Senior Mechanical Engineer (Site Infrastructure)

SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER (SITE INFRASTRUCTURE)

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 Mechanical Engineer (Site Infrastructure) at Freeform, you will have the unique opportunity to bridge the gap between site infrastructure and next-generation autonomous manufacturing. You will deep dive into the complex mechanical systems that power Skyfall, our proprietary printing platform, ranging from industrial fluid and cooling systems, high-pressure gases, and factory performance monitoring systems leveraging sensors and data acquisition. This work is critical to the ultimate goal of enabling Freeform to deploy and scale its hardware stack globally. You will work alongside an interdisciplinary team of engineers to create custom solutions that ensure Freeform’s physical infrastructure is as advanced as the software driving it. The ideal candidate possesses a "no job too big or small" mentality and is a proactive problem-solver dedicated to accelerating the pace of innovation. 

3D printing experience is not required to be successful here - we look for leaders who are organized, accountable, collaborative, and motivated to build and scale world-class hardware operations.

Responsibilities:

• Design and implement custom infrastructure for our next-gen printing system, Skyfall, including state-of-the-art thermal management (chillers), industrial plumbing, and high-flow gas delivery
• Develop and integrate factory performance monitoring systems, leveraging sensors and data acquisition (DAQ) to ensure real-time visibility into utility health, pressure levels, and flow rates
• Oversee critical utilities, ensuring power, process water, and industrial gases like nitrogen and argon are supplied to the Skyfall fleet in strict accordance with safety codes
• Define and implement preventive maintenance for facilities equipment (pumps, compressors, and HVAC) to optimize operational efficiency and minimize system downtime with a pragmatic eye for automation opportunities
• Secure the availability of specialized fluid system components and high-pressure fittings to ensure that infrastructure build-outs and engineering projects always move at the pace of innovation

 Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering or similar engineering discipline
• 5+ years of facilities engineering, factory engineering, launch/ground systems engineering or similar experience
• Strong first principles understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer
• Hands-on ability to troubleshoot and repair complex mechanical and fluid systems

Nice to Have:

• Experience with Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) practices, specifically regarding high-pressure gas safety (NFPA 55) and metal powder handling
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, NX, or similar) for designing facility layouts, piping routes, and custom mechanical mounts
• Experience developing infrastructure for high-volume production or scaling automated manufacturing lines
• Hands-on experience with industrial automation controls, PLCs, or building management systems (BMS)
• Background in aerospace ground support or rocket engine test site operations involving cryogenic or high-pressure fluid systems
• Experience with new facility buildouts, including managing external MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) contractors
• Knowledge of ITAR, ISO 9001, and/or similar industrial compliance standards
• Experience with metal additive manufacturing or similar powder-based industrial processes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present technical infrastructure plans to cross-functional teams

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.