Product Development Engineer - Seattle VA Medical Center

3D Systems•Rock Hill, SC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

3D Systems Healthcare is supporting the rollout of additive manufacturing capabilities and a quality management system across the Veterans Health Administration, advancing the VHA Innovation Ecosystem mission to discover and scale healthcare innovations that exceed expectations, restore hope, and build trust within the Veteran community. This work is conducted in close collaboration with VHA doctors, nurses, Veterans, educators, and private industry partners nationwide. The Seattle VA Medical Center is expanding rapidly and seeking a skilled Product Development Engineer to join the Operations team, whose mission is to develop and sustain in-house and outsourced manufacturing processes that improve cost, quality, and capacity. This is a unique opportunity to work onsite at the Seattle VA Hospital, applying cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies to directly improve Veteran healthcare while helping shape the future of medical innovation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
2 years or more of experience supporting controlled or regulated manufacturing operations, preferably within the medical device, healthcare, or life sciences industries operating under FDA and/or ISO 13485 design controls.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a methodical, highly structured, and well‑documented environment, with a strong appreciation for safety, compliance, and quality system requirements.
Solid foundation in manufacturing engineering fundamentals, including process development, light mechanical or product design, data analysis, statistics, inspection and testing methods, supplier interaction, structured problem‑solving tools, change control, and process validation.
Broad, practical experience using Computer‑Aided Design (CAD) and related digital tools, including solid and mesh modeling, slicing software, 3D scanning, and manipulation of scan data within CAD environments.
Hands‑on experience with multiple additive manufacturing technologies, such as FDM, SLA, cDLM, PolyJet/Multi‑Jet Fusion, and SLS, with the ability to select the appropriate fabrication process based on technical requirements and application needs.
Strong understanding of material properties and material selection principles, including matching materials to specific fabrication processes, functional requirements, tolerances, and secondary processing considerations.
Working knowledge of manufacturing failure modes and their relationship to process selection, geometry, application, and material choice, enabling informed risk assessment and mitigation.
Proven success working in cross‑functional, collaborative environments, partnering effectively with engineers, clinicians, technicians, and external stakeholders.
A demonstrated track record of technical accomplishments showing the ability to be a self‑starter, exercise sound engineering judgment, work independently, and lead technical problem‑solving efforts from concept through execution.

Responsibilities

Apply advanced engineering and technical expertise in additive and traditional manufacturing to plan, design, and execute production of medical models, devices, and components that meet defined performance, quality, and safety requirements.
Utilize Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools to support design coordination, manufacturing planning, production workflows, in‑process quality controls, and cost estimation.
Lead process validation and verification activities by identifying critical machine and process variables, conducting Design of Experiments (DoE), developing process FMEA (pFMEA) documentation, and ensuring data‑driven decision making.
Develop, execute, and analyze test protocols, producing clear technical reports that support validated, repeatable, and compliant manufacturing processes.
Establish, document, and sustain end‑to‑end manufacturing processes, including medical imaging reconstruction, design‑for‑manufacturability, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, tooling and fixture design, and secondary processing.
Support continuous process improvement initiatives by developing standardized procedures, identifying material solutions aligned to requirements and tolerances, and improving efficiency, quality, and capacity.
Define and maintain quality assurance and quality control systems, including SOPs, process controls, inspection plans, acceptance testing, and destructive and non‑destructive testing across R&D, production, and sustainment phases.
Serve as a technical subject matter expert for fabrication equipment by performing troubleshooting, maintenance, optimization, and operator training in accordance with manufacturer specifications and VHA quality expectations.
Provide technical consultation and problem-solving support to engineers, leadership, and stakeholders by independently evaluating requirements, recommending alternative approaches, modifying designs or prototypes, and ensuring timely delivery of mission‑critical medical solutions.
Support the VHA mission by delivering reliable, safe, and innovative manufacturing solutions that directly contribute to improved Veteran care and healthcare innovation.