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Technology Transition Engineer (011-26)

National Center for Defense Manufacturing, Columbus, OH, USA

Pay: $80,000-$120,000/yr

Job type: Contract


Job Description

Job Description Salary: 80k-120k
Technology Transition Engineer

Location: Columbus, OH

Position Summary:
The Technology Transition Engineer supports the advancement of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies from research and development into qualified, deployable industrial and defense applications. This role works across government, industry, academia, and the defense industrial base to help identify high-impact technologies, evaluate transition readiness, support qualification and industrialization efforts, and accelerate adoption into operational use.
This position is highly cross-functional and requires a strong technical foundation in additive manufacturing, manufacturing processes, qualification, and systems-level thinking. The ideal candidate can operate between technical teams, leadership, program managers, and end users while helping translate innovation into measurable impact.
The role directly supports America Makes growing focus on Technology Transition as a core institute function.

Why this Role Matters:
America Makes has supported hundreds of additive manufacturing projects over the past decade. The Technology Transition Engineer will help ensure those investments lead to deployed capabilities and measurable operational impact across the defense industrial base.

Key Responsibilities:
Support the transition of AM technologies from R&D into production, sustainment, and operational environments
Identify high-potential technologies, projects, and datasets suitable for transition
Support transition strategy development and implementation at America Makes
Coordinate with government stakeholders, OEMs, suppliers, and project teams
Support transition metrics, impact tracking, and reporting across institute activities
Manage higher maturity projects and programs focused on sustainment challenges, industrialization, and low-rate initial production (LRIP) efforts.

Technical & Manufacturing Support:
Provide technical insight related to AM processes, materials, qualification, inspection, and industrialization
Support evaluation of manufacturing readiness, process maturity, qualification status, and scalability
Help assess technical risks, barriers to adoption, and integration challenges
Participate in technical reviews, workshops, working groups, and roadmap activities
Data, Digital, & Knowledge Management:
Support efforts to organize, capture, and communicate technical data generated through institute programs
Help structure transition-relevant technical outputs including datasets, lessons learned, qualification evidence, and implementation guidance for long-term use
Assist with development of repeatable transition frameworks and best practices

Desired Characteristics:
Self-starter who can operate independently in fast-moving environments
Strong systems thinker able to connect technical work to operational outcomes
Comfortable engaging from the shop floor to executive leadership
Passion for strengthening domestic manufacturing and the U.S. defense industrial base

Required Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field
3+ years of experience in additive manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or related industries
Experience managing technical projects or engineering programs
Working knowledge of AM technologies and manufacturing processes
Strong communication, organization, and stakeholder coordination skills

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience with AM qualification, certification, or sustainment applications
Familiarity with DoD manufacturing programs, MRLs, TRLs, and transition
Experience supporting production scale-up, industrialization, or LRIP efforts
Experience with manufacturing data systems and technical data management
Experience working with government, primes, and defense suppliers

About NCDMM
NCDMM delivers innovative and collaborative manufacturing solutions that enhance our nations workforce and economic competitiveness. NCDMM has extensive knowledge and depth in commercial and defense manufacturing areas to continually innovate, improve, and advance manufacturing technologies and methodologies. Our experienced team specializes in identifying the needs, players, technologies, and processes to attain optimal solutions for our customers. We connect the dots. Thats the NCDMM methodology. With seven locations nationwide, NCDMM managesAmerica Makes,The Youngstown Innovation Hub, andEl Paso Makesand is a subsidiary of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, Inc. (MTDG). Learn more atncdmm.org.

NCDMM is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

NCDMM, as a government contractor, is required to verify all employees through the E-Verify system to confirm eligibility to work in the United States.