Lead/Staff Electrical Engineer (Hardware Design)

LEAD/STAFF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER (HARDWARE DESIGN) 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. As a Lead/Staff Electrical Engineer at Freeform, you will play an integral role in the design and development of custom electronics and compute systems that bring our AI-native metal 3D printing factory systems to life. You will solve challenging problems in fields such as high-performance compute, high speed communications, embedded hardware, motion control, autonomous robotic systems, and much more. You will use a first principles approach to solving problems and tackling new areas within electrical engineering that you may not have directly worked on before. The ideal candidate is capable of running projects from cradle to grave, acting as a technical lead, and has the ability to work effectively with other engineering disciplines. 3D 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! Responsibilities: Rapidly design, develop and test highly reliable electronics and compute systems that enable complex autonomous systems to perform reliability, repeatedly, and scalably Drive electrical architecture, product requirements, component selection, analysis, schematic capture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, documentation, product management, productization, manufacturing, and test Challenge assumptions and learn new design approaches Drive component selection, analysis, schematic capture, prototyping, bring-up, debugging, documentation, manufacturing, and test Hands-on debugging of the unexpected via the use of laboratory test equipment, custom instrumentation, and testing setups Model and simulate circuit designs for analysis and performance Act as a technical lead, driving schedule and ensuring a continuous rate of innovation Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or similar engineering discipline 10+ years of professional experience designing and delivering complex electrical hardware Broad electrical engineering background; well versed in electrical engineering fundamentals and comfortable taking a first-principles approach to solving problems Experience operating as a technical lead and system owner, responsible for architectural decisions, execution quality, and technical accountability across the full lifecycle Nice to Have: Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in electrical engineering Experience with heterogeneous compute environments, including FPGA, GPU, and mixed architecture systems, with the ability to make thoughtful tradeoffs across performance, latency, and system complexity. Experience with sensors, high speed cameras/imaging systems, and similar physical telemetry systems Experience with embedded microcontroller design and firmware Experience with high-speed data acquisition systems, high-accuracy motion systems, high-speed scanning systems, optomechanical assemblies, and complex electromechanical systems Familiarity with industrial automation technologies and robotics Location: Based in Hawthorne, our vertically integrated facility brings technology development, RD, 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. 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 Significa ... (truncated, view full listing at source)