Metal Additive Manufacturing Technician
Also posted as Additive Manufacturing Technician; Metal 3D Printing Technician; AM Production Technician; Rapid Manufacturing Technician
A metal additive manufacturing technician performs metal additive machine setup and operation, powder handling and process controls, and post-processing, inspection and traceability to keep ship structures, components, and production systems safe, reliable, compliant, and ready for operation. Most people start with a high school diploma plus employer or technical training rather than a four-year degree.
Below: what it pays, what you'd do, the skills you need, and how to become one.
The role profile
Everything you need to know about this role, the same details employers use to post openings and colleges use to build training.
How much does it pay?
Explore the core responsibilities of this role, from daily operations and equipment handling to safety, quality, and performance requirements.
Run additive machines
Set up and operate metal additive machines through the build cycle.
Handle powder safely
Manage powder handling and process controls that drive part quality.
Finish and verify parts
Perform post-processing, inspection, and traceability on finished parts.
Read ship drawings
Work from blueprints and ship drawings to build parts to spec.
What skills do you need?
Three core skills sit at the heart of this role. You can learn all of them through short, hands-on training.
Additive Machine Operation
Setting up and running metal additive builds.
Powder & Process Control
Handling powder and holding process parameters steady.
Post-Processing & Traceability
Finishing, inspecting, and documenting printed parts.
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