What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D 3D Printing Technician position at The Dolphin Group?
Are you ready to make an impact at a company that values your expertise, ideas, and career growth? As an R&D 3D Printing Technician, you will play a critical role in shaping product development and supporting manufacturing innovation through advanced additive manufacturing.
This isn’t just a job—it’s a career opportunity where you’ll learn, contribute, and enjoy coming to work every day.
Key Responsibilities
- Own prototype delivery and quality to support efficient product development and manufacturing.
- Act as a subject matter expert, contributing to the company’s 3D printing strategy, including future capabilities and capacity expansion.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design, manufacturing, and quality teams to meet customer requirements, referencing CAD models (Creo or SolidWorks).
- Set up and operate 3D printing equipment:
- Load/unload material spools
- Fill resin cassettes
- Prepare slicing software and job schedules
- Send and monitor prints across multiple machine technologies
- Prepare printed parts for post-processing following standard procedures.
- Perform preventive maintenance, including cleaning, upkeep, and minor repairs in line with safety and quality standards.
- Execute secondary processing such as media blasting, sanding, and assembly.
- Maintain a clean, organized workspace using 5S principles.
- Troubleshoot equipment and print issues to ensure optimal performance.
- Support administrative activities such as inventory tracking, material ordering, and packaging.
- Perform additional duties as needed to support business objectives.
Basic Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in a technical field (engineering, CAD/design, or similar).
- Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to troubleshoot and repair 3D printing equipment.
- Working knowledge of computer hardware and troubleshooting related to printing systems.
- Basic understanding of networking concepts applicable to printing operations.
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, CAD models, and measurements.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word).
- Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 5%).
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–3 years of experience with 3D printing or additive manufacturing in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
- Hands-on experience with materials used in 3D printing processes.
- Stratasys certification (Level 2 operator or higher).
- Basic CAD skills for model interrogation and modification.
- Experience with additive technologies such as:
- FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)
- PolyJet
- SLA (Stereolithography)
- DLP (Digital Light Processing)
- CLIP (Continuous Liquid Interface Production)
- Coursework or certifications in Design or Manufacturing with a focus on 3D printing.
Benefits
- Health care insurance benefits available first of the month following 60 days of employment. Thirty (30) hours worked per week must be averaged in order to maintain coverage. 401k enrollment is available per the Secure Act guidelines. Earned Sick and Safe time is accrued and can be used per the State of MN guidelines.