Defense Engineer Jobs in California (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. 

Freeform is hiring a Design Engineer focused on aerospace & defense hardware to sit at the intersection of advanced part design and additive manufacturing. This is a deeply technical engineering role responsible for rethinking how aerospace and defense hardware is conceived, designed, and produced - not just adapting existing parts for a new process, but fundamentally reimagining what's possible when legacy design constraints no longer apply. You will work hands-on with some of the most complex hardware in the industry, identifying where Freeform's platform unlocks performance regimes, architectures, and geometries that were previously impractical or impossible. 

The ideal candidate is a strong mechanical or aerospace engineer with a deep intuition for part design and a genuine passion for pushing the boundaries of what hardware can do. They understand aerospace and defense systems at a component and systems level, can independently reason about manufacturability, materials, and performance tradeoffs, and are excited by the creative challenge of designing parts from first principles. The core draw of this role is the engineering itself - though this person will also engage directly with some of the most sophisticated frontier companies in the aerospace and defense industries. 

Responsibilities: 

• Drive part design and redesign across a broad range of aerospace and defense applications, including: 
  • Propulsion systems 
  • Heat exchangers and thermal management hardware 
  • Valves and fluid systems 
  • Turbomachinery components 
  • Combustion devices 
  • Lightweight structural components and assemblies 
• Develop a deep understanding of component-level requirements, performance drivers, and system constraints within aerospace and defense programs 
• Rethink part design from first principles - identifying where additive manufacturing enables new geometries, consolidated assemblies, improved performance, or reduced cost and lead time 
• Develop and evaluate design concepts with a strong command of materials, tolerances, thermal and structural behavior, and production considerations 
• Independently answer advanced technical questions related to design tradeoffs, process capabilities, qualification pathways, and production scalability 
• Work closely with internal engineering and operations teams to drive feasibility, refine concepts, and align on execution 
• Engage directly with customer engineering teams to understand application requirements, present design solutions, and build technical credibility  
• Identify and pursue new application spaces where Freeform's technology can deliver step-change improvements over conventional manufacturing 
• Provide field-informed feedback to shape Freeform's product, process, and technology roadmap 

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering  
• 3+ years of experience in a hands-on engineering role within aerospace, defense, or a closely related high-performance industry 
• Experience designing or analyzing propulsion systems, thermal systems, fluid systems, turbomachinery, or high-performance structural components 
• Systems-level understanding of complex mechanical hardware and how components function within larger assemblies 

Nice to Have: 

• Familiarity with metal 3D printing or design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) concepts  
• Strong intuition for part design, design-for-manufacturing, and how component geometry relates to performance and producibility 
• Experience carrying hardware through development, qualification, and production ramp 
• Ability to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders 
• Strong first-principles reasoning and comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving problem spaces 
• Strategic thinker with an instinct for where technology can unlock the most value 
• Team player, positive attitude, growth mindset, integrity, accountability, adaptability, entrepreneurial, driven, results-oriented and ethical 

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. 
• Benefits 
  • Significant stock option packages 
  • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options) 
  • Life insurance 
  • Traditional and Roth 401(k) 
  • Relocation assistance provided 
  • Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays 
  • Generous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent 
  • Free daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette 
  • Casual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events 
• Compensation   
  • As a growing company, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual taking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company's current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role.  
  • In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is $120,000-$150,000, dependent on the candidate's academic level (Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) and demonstrated out of classroom experience.
• 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.