{"id":1993718,"url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware","title":"Design Engineer (Aerospace and Defense Hardware)","company":{"id":3863606,"name":"Freeform","domain":"freeform.co","url":"https://alion.io/company/freeform-4","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"C","score":69,"open_postings":76,"ghost_share":0.513,"stale_share":0,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Los Angeles, United States","El Segundo, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":120000,"max":150000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":150000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-11T16:56:50Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-19T11:04:20Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":129,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":129},"description":"DESIGN ENGINEER (AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE HARDWARE)\nFreeform 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. \nFreeform 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. \nThe 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. \n\nResponsibilities: \nDrive part design and redesign across a broad range of aerospace and defense applications, including: Propulsion systems \nHeat exchangers and thermal management hardware \nValves and fluid systems \nTurbomachinery components \nCombustion devices \nLightweight structural components and assemblies \n\nDevelop a deep understanding of component-level requirements, performance drivers, and system constraints within aerospace and defense programs \nRethink part design from first principles - identifying where additive manufacturing enables new geometries, consolidated assemblies, improved performance, or reduced cost and lead time \nDevelop and evaluate design concepts with a strong command of materials, tolerances, thermal and structural behavior, and production considerations \nIndependently answer advanced technical questions related to design tradeoffs, process capabilities, qualification pathways, and production scalability \nWork closely with internal engineering and operations teams to drive feasibility, refine concepts, and align on execution \nEngage directly with customer engineering teams to understand application requirements, present design solutions, and build technical credibility \nIdentify and pursue new application spaces where Freeform's technology can deliver step-change improvements over conventional manufacturing \nProvide field-informed feedback to shape Freeform's product, process, and technology roadmap \nBasic Qualifications: \nBachelor’s degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering \n3+ years of experience in a hands-on engineering role within aerospace, defense, or a closely related high-performance industry \nExperience designing or analyzing propulsion systems, thermal systems, fluid systems, turbomachinery, or high-performance structural components \nSystems-level understanding of complex mechanical hardware and how components function within larger assemblies \nNice to Have: \nFamiliarity with metal 3D printing or design for additive manufacturing (DFAM) concepts \nStrong intuition for part design, design-for-manufacturing, and how component geometry relates to performance and producibility \nExperience carrying hardware through development, qualification, and production ramp \nAbility to clearly communicate complex technical concepts to both engineering and non-engineering stakeholders \nStrong first-principles reasoning and comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving problem spaces \nStrategic thinker with an instinct for where technology can unlock the most value \nTeam player, positive attitude, growth mindset, integrity, accountability, adaptability, entrepreneurial, driven, results-oriented and ethical \nLocation: \nBased 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. \nOur 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. \nWhat We Offer: \nWe have an inclusive and diverse culture that values collaboration, learning, and making deliberate data-driven decisions. \nWe offer a unique opportunity to be an early and integral member of a rapidly growing company that is scaling a world-changing technology. \nBenefits Significant stock option packages \n100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance (premium PPO and HMO options) \nLife insurance \nTraditional and Roth 401(k) \nRelocation assistance provided \nPaid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays \nGenerous Paid Parental Leave and extended transition back to work for the birthing parent \nFree daily catered lunch and dinner, and fully stocked kitchenette \nCasual dress, flexible work hours, and regular catered team building events \n\nCompensation 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. \nIn 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.\n\nFreeform 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.","description_format":"text","description_chars":6705,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Flexible schedule","Life insurance","Parental leave","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["Defense Manufacturing","3D Printers & Additive Manufacturing","Contract Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-07T08:04:06Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":5,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.176,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":129,"expected_fill_days":24,"reasons":["conf:2","stale_co","ghost","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-19T05:45:15Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":150000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-19T13:55:45Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":10095,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-20T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":3863606},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=3863606"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Ffreeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Ffreeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Ffreeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/freeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Ffreeform-design-engineer-aerospace-and-defense-hardware"}]}