{"id":1993732,"url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-opto-mechanical-build-engineer","title":"Opto-Mechanical Build Engineer","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":"2026-10-14T06:34:16Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"junior","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":90000,"max":200000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":200000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-04-08T00:36:23Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-25","last_verified_at":"2026-10-14T19:06:55Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":189,"trust":{"level":"ghost","repost_count":0,"flags":["stale","company_stale"],"days_open":189},"description":"OPTO-MECHANICAL BUILD ENGINEER\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.\nIn this role, you will be responsible for leading the development and deployment of custom opto-mechanical systems for the world’s most advanced metal 3D printing systems. You will establish and scale processes for how we build, assemble, align, and integrate opto-mechanical systems. You will work with high-power lasers, high-speed cameras, and other proprietary hardware and software to integrate novel capabilities. This is a hands-on role in which you will be expected to own hardware development, testing, and implementation yourself. Opto-mechanical systems lie at the heart of our technology, so this is a high-impact opportunity at a rapidly growing deep-tech company. \n3D 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!\n\nResponsibilities:\nBuild, assemble, align, and deploy complex opto-mechanical systems. \nDevelop procedures for scaling in-house opto-mechanical build processes from prototype to volume production. \nIntegrate high power lasers and high-speed camera solutions. \nDesign mechanical solutions to integrate optical design with precision and repeatability. \nCreate drawings specifically to opto-mechanical GD&T standards. \nEstablish and own the precision alignment process including method, procedure, and software used. \nPerform test and characterization of optical performance including process, equipment selection, and passing criteria. \nWork closely with process engineering team to solve physics-based interdependencies. \nWork closely with mechanical, electrical, and software engineering teams to develop a robust and scalable system architecture. \nBasic Qualifications:\nBachelor’s degree in Optics/Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Physics, and 2 years of hands-on professional experience; or a Master's degree in one of these disciplines and at least one hands-on opto-mechanical internship.\nHands-on experience with opto-mechanical systems (build, assembly, alignment, etc.).\nCAD experience, including GD&T and detailed drawing documentation as it relates to opto-mechanics. \nStrong mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals. \nNice to Have:\nMaster’s degree in optical engineering or mechanical engineering. \nExperience with high power lasers (tens to hundreds of watts). \nExperience designing optics for industrial systems such as semiconductor (i.e. etching), laser cutting, long distance laser communication, etc. \nBasic understanding of image and signal processing. \nKnowledge of motion control and kinematics. \nExperience with design of fluid or thermal systems. \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.\n\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.\n\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\nSignificant 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\nCompensation \nAs a growing company, the salary rangeis intentionally wide as we determinethe most appropriate packagefor each individualtaking into consideration years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstratedthroughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurateforthe 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 $90,000-$200,000, dependent on the candidate's academic level (Bachelors, Masters, or PhD) and demonstrated out of classroom experience.\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":5346,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"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","Relocation assistance","Vision insurance"],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":true,"industries":["3D Printers & Additive Manufacturing","Contract Manufacturing"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-07T08:04:06Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":2,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.07,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":189,"expected_fill_days":17,"reasons":["conf:3","stale_co","ghost","win:tail","crowd:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-14T06:34:16Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":200000,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-opto-mechanical-build-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/freeform-opto-mechanical-build-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-14T20:30:10Z","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":27257,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-15T00:00:00Z"}},"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-opto-mechanical-build-engineer"},{"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-opto-mechanical-build-engineer"},{"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-opto-mechanical-build-engineer"},{"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-opto-mechanical-build-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Ffreeform-opto-mechanical-build-engineer"}]}