Head Of Manufacturing; Machining

Position: HEAD OF MANUFACTURING (MACHINING)
At a Glance

Company:  Freeform Technologies

Location:

Hawthorne, CA
Job Type:  Full-Time
Pay Range:
$150,000 – $250,000/year  (based on experience) + Stock Options

Shift:  Flexible
Overtime:  As required for operational needs
Experience Level:  Senior / Executive
Work Authorization:  Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

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- Why This Role Exists

This role exists because  Freeform is scaling machining from advanced R&D into production-grade manufacturing at a global level .

Freeform is already delivering  production-scale metal parts  to aerospace, defense, and automotive customers. As demand increases, the company needs a machining leader who can  own post-print machining end-to-end  — from day-to-day execution on the floor to long-term strategy, capacity planning, and operational scale.

As Head of Manufacturing (Machining), you are responsible for  how precision machining actually works at Freeform  — today and five years from now.

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- The Work You’ll Be Doing

In this role, you will:

Own  all machining operations , including CNC programming, setup, operation, inspection, and finishing

Lead, mentor, and scale a team of machinists, programmers, and manufacturing engineers

Drive aggressive delivery timelines with a production-first mindset

Oversee daily shop operations and long-term expansion of machining capacity

Maximize utilization of  5-axis DMG Mori machining centers , including probing, automation, and palletization

Use inspection data and process feedback to continuously improve programs and toolpaths

Define machining strategies and standards for  precision post-processing of metal 3D printed parts

Partner with engineering to influence part design for faster, more reliable machining

Lead capital equipment planning, shop layout optimization, and equipment commissioning

Define and track KPIs for  throughput, quality, cost, and delivery

Establish and enforce a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and technical excellence

This is a  hands-on leadership role  — not a remote, spreadsheet-only position.

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- Machines, Controls & Manufacturing Stack

You’ll be responsible for environments that include:

Machines:

DMG Mori 5-Axis CNC Machining Centers

Controls:

Siemens

CAM & Programming:

Mastercam (directly or through team oversight)

Inspection & Quality:

CMMs and advanced metrology systems

On-machine probing

GD&T-driven inspection workflows

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- What We’re Looking For

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent experience)

7+ years  of CNC machining experience, including leadership of machining operations

Proven track record of  scaling teams and machining workflows  in high-mix, high-precision environments

Deep understanding of CNC milling, tooling, fixturing, inspection, and process control

Strong operational mindset with the ability to balance execution and long-term strategy

Preferred (Not Required):

10+ years in machining/manufacturing across prototype and production environments

Direct experience machining  titanium, nickel alloys, and stainless steels

Hands-on experience with  DMG Mori 5-axis machines  and Siemens controls

Experience post-machining  metal additive parts  or castings/forgings

Familiarity with CMM programming, GD&T, and inspection automation

ERP/MRP implementation and shop scheduling experience

Experience with facility build-outs, capital planning, and equipment commissioning

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- Materials You’ll Be Responsible For

Aluminum

Stainless Steel

Titanium

Inconel & nickel-based superalloys

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- Why Leaders Choose Freeform

Leaders choose Freeform because:

You’re building a machining operation  from the ground up — the right way

Decisions are driven by data  and  real shop-floor experience

Access to best-in-class  5-axis CNC equipment and automation

Direct influence over capital investments and long-term manufacturing strategy

Competitive executive compensation  plus meaningful equity ownership

A modern, clean, state-of-the-art facility

A mission that goes beyond incremental improvement — this is category-defining manufacturing

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- Pay, Benefits & Schedule

Pay:  $150,000 – $250,000/year (DOE)
Top of range reserved for leaders with demonstrated success scaling machining organizations

Benefits Include:

Significant  pre-IPO stock option packages

100% employer-paid  Medical, Dental & Vision insurance

Traditional & Roth  401(k)

Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays

Generous paid parental leave

Free daily catered lunch & dinner

Casual dress and flexible hours

Team events and collaborative leadership culture

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- Apply

If you’re ready to  own and scale one of the most advanced machining operations in the world , this role is built for you.

Apply directly through hireCNC  or save the job to revisit later.