Systems Qualification Engineer, Additive Manufacturing

Hadrian Automation • Torrance, CA

1d • $135,000 - $220,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Hadrian is seeking a hands-on qualification engineer to take additive manufacturing systems from installed equipment to qualified, production-released capability. This role focuses on IQ and OQ, involving the authoring and execution of protocols to validate metal and polymer printers, qualify the associated software and firmware toolchain, and build qualification data packages for customer audits. The role also supports Performance Qualification (PQ) by providing a qualified machine and data baseline. The position is based in Torrance, CA, with travel to various machine installation sites, including Red River Army Depot in Texas.

Requirements

• Author, execute, and close out IQ and OQ protocols for all AM systems — metal powder bed fusion, polymer platforms, and supporting equipment — with documented traceability from installation through production release.
• Support Materials & Process and Application Engineering on PQ by supplying the qualified equipment baseline, protocol structure, and machine capability data their performance qualifications rest on.
• Own the qualification impact assessment for every engineering change.
• Execute the Hadrian FAT and SAT playbook for incoming AM equipment, adapting it to the conditions of each receiving site — from Torrance to government depot facilities — coordinating OEM field engineers and driving open items to resolution before production release.
• Qualify the AM software toolchain — build prep and slicing, simulation, machine firmware, data management — including version control, change management, and regression testing on every revision.
• Maintain configuration control across the fleet and partner with IT and Security on accreditation of networked machine controllers under NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC.
• Qualify both metal and polymer platforms, adapting protocols to the distinct subsystems, failure modes, environmental controls, and acceptance criteria each technology demands.
• Design and run machine capability and equivalence studies — build repeatability, machine-to-machine and layer-to-layer consistency, positional effects across the build plate, and Cpk analysis against drawing tolerances.
• Qualify the metrology systems that generate acceptance evidence — CMMs, structured light and laser scanning, dimensional CT, surface texture.
• Own gauge R&R and MSA, calibration traceability, and equipment acceptance per ISO 10360.
• Establish datum and fixturing strategy for as-built AM surfaces and qualify scan-to-CAD comparison methods.
• Partner with Materials & Process on powder and polymer lot acceptance, reuse and recycling controls, storage and handling per AMS7002, and witness coupon strategy.
• Support safe powder handling with EHS, including combustible dust (NFPA 484) and inert gas controls.
• Build and defend qualification data packages satisfying Army/TACOM and DLA source approval, US Navy, NIAR/NCAMP, AMS7032, ISO/ASTM 52920, and prime requirements — including first article testing and TDPs per MIL-STD-31000.
• Serve as qualification interface to depot and government stakeholders, DCMA, and Nadcap and prime auditors.
• Define and maintain operator training, certification, and requalification records across Hadrian sites, meeting Nadcap AC7110/14 and customer audit expectations.
• Lead structured problem-solving on qualification failures and process escapes using 8D, 5 Whys, and fishbone, driving CAPA to verified closure.
• Partner tightly with AM, Materials & Process, Manufacturing Engineering, Software, Quality, and Operations to keep protocols executable and scalable, feeding lessons learned from each deployment site back into the Hadrian qualification standard.

Nice To Haves

• Direct experience qualifying metal AM equipment to AMS7032, ISO/ASTM TS 52930, ISO/ASTM 52920, or NIAR/NCAMP and US Navy AM requirements.
• Experience supporting PQ alongside materials, process, or application engineering teams.
• Experience measuring as-built additive surfaces and performing scan-to-CAD comparison.
• Defense depot, government-owned facility, or A&D production environment background; Nadcap AC7110/14 or AS9100 experience.
• Familiarity with government part qualification pathways — Army/TACOM or DLA source approval, first article testing, TDP development per MIL-STD-31000.
• Experience standing up qualification from scratch at a new site rather than inheriting a mature system.

Responsibilities

• Author, execute, and close out IQ and OQ protocols for all AM systems (metal powder bed fusion, polymer platforms, and supporting equipment), ensuring documented traceability from installation through production release.
• Support Materials & Process and Application Engineering on PQ by supplying the qualified equipment baseline, protocol structure, and machine capability data.
• Own the qualification impact assessment for every engineering change.
• Execute the Hadrian Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) and Site Acceptance Test (SAT) playbook for incoming AM equipment, adapting it to site-specific conditions and coordinating with OEM field engineers.
• Qualify the AM software toolchain, including build prep and slicing, simulation, machine firmware, and data management, with version control, change management, and regression testing.
• Maintain configuration control across the fleet and partner with IT and Security on accreditation of networked machine controllers under NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC.
• Qualify both metal and polymer platforms, adapting protocols to their distinct subsystems, failure modes, environmental controls, and acceptance criteria.
• Design and run machine capability and equivalence studies, including build repeatability, machine-to-machine and layer-to-layer consistency, positional effects, and Cpk analysis.
• Qualify metrology systems used for acceptance evidence (CMMs, structured light and laser scanning, dimensional CT, surface texture), managing gauge R&R, MSA, calibration traceability, and equipment acceptance.
• Establish datum and fixturing strategy for as-built AM surfaces and qualify scan-to-CAD comparison methods.
• Partner with Materials & Process on powder and polymer lot acceptance, reuse and recycling controls, storage and handling, and witness coupon strategy.
• Support safe powder handling with EHS, including combustible dust and inert gas controls.
• Build and defend qualification data packages satisfying customer requirements (Army/TACOM, DLA, US Navy, NIAR/NCAMP, AMS7032, ISO/ASTM 52920, prime requirements), including first article testing and TDPs.
• Serve as the qualification interface to government stakeholders, DCMA, and auditors.
• Define and maintain operator training, certification, and requalification records across Hadrian sites.
• Lead structured problem-solving on qualification failures and process escapes using 8D, 5 Whys, and fishbone methods, driving CAPA to verified closure.
• Partner with AM, Materials & Process, Manufacturing Engineering, Software, Quality, and Operations to ensure protocols are executable and scalable, incorporating lessons learned into the Hadrian qualification standard.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
• 401k
• Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
• Flexible vacation policy
• Equity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed