Hardware Design Engineer (Control and Compute Systems)

HARDWARE DESIGN ENGINEER (CONTROL & COMPUTE SYSTEMS)

Freeform is deploying software-defined, autonomous metal 3D printing factories around the world, bringing the scalability of software to physical production. Our proprietary technology stack leverages advanced sensing, real-time controls, and data-driven learning to produce digitally verified, flawless parts at unprecedented speed and cost. Our mission is to make the transformative power of 3D printing available to all industries at scale and unlock the future of innovation. 

As a Hardware Design Engineer at Freeform, you will play an integral role in the design and development of custom electronics that bring our advanced metal 3D printing factory systems to life. You’ll work with a talented engineering team from some of the world’s most innovative companies on electrical system design, development, and integration efforts across the factory systems, with a specific focus on PCB and compute system design. You will use a first-principles approach to solving problems and tackling new areas within electrical engineering that you may not have directly worked on before. The ideal candidate is capable of running projects from cradle to grave and has the ability to work effectively with other engineering disciplines. 

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

Responsibilities: 

• Rapidly design, develop and test highly reliable electronics and PCBs 
• Model and simulate circuit designs for analysis and performance 
• Contribute to electrical architecture, product requirements, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, documentation, product management, productization, manufacturing, and test 
• Drive component selection, analysis, schematic capture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, documentation, manufacturing, and test 
• Hands-on debugging of the unexpected via the use of laboratory test equipment, custom instrumentation, and testing setups 

Basic Qualifications: 

 

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar engineering discipline
• 2+ years of professional post-graduate experience designing PCBs
• Experience designing, developing, and testing analog and digital circuits (e.g. generating electrical schematics, analyzing circuits, breadboarding prototypes, etc.)
• Well-versed in electrical engineering fundamentals and comfortable taking a first-principles approach to solving problems

 

Nice to Have: 

• Advanced degree (Master's, PhD) in electrical engineering 
• Familiarity with industrial automation technologies, robotics, spacecraft avionics, or similar high-performance electromechanical system 
• Experience with sensors, embedded microcontroller design and firmware, and FPGA hardware and software development 
• Experience with high-speed data acquisition systems, high-accuracy motion systems, high-speed scanning systems, or similar camera/telemetry-based control systems 
• 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: 

• We are located in Hawthorne, CA in a 35,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high g