Automation Developer Intern Jobs in Orange, CA (NOW HIRING)

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 Electrical Engineering Intern at Freeform, you'll contribute to the design and development of custom electronics that power our autonomous metal 3D printing factories. You'll work with a talented engineering team from some of the world's most innovative companies across a range of projects to support electrical system design, PCB development, and integration efforts across the company. This role offers hands-on exposure to solving real-world challenges in controls, sensing, and hardware-software integration. You'll be encouraged to take a first-principles approach to problem solving and explore new areas within electrical engineering - even those you may not have worked on before. The ideal candidate is curious, collaborative, and excited to work across disciplines to help bring complex systems to life. 

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: 

• Assist in the rapid design, development, and testing of reliable electronics and PCBs  
• Support circuit modeling and simulation to analyze performance and validate designs  
• Contribute to electrical architecture efforts including schematic capture, component selection, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, and documentation  
• Participate in hands-on debugging using lab equipment, custom instrumentation, and test setups  
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support product development, integration, and testing across mechanical and software systems 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering from an ABET accredited university or college 
• Hands on electrical experience from internships or engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket club, robotics club, or similar 
• 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: 

• 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
  • 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.