-on design experience

Skills & requirements

Required

Mechanical Engineering FundamentalsFirst-principles ThinkingProject OwnershipTeam Collaboration

Preferred

Metal 3D PrintingProcess DevelopmentScriptingDFMCNC Machining

Stack & domain

3D PrintingMetal Additive ManufacturingToolpath GenerationCNC MachiningProblem-solvingCollaborationCommunicationEngineeringManufacturing

About the role

Original posting from Freeform via Greenhouse

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. 

Source: Freeform careers (Greenhouse)

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