3D Printing Technician – Production (Contract, Palo Alto)
About The Position
We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented 3D Printing Technician to join our growing team, Variloom. At Variloom, we’re developing a novel, 3D printing-based textile manufacturing system from the ground up. In this role, you’ll help us scale our in-house production capacity significantly to meet customer demand. You’re an ideal candidate if you have a strong background in 3D printing technologies, hands-on technical experience with printing equipment and soft materials, and the ability to manage end-to-end processes from concept refinement to production. This is an in-office role that starts part-time (20-28hrs/week) at an hourly rate of $25-$35, dependent on experience and matching to qualifications. Please note that Variloom team will open up an office in San Francisco, and this role will likely be SF based.
Requirements
- Hands-on experience managing FDM / FFF 3D printers (calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, documentation)
- Knowledge of slicer software (think OrcaSlicer and Simplify3D).
- Experience in a production, manufacturing, or fabrication environment
- Time management – ability to manage your queue across overlapping jobs, machines and deadlines
- Adaptable – we’re a rapidly growing team, and are looking for people who are willing to flex with us as we scale.
- Familiar with Excel and other tracking software to manage developments
- Familiar with product quality control processes and have an ability to assess finish quality, color, handfeel on completed prints.
- Strong organizational skills and an eye for detailed documentation
- Problem solving and critical thinking skills
Nice To Haves
- Experience modifying FDM printers, or building them from scratch.
- Design and CAD software knowledge (or willingness to learn quickly)
- Knowledge of soft and flexible filament printing (TPU experience is a big plus)
- Awareness of new innovations in the 3D printing industry to inform new developments
Responsibilities
- Manage and maintain 3D printers (primarily flexible filament FDM/FFF printing), ensuring consistent, high-quality output.
- Perform daily tasks such as removing completed prints, starting new jobs, and troubleshooting print issues.
- Conduct regular maintenance, including swapping parts and performing repairs when necessary.
- Install and configure new 3D printers and associated hardware/software
- Generate and track quality metrics for printed parts, including dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, and defect analysis.
- Analyze and interpret data to present actionable findings and improvements.
- Optimize measurement processes for material quality and create automated solutions to reduce manual intervention.
- Work with the design and engineering team to integrate production findings into upstream printing processes.
- Contribute to the improvement of advanced machine learning models for process optimization
- Establish and refine processes for system performance, reliability, and scalability
- Strategize and implement plans to enhance system performance and develop scalable, repeatable workflows
- Label, pack, ship and receive various parts and components
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
