Freelance 3D Printer Operator Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

We made history and now we work to transform the future - for our customers, our communities and our families. You'll see your work on the road every day, helping people move freely and pursue their dreams. At Ford, you can build more than vehicles. Come build what matters.
Shape the Future of Manufacturing with ATP
At Ford, we aren't just building vehicles - we are redefining how the world moves. Within the Advanced Industrial Technology and Platforms (ATP) organization, we are the architects of Ford's next industrial revolution.
Our mission is clear: we build and scale industrial platforms, technologies, and capabilities that unlock Ford Firsts to drive sustained competitive advantage in manufacturing. Driven by our vision to "build once, scale everywhere," we bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and global physical deployment.
Our guiding mantra is simple yet relentless: Scale what matters, win what's next.
If you are a high-tech builder, thinker, or innovator who thrives at the intersection of software, hardware, and massive scale, ATP is where you belong. Join us, and write the next chapter of industrial history.
In this position...

• A connected fleet of FMC3D printers operating at high utilization across our global plants and innovation hub.
• Measurable gains in part cost, cycle time, and material strength that outpace traditional methods.
• Additive manufacturing established as a profit center with clear revenue targets met.
• A world-class global team and the foundational roadmap for Ford-built 3D printers.

As the Global Print Leader, you will define and execute Ford's worldwide additive manufacturing strategy. You will oversee and benchmark technology across industries and bring the right solutions to Ford to achieve our cost, cycle-time, and material-strength requirements. Your scope spans the FMC3D printer fleet at every plant, the central 3D printing innovation hub, and the complete digital value chain-from generative design through print to robotic assembly.
You will partner with Ford Performance (Racing), FCSD, and Product Development to develop new technology and high-value applications, while collaborating with other functions inside the Advanced Industrial Technology (AIT) platform to bring complementary skills together. You will be accountable for achieving the team's KPIs, including a defined target for revenue generation, and for building the talent, printer operations, and connected software systems that power a globally distributed operation. Looking ahead, you will lead the team's aspiration to design and assemble Ford's own 3D printers for Advanced Industrial Technology Platform (ATP) group.
This is a highly visible, demanding leadership role for a candidate who can bridge software, hardware, and deep materials science to deliver a step-change in manufacturing performance.
Responsibilities
What you'll do...

• Benchmark additive technologies across aerospace, defense, and medical sectors, and bring the right ones to Ford to meet our cost, cycle-time, and material-strength requirements.
• Architect the complete digital thread-connecting generative design, slicing software, print execution, and robotic assembly into one seamless value chain.

Run a Global Operation

• Oversee the deployment, utilization, and performance of FMC3D printers across all Ford manufacturing plants, ensuring each plant can rapidly print the tools, fixtures, and parts it needs.
• Deploy a unified cloud and IoT software ecosystem to monitor, connect, and optimize the global printer network in real time.

Deliver Commercial Results

• Own the operational and financial KPIs for additive manufacturing, including a defined target for revenue generation.
• Partner with Ford Performance (Racing), FCSD, and Product Development to engineer high-value, low-volume, and complex additive solutions.
• Collaborate across the Advanced Industrial Technology (AIT) platform to integrate 3D printing with robotics, automation, and AI.

Build for the Future

• Lead the strategic initiative to design, engineer, and assemble Ford's own custom 3D printers in partnership with the Advanced Technology Platform (ATP) group.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a world-class global team while establishing Ford's technical standards for additive manufacturing.

Qualifications
You'll have...

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of senior technical leadership experience, including building and leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams.
• Deep, hands-on expertise across the additive value chain-polymers, metals, and composites-from generative design through post-processing.
• Proven track record scaling complex hardware and software from the lab to a global, multi-site manufacturing footprint.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing P&L, capital investment, and/or revenue-generating technical services.

Even better, you may have...

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering field, or an MBA with a strong technical foundation.
• Direct experience in aerospace, defense, or elite motorsport manufacturing environments.
• Working knowledge of connected-factory architectures, IoT fleet management, and robotic assembly integration.
• Proven experience establishing strategic technology partnerships or co-development agreements with equipment manufacturers.

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!
As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.
This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.
For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660.
This position is hybrid with a requirement to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid
#GME
#LI-MH5
About Us
At Ford Motor Company, we believe freedom of movement drives human progress. With our incredible plans for the future of mobility, we have a wide variety of opportunities for you to accelerate your career and help us define tomorrow's transportation.
About the Team
We build world-class vehicles in our plants around the world, constantly developing new technologies and processes to further increase our efficiency. It's our people who really make the difference. We encourage all of our employees to think outside the box to help us find better and more efficient ways to manufacture our vehicles.