Would You Take This Job? – Additive Manufacturing Technician

Additive Manufacturing Technician

Company: Lockheed Martin
Location: Grand Prairie, TX (On-site)
Job Type: Full-Time, Hourly (4×10 schedule)

Role Overview:
Step into advanced manufacturing as an Additive Manufacturing Technician for Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Manufacturing Technologies team. Operate and maintain cutting-edge systems including Solar vacuum furnaces and AIP HIP furnaces, manage build plate resurfacing (EDM, surface grinding, inspection), and run large-scale additive machines across different materials. Your work supports part processing from powder to finished components used in defense technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Operate Solar vacuum and AIP HIP furnaces

  • Manage build plate resurfacing via EDM and grinding, with full inspections

  • Run multiple large-scale additive printing machines and oversee their maintenance

  • Track job progress, consumable usage, and cost metrics

  • Coordinate with upstream and downstream manufacturing teams

Qualifications & Perks:

  • Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent industrial experience)

  • US Citizenship required—must be eligible for Secret-level security clearance

  • Flexible 4×10 work schedule with paid time off and Lockheed Martin’s full benefits package

  • Work on frontier additive manufacturing—materials like Aluminum and Inconel, and advanced heat treatments


Link to Apply and Learn More:
View the full job listing & apply here


Would You Take This Job?

  • Pros:

    • Hands-on work with high-end additive manufacturing systems

    • Strong benefits, flexible schedule, and career growth in R&D innovation

    • Work in a technically challenging and mission-driven environment

  • Cons:

    • On-site requirement may limit location flexibility

    • Security clearance adds an extra hiring step

    • Specialized equipment and environments may require quick learning and adaptability

Would you be excited to pilot these manufacturing breakthroughs—or would you prefer a more traditional production role or remote flexibility?

4x10 at LM is appealing, but I’d want the pay range and to know if it’s real metal AM (EOS/SLM) or just polymer protos. If it’s powder work, respirator fit testing/PPE and training are non-negotiable — do they cover that and the clearance?

‍‌‌⁠‍‌​‍‍⁠​​​‍‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‍‍‌‌‍‍⁠​‍⁠​‌⁠​‌​⁠‍​​⁠​‍‌⁠​⁠​‍‌‍⁠‌⁠​⁠‍‍‌​⁠⁠‍‍‌​‍‍⁠‍‌‌‍‍‌‍​​​‍⁠​⁠‍‌‌‌​⁠​‍‌⁠​⁠​‍‌‍⁠‌‍⁠​‍‍⁠​‍‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠⁠‍​​⁠⁠‌‌​​​‌⁠‍​​⁠‍​​⁠⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‌‍‍​​⁠​‍‌⁠‌‍​‍‌‍‍‍​‍‌⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​⁠⁠‌‌​​​‌⁠​‍​‍‌‍‍‌⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‍​‌​​⁠​‍‌⁠‌‍​‍‌‍⁠​​‍‍‍⁠⁠‌‍‍⁠​​⁠‌‌​​‍‍​⁠⁠‍‍‌‌‍‌​⁠​⁠​‌‍​‍‍​‍⁠‌‌‌⁠​‌‍‌​‌⁠‌⁠​⁠‍⁠​‍​⁠‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‌​‌

I’d look at it — 4x10s and hands-on AM is solid experience, especially with Lockheed on the resume — but I’d want the pay range and to know if it’s mostly setup/monitoring or real process development. Do they say what machines they’re running and whether it’s day shift?

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