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Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing Jobs

Astranis

Manufacturing Engineer, Additive

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$86K - $110K/yr

This Engineer owns the entire lifecycle of our additive components - from working closely with the mechanical engineering team to ensure parts are designed for manufacturability to developing ...

Front Door Defense

$108 - $132/hr

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing ... additive manufacturing experience strongly preferred. * Hands on experience developing and ...

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Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing information

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How much do freelance mechanical engineer additive manufacturing jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance mechanical engineer additive manufacturing in the United States is $33.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $26.92 and $37.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing vs Freelance Mechanical Engineer CNC Machining?

AspectFreelance Mechanical Engineer Additive ManufacturingFreelance Mechanical Engineer CNC Machining
CredentialsEngineering degree, knowledge of additive processesEngineering degree, understanding of CNC operations
Work EnvironmentDesigning, prototyping, and optimizing 3D printing processesProgramming and operating CNC machines for manufacturing
Industry UsagePrototyping, custom parts, innovative manufacturingMass production, precision parts, tooling
Common Search/ComparisonYesYes

While both roles involve mechanical engineering skills, Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing focuses on designing and optimizing 3D printing processes, whereas Freelance Mechanical Engineer CNC Machining specializes in programming and operating CNC machines for precise manufacturing. The choice depends on the specific manufacturing method and project requirements.

What cities are hiring for Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing jobs?

Cities with the most Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing jobs?

The most popular types of Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing jobs are:

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States with the most job openings for Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing jobs include:

Freelance Mechanical Engineer Additive Manufacturing jobs near you

Manufacturing Engineer, Additive

San Francisco, CA

Astranis
201 - 500 employees
Learn more about Astranisexternal

$86K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Manufacturing Engineer, Additive

This role is our first Manufacturing Engineer focused on additive manufacturing and will be responsible for building Astranis's additive manufacturing capability from the ground up. This Engineer owns the entire lifecycle of our additive components - from working closely with the mechanical engineering team to ensure parts are designed for manufacturability to developing production processes, tooling, and inspection procedures on the factory floor. The Manufacturing Engineer is a highly cross-functional role requiring both technical and hands on skills to bridge the gap between design and production. A successful candidate will apply knowledge of GD&T, 5-axis CNC machining, additive qualification processes, and CMM/ optical inspection to solve difficult problems in real time and drive improvements that directly impact our ability to get to space faster. 

Role

  • Own additive metal by developing Astranis's Laser Bed Powder Fusion process from the ground up.
  • Own PEEK, ULTEM, and other engineered thermoplastic 3D printing processes.  
  • Work with design engineering to drive Design for Additive Manufacturing (DFAM), including participating in design reviews and assisting in tolerance stack up analysis.
  • Develop standard operating procedures for printer calibration and maintenance.
  • Develop process monitoring capability and print quality inspection criteria to ensure high print quality with minimal yield loss.
  • Develop qualification tests and standard coupons for printed part quality and as-printed material properties.
  • Write work instructions, work order templates, process specifications, and other build documents.
  • Troubleshoot non-conformances on the floor to determine a disposition, root cause, and drive corrective actions. 
  • Assist in machining and programming operations as required for R&D and production.
  • Assist in designing and creating fixturing for production.
  • Work with supplier quality and contract manufacturers, to develop their manufacturing and quality processes and respond to questions and issues.
  • Design and implement lean systems for continuous improvement.
  • Own 5S activities throughout the additive manufacturing area.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, physics, or equivalent technical degree.
  • 2+ years of direct professional experience in additive manufacturing, more specifically metal (Laser Bed Powder Fusion).
  • Experience with explosive/combustible powder storage and handling best practices. 
  • Familiarity with additive software (nTop, 3DXpert, Materialise Magics, Netfabbm Ansys Additivem Altair Inspire Print 3D, or equivalents)
  • 1+ years of experience in CNC machining, with exposure to complex machining centers (5-axis mills).
  • Experience with 3D CAD software (Solidworks, Siemens NX, or similar).
  • Highly competent in GD&T and drawing reviews.
  • Experience in writing technical documents. 
  • Knowledge of different manufacturing process and their general quality capability. 
  • Mechanical design experience including creating solid models and prints.
  • Must be onsite 5 days a week.

Bonus

  • Masters degree in relevant STEM field, especially with applications in Additive Manufacturing.
  • Experience with advanced post processing techniques such as annealing and Hot Isostatic Pressing. 
  • Experience with CAM software (Fusion 360, Mastercam, Siemens NX, or similar).
  • Hands on experience working as a Machinist programming and running 5-axis parts. 
  • Experience working with complex machining centers (mill/ turns, horizontals, multi-channel machines, and automated systems).
  • Has worked with contract manufacturers to set up and qualify manufacturing processes.
  • Hands-on experience reading and interpreting first article inspection reports, using precision hand tools, and implementing tolerance stack up analysis on parts.
  • Experience with MES/ MRP systems in a production environment. 

Apply