Process Engineering Intern (Spring 2027)

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

Who this role is best for

Strong fit for candidates with a background in material science or physics who enjoy iterative problem-solving and thrive in collaborative, fast-paced environments.

Best fit for

  • Candidates with a materials or physics background and a passion for metal 3D printing innovation
    — “Passion for improving the state of metal 3D printing”
  • Students seeking hands-on experience in experimental design and multi-disciplinary teamwork
    — “collaborate with mechanical, software, and simulation engineers”
  • Individuals with strong data analysis skills and experience in Python or MATLAB
    — “Experience with Python and/or MATLAB”

Things to consider

  • On-site presence is required five days a week with very few exceptions
    — “this role requires full-time onsite presence (five days a week)”
  • Candidates should be prepared for regular overtime in a fast-paced environment
    — “Typical working weeks include regular opportunity for overtime”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with experimental design and statistical analysis in your resume and interviews
    — “Experience with experimental design and statistical data analysis”
  • Emphasize any relevant research or project work in material science or physics
    — “Undergraduate research experience in material science, physics, mechanical engineering”
  • Showcase your ability to work in ambiguous environments with iterative problem-solving examples
    — “Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and iterating quickly”
  • Demonstrate your communication skills by including examples of cross-functional collaboration
    — “Strong communicator who collaborates across disciplines”
  • Include any indicators of excellence or overcoming adversity in your application materials
    — “Demonstrated indicators of excellence and/or achieving success against adversity”
Pace · Fast PacedCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · Team

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

What success looks like

  • developing novel processes for metal 3D printing
  • improving metal additive processes
Typical background
material science, physics, or similar engineering discipline

Skills & requirements

Required

Experimental DesignStatistical Data AnalysisData AnalysisPythonMatlab

Preferred

Material SciencePhysicsMechanical EngineeringRJMPMinitab

Stack & domain

Metal Additive ProcessesData AnalysisPythonMatlabStatistical Data AnalysisRJMPMinitabCollaborationProblem-solvingCommunicationLeadership3D PrintingMaterial SciencePhysics

About the role

Original posting from Freeform via Greenhouse

PROCESS 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 a Process Engineering Intern at Freeform, you will help develop and refine novel processes for some of the world’s most advanced metal 3D printing systems. You will work closely with experienced engineers to study complex, multi-physics behavior within the printing process, building a foundational understanding of the system and applying those insights to support the development of next-generation processes. You’ll collaborate with mechanical, software, and simulation engineers to analyze large in-situ data sets and post-print material characteristics, contributing to rapid iteration and continuous improvement of the printing technology using data-driven and machine-learning-enabled approaches.

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: 

Assist the Process Engineering team in developing a deep understanding of the metal additive process and hardware operation by analyzing massive in-situ data sets to gain insight into physical mechanisms of the printing process

Execute experiments and analyze data to improve metal additive processes

Perform post-build metrology measurements and analysis of material properties such as tensile strength, surface roughness, and alloy microstructure

Assist in the development and implementation of tool qualification procedures

 Basic Qualifications: 

Currently pursuing Bachelor's degree in material science, physics, or similar engineering discipline

Experience with experimental design and statistical data analysis

Strong data analysis skills and ability to interpret important information from extremely large data sets

Experience with Python and/or MATLAB

Nice to Have: 

Undergraduate research experience in material science, physics, mechanical engineering

Process development experience from cutting edge industries such as semiconductor, solar, or displays

Experience with statistical data analysis software such as R, JMP, or Minitab

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.

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 

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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