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Additive Manufacturing Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Saratech

Additive Manufacturing Internship

Irvine, CA · On-site

$16.90/hr

Saratech is seeking an Additive Manufacturing Intern. This is a part-time position located at our 3D Printing Lab in Irvine, CA. This role is designed to provide a college student with valuable ...

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Additive Manufacturing information

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$13

$24

$34

How much do additive manufacturing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for additive manufacturing in California is $24.62, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.90 and $28.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Additive Manufacturing vs CNC Machinist?

AspectAdditive ManufacturingCNC Machinist
CredentialsTypically requires technical training or certification in 3D printing technologiesRequires machining certifications or technical training in CNC operations
Work EnvironmentWorks in labs or manufacturing facilities with 3D printers and related equipmentWorks in machine shops or manufacturing plants operating CNC machines
Industry UsageUsed in prototyping, custom parts, and complex geometriesUsed for precision manufacturing of metal and plastic parts
Search & Comparison IntentOften compared for manufacturing processes involving digital fabricationCompared for traditional subtractive manufacturing skills

While both roles are involved in manufacturing, Additive Manufacturing focuses on building parts layer-by-layer using 3D printing technologies, whereas CNC Machinists operate subtractive machines to carve parts from raw materials. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus within the manufacturing industry.

What Is Additive Manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing (AM) is the process of creating products by adding material using one or more techniques. This is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, which produces products by removing material. Many products are produced using a combination of these two techniques. To manufacture a plastic shape, you may use additive manufacturing to layer plastic materials then use subtractive manufacturing to cut and shape the plastic. In recent years, AM has started to focus on advanced techniques like 3D printing, where complex products are created layer by layer, using one or more materials. The main job in AM is that of an additive manufacturing engineer, although rapid prototyping may utilize this process to create a small model of a potential product.

What is additive manufacturing?

Additive manufacturing, often referred to as 3D printing, is a process of creating objects by adding material layer by layer, based on a digital model. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that remove material from a solid block, additive manufacturing builds products directly from raw materials such as plastics, metals, or composites. This technology enables complex designs, rapid prototyping, and customization that would be difficult or impossible with conventional manufacturing processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Additive Manufacturing, and why are they important?

To excel in Additive Manufacturing, a solid understanding of engineering principles, 3D modeling, and materials science is typically required, often supported by a degree in engineering or a related field. Familiarity with CAD software, 3D printers, and quality assurance systems, as well as certifications like SME Additive Manufacturing Certification, is highly beneficial. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help professionals innovate and collaborate in dynamic production environments. These competencies are essential for ensuring precision, efficiency, and the successful implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies.

What are some typical challenges faced in an Additive Manufacturing role, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Additive Manufacturing often encounter challenges such as ensuring part quality, optimizing print parameters, and troubleshooting equipment malfunctions. Working closely with engineering teams and using advanced simulation software can help address issues related to design for additive processes. Regular calibration of machinery and staying updated on the latest material advancements are also key strategies for overcoming common hurdles. Collaboration and ongoing training play a significant role in maintaining production efficiency and quality standards.
More about Additive Manufacturing jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Additive Manufacturing jobs in California? The most popular types of Additive Manufacturing jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Additive Manufacturing jobs in California? For Additive Manufacturing jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Additive Manufacturing jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Additive Manufacturing jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Additive Manufacturing jobs? Cities in California with the most Additive Manufacturing job openings:
Additive Manufacturing jobs near you
Manufacturing Engineer, Additive (LPBF)

Manufacturing Engineer, Additive (LPBF)

Hadrian Automation, Inc

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$78K - $101K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago

Job description

Hadrian - Manufacturing the Future
Hadrian is building autonomous factories that help aerospace and defense companies manufacture rockets, satellites, jets, and ships up to 10x faster and up to 2x cheaper. By combining advanced software, robotics, and full-stack manufacturing, we are reinventing how America produces its most critical parts.
We're accelerating our mission with the launch of Factory 3 in Mesa, Arizona, a 290,000-square-foot facility creating 350 new jobs. We are expanding rapidly to support thousands of future hires, launching Hadrian Maritime to expand into naval production, and introducing a Factory-as-a-Service model that delivers complete systems instead of individual parts.
Hadrian is backed by leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, and Andreessen Horowitz, our fast-growing team is united around reindustrializing American manufacturing for the 21st century and beyond.
The Role:
Join us in shaping the future of aerospace and defense manufacturing. As an Additive Manufacturing Engineer - Applications, you will serve as a technical bridge between customer requirements and production-ready metal additive manufacturing solutions. You will work closely with customers and internal teams to evaluate part feasibility, guide Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), support process development, and help scale programs from early engagement through qualification and production.
This is a hands-on, customer-facing engineering role at the intersection of applications engineering, manufacturing execution, and process development. You will help solve real-world metal AM challenges, convert those solutions into repeatable manufacturing methods, and support the successful launch of high-impact aerospace and defense programs.
What You'll Do:
  • Customer Technical Support & Requirements Capture: Support technical engagement with customers by gathering requirements, clarifying design intent, and translating program needs into actionable manufacturing plans that align customer requirements with feasible additive manufacturing solutions.
  • Program Feasibility & Application Development: Evaluate part and program fit for metal additive manufacturing, identify technical risks, and develop new additive applications, processes, and manufacturing approaches that expand capability and support new business opportunities.
  • DfAM & Design Reviews: Provide DfAM guidance on build orientation, support strategy, feature design, distortion risk, tolerance approach, and post-processing-aware design decisions while collaborating closely with design, analysis, quality, manufacturing, and responsible engineers.
  • Build Planning & Build File Optimization: Develop and optimize build strategies, build files, and print plans to produce high quality parts in minimum time with maximum consistency, including parameter refinement and support for part nesting, layout, and downstream production constraints.
  • Robustness, Repeatability & Process Improvement: Identify and drive improvements that make printer platforms and additive workflows more robust and repeatable based on machine behavior, failed builds, in-process monitoring data, and hands-on troubleshooting, calibration, and process control improvement efforts.
  • Metal AM Process Support: Partner with internal process and manufacturing teams to optimize and develop all aspects of metal additive manufacturing, especially PBF-LB, including parameter selection, process control, DOE support, process window optimization, and technology maturation.
  • Materials & Process Integration: Work closely with materials and quality teams to investigate properties, geometric accuracy, and surface finish results to help refine print parameters, heat treatments, and manufacturing guidance for existing and new alloys, including aluminum, copper, nickel-based, and other advanced materials as applicable.
  • Post-Processing Integration: Coordinate with internal and external teams across depowder, heat treat, HIP, support removal, machining, finishing, and related secondary processes to ensure end-to-end manufacturability and production readiness.
  • Qualification & Validation Execution: Support qualification planning, validation builds, acceptance criteria definition, and data package development required for customer approval and production release, including alignment with aerospace qualification processes and specifications where required.
  • Data Systems, Traceability & Documentation: Maintain clear engineering documentation, build records, and traceability artifacts, and produce and improve reports, procedures, manuals, and systems that capture results, enable process analysis, and refine development workflows while minimizing administrative burden.
  • Technical Problem Solving: Investigate build, machine, process, and part quality issues using structured root cause analysis and first-principles engineering judgment, and support corrective actions that improve yield, consistency, and equipment performance.
  • Cross-Functional Execution: Work closely with Additive Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Materials, Supply Chain, and Operations to industrialize solutions, coordinate with equipment OEMs when needed, and meet customer commitments.
  • Best Practices, Standardization & Safety: Capture lessons learned, develop best practices for equipment and processes, improve standard work and design guidance, investigate new additive technologies that meet business needs, and identify opportunities to improve safety throughout the additive manufacturing workflow.
  • Technical Communication: Present technical recommendations, trade studies, and status updates clearly to internal stakeholders and customers.

What We're Looking For:
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Mechanical, Materials, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Welding, or related field.
  • 4+ years of experience in additive manufacturing, manufacturing engineering, applications engineering, process engineering, or development of metallic additive technologies, preferably in metal AM.
  • Hands-on knowledge of metal additive manufacturing processes, especially PBF-LB, including build planning, support strategy, machine operation, and production considerations.
  • Experience working with engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerance interpretation, and inspection planning.
  • Experience supporting part development from prototype through qualification or early production, including process and application development.
  • Familiarity with DfAM principles and the interaction between part design, print strategy, downstream processing, and manufacturing performance.
  • Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze technical issues, apply sound engineering fundamentals, and recommend practical solutions.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with customers, engineers, technicians, equipment suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
  • Willingness to travel up to 15-20%, primarily within the U.S.
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident required for ITAR compliance.

What Will Set You Apart:
  • Experience supporting aerospace and defense applications in regulated manufacturing environments, including qualification or flight-critical hardware requirements.
  • Experience with process validation, qualification planning, capability studies, statistical process control, or multifactorial DOE.
  • Familiarity with AM standards and specifications, including ASTM, ISO/ASTM, aerospace customer requirements, and qualification documentation practices.
  • Experience with post-processing methods such as heat treat, HIP, machining, support removal, surface finishing, and related secondary or joining processes.
  • Experience with AM build preparation software, CAD tools, simulation tools, data analysis workflows, and PLM or MES environments such as NX, Teamcenter, Manufacturo, or similar systems.
  • Familiarity with in-situ monitoring, sensor data, metallurgical evaluation, CT inspection, optics and laser systems, or advanced characterization methods.
  • Experience contributing to customer design reviews, technical workshops, proposal efforts, and cross-functional collaboration with design, analysis, manufacturing, and quality teams.
  • Exposure to quality systems and production documentation in environments such as AS9100 or equivalent.
  • Experience operating additive machines, supporting parameter development, implementing process control improvements, and troubleshooting or calibrating multi-laser PBF-LB equipment.
  • Experience documenting best practices for new equipment, process changes, or manufacturing methods, with working knowledge of additive, subtractive, and metal joining techniques.

Compensation:
For this role, the target salary range is $135,000 - $200,000(actual range may vary based on experience).
This is the lowest to highest salary we reasonably and in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, performance, and business or organizational needs.
Benefits for Full-time Employees
  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
  • 401k
  • Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
  • Flexible vacation policy

ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
Hadrian Is An Equal Opportunity Employer
It is the Company's policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The Company does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race inclusive of traits historically associated with race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks and twists), color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, national origin (including, in California, possession of a drivers license), ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, height or weight, medical condition, family care status, military or veteran status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, exercise of reproductive rights, any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws, or any combination of the above characteristics. When necessary, the Company also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled candidates and employees, including for candidates or employees who are disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

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