Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, VulcanForms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship. Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.
Job PurposeThe NPI Lead serves as the technical authority for manufacturing readiness, ensuring new products are transferred into production with capable, validated, and cost-effective processes. This role bridges applications, quality, manufacturing engineering, and operations to enable successful launch across both additive and subtractive manufacturing environments.
The NPI Lead is not the project manager but partners closely with the PM to integrate technical milestones, risks, and deliverables into the overall program plan. They translate design intent into manufacturable reality - driving readiness across process design, equipment qualification, and inspection methods for complex, high-precision components in medical device, aerospace, and industrial applications.
Key Responsibilities- Lead the technical execution of NPI activities from early customer technical feasibility evaluation through production release.
- Act as the primary technical interface between VulcanForms and the customer, translating design requirements into manufacturing solutions, resolving technical issues, and maintaining clear, proactive communication on build performance and validation outcomes.
- Own the end-to-end NPI process from concept through production readiness - including design transfer, prototyping, validation, and ramp-up - ensuring alignment with customer, applications engineering, quality, and operations requirements.
- Coordinate cross-functional input from applications engineering, manufacturing engineering, quality, supply chain, and production teams to ensure manufacturability and compliance with regulatory and customer standards.
- Collaborate with the Project Manager to align schedules, risks, and dependencies between program deliverables.
- 8+ years of experience in manufacturing or another technical role, including 3+ years in new product introduction or development.
- Excellent technical communication skills - able to translate between customer engineering requirements and factory execution.
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and communicate technical risk to non-technical stakeholders.
- Direct experience with additive and/or subtractive manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with ISO 13485, AS9100, or equivalent quality system standards.
- 3+ years as a project engineer or technical lead.
- Strong working knowledge of process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), statistical analysis, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), and MSA.
- Demonstrated success leading cross-functional NPI teams (engineering, quality, operations).
- Deep understanding of design for additive manufacturing (DfAM) and post-processing integration.
- Familiarity with metrology systems (CMM, blue light scanning, dimensional inspection).
- Experience interpreting and managing customer specifications, prints, and tolerance stacks
VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience.
In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match.
The annual base salary range for this position is $129,500.00 to $178,000.00.
Top Skills
What We Do
VulcanForms builds and operates advanced digital manufacturing infrastructure that enables the world's critical industries to innovate, grow, and deliver sustainable impact.
A MIT-born company, VulcanForms has invented and commercialized the world’s first industrially scalable metal additive manufacturing (AM) solution and pioneered integrated digital production systems. Combining breakthrough technologies in additive and subtractive manufacturing, industrial automation, digital thread and engineering expertise, the company serves leading medical, defense, aerospace, and semiconductor companies, producing precision components and assemblies. For more information, visit www.vulcanforms.com.
