Job Description

About Us

Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, VulcanForms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship. Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.

Job Purpose

The NPI Lead serves as the technical authority for manufacturing readiness for metal additive manufacturing programs, ensuring new products are transferred into production with capable, validated, and cost-effective processes. This role bridges Applications Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and Operations to enable successful product launches in a high-volume, industrial metal additive manufacturing environment, with integrated post-processing and machining workflows.

The NPI Lead is not the project manager, but partners closely with Project Managers to integrate technical milestones, risks, and deliverables into the overall program plan. This role translates design intent into manufacturable reality—driving readiness across metal AM process development, equipment qualification, post-processing integration, and inspection methods for complex, high-precision components in medical device, aerospace, and industrial applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the technical execution of NPI activities for metal additive manufacturing programs, from early customer technical feasibility evaluation through production release.
• Serve as the primary technical interface between VulcanForms and customers, translating metal AM design requirements into scalable manufacturing solutions, resolving technical issues, and providing clear, proactive communication on build performance, yield, and validation outcomes.
• Own the end-to-end technical NPI process from concept through production readiness, including AM process development, design transfer, prototyping, validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), and ramp-up, ensuring alignment with customer, Applications Engineering, Quality, and Operations requirements.
• Coordinate cross-functional input from Applications Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams to ensure metal AM manufacturability, post-processing integration (HIP, heat treatment, machining), and compliance with regulatory and customer standards.
• Partner closely with Project Managers to align schedules, risks, dependencies, and technical deliverables, proactively identifying metal AM–specific technical risks and mitigation plans.
• Mentoring and development of project engineers.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing or a related technical role, including 3+ years supporting metal additive manufacturing or closely related advanced manufacturing processes.
• 3+ years of experience in new product introduction (NPI), product development, or process development for complex, high-precision components.
• Strong technical communication skills, with the ability to translate customer engineering requirements and AM design intent into executable factory processes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate metal AM process risk to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with metal additive manufacturing processes, such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), binder jetting, or directed energy deposition (DED).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in regulated manufacturing environments, including ISO 13485, AS9100, or equivalent quality system standards.
• 3+ years of experience as a project engineer, NPI lead, or technical lead supporting metal AM programs.
• Strong working knowledge of metal AM process validation, statistical analysis, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), and measurement system analysis (MSA).
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional NPI efforts across engineering, quality, operations, and post-processing teams.
• Deep understanding of Design for Metal Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), including build orientation, support strategies, distortion mitigation, and post-processing considerations.
• Familiarity with post-processing workflows such as heat treatment, HIP, surface finishing, and precision machining.
• Experience with metrology systems including CMM, blue light scanning, CT scanning, and advanced dimensional inspection methods.
• Proven ability to interpret and manage customer specifications, engineering drawings, GD&T, and tolerance stacks for metal AM components.

VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match.

The annual base salary range for this position is $129,500.00 to $178,000.00.