What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Investigator position at Velo3D?
Position Overview:
We are seeking a Principal Investigator with expertise in additive manufacturing and mechanical engineering to lead the technical execution of advanced manufacturing programs, including projects with U.S. government customers.
This role operates at the intersection of engineering leadership, program management, and customer interface, ensuring that technical deliverables meet contractual, regulatory, and engineering requirements.
The successful candidate will act as the technical lead or principal investigator on key programs, translating government or customer requirements into engineering specifications, manufacturing plans, and inspection criteria while coordinating cross-functional execution.
\nTechnical Program Leadership
- Serve as technical lead or principal investigator on additive manufacturing programs.
- Manage technical execution of government and advanced manufacturing contracts.
- Translate program requirements into engineering specifications, manufacturing plans, and deliverables.
- Lead activities across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management teams.
Engineering & Technical Oversight
- Lead design and development of mechanical components produced via additive manufacturing.
- Develop technical specifications, qualification plans, and inspection criteria to satisfy program requirements.
- Review engineering designs, specifications, and quality requirements for manufacturability, material compatibility, and compliance with program requirements.
- Lead technical side of development of prototype and production hardware.
Documentation & Contract Execution
- Develop and maintain technical documentation required for government contracts, including:
- Specifications
- Test plans
- Inspection plans
- Technical reports
- Compliance documentation
- Support proposal responses and technical sections of government bids.
Customer Interface
- Serve as technical point of contact for government and institutional customers.
- Present technical progress, design reviews, and milestones to stakeholders.
- Support audits, program reviews, and technical discussions with customers.
Tools & Technologies
- Use SolidWorks or equivalent CAD tools to review or develop designs.
- Support additive manufacturing workflows including:
- Design for additive manufacturing (DfAM)
- Part qualification
- TRL and MRL assessments and progression plans
- Inspection and verification.
- BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
- 12 years experience in mechanical engineering or advanced manufacturing with significant exposure to hardware manufacturing
- Deep expertise with metal additive manufacturing / 3D printing technologies (laser powder bed fusion preferred)
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or similar CAD platforms
- Experience working with government customers or government-funded programs
- Strong background in technical documentation and engineering specifications
- Ability to manage technical execution of complex programs
About the Company:
Velo, Velo3D, Sapphire and Intelligent Fusion are registered trademarks of Velo3D, Inc. Without Compromise, Flow, Flow Developer, and Assure are trademarks of Velo3D, Inc.
With the only SupportFree laser powder bed fusion capability, we enable on-demand manufacturing of production quality Titanium, Inconel, and Aluminum parts with an unprecedented degree of design freedom and quality control. The VELO3D award-winning solution includes an integrated offering of hardware and software: Sapphire® metal AM production printer, Flow™ print preparation software, Assure™ quality assurance and control system, and an integrated manufacturing process that runs throughout the printing operation.
Our team enjoys excellent benefits including healthcare coverage and 401(K) employer contributions. We believe in transparency and recognizing exceptional efforts through our monthly all-hands meetings and team member appreciation awards.
Our job titles may span more than one career level. The starting base salary for this full-time position is between $174,000 and $190,000. This salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for this position in the U.S. The actual base pay is dependent upon many factors, such as work experience, job-related skills, related education, work location, and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. In addition to a competitive base salary and a comprehensive benefits package, this position may be eligible for other forms of compensation such as participation in a bonus and equity program, as applicable.
Velo3D provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to, and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on, race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.