Engineer in Advanced Manufacturing (3D Printing Specialist)

About the Role

As the Senior Army Engineer (Advanced Manufacturing), you will be a commissioned officer and subject-matter expert in additive manufacturing (3D printing) within the Army Engineer vocation under MES. You will lead and anchor the Army’s advanced manufacturing capability to sustain older platforms, produce on-demand spares, replicate and enhance obsolete parts, and deploy mobile/forward 3D printing capabilities to reduce logistics burden and support distributed operations. Your mission is to ensure that the Army’s diverse fleet of platforms remains sustainable, rapidly supportable, and future-ready through cutting-edge additive manufacturing innovation. You will manage the full workflow from digital scanning and design to printing, certification, and field deployment — including 3D printing on the move for deployed sustainment. This transformative role allows you to merge innovation, engineering, and leadership to sustain the Army’s technological edge.

Responsibilities

Additive Manufacturing Strategy & Roadmap

• Develop and execute the roadmap for deploying additive manufacturing (AM) across Army platforms, including strategic AM hubs and mobile printing systems.
• Define capability requirements for AM, covering 3D scanning, reverse engineering, design optimisation, material selection, and certification of printed components.
• Partner with DTC, DSTA, DSO, academia, and industry to evaluate and adopt AM technologies and best practices for defence sustainment.
• Establish a digital spare parts library and certification standards for legacy component replacement and lifecycle traceability.

Engineering & Integration of AM for Platform Sustainment

• Oversee scanning, reverse engineering, and redesign of obsolete components for re-manufacture via AM technologies (metal, composite, polymer).
• Evaluate and select appropriate printing processes (e.g., powder-bed fusion, binder jet, FDM, SLA) based on performance requirements and environmental conditions.
• Lead reliability testing and certification of AM parts for tracked, wheeled, and specialised Army platforms.
• Deploy and manage “3D printing on the move” capabilities to support forward sustainment operations, reducing downtime and logistical footprint.

Logistics, Sustainment & Supply Chain Innovation

• Design and implement new logistics models using additive manufacturing for on-demand spare parts and local production near the point of need.
• Manage digital part libraries, configuration control, and documentation to ensure quality, repeatability, and certification compliance.
• Quantify the impact of AM on cost, lead-time, obsolescence mitigation, and supply resilience; drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that all printed parts meet SAF engineering, durability, and safety standards under operational environments.

Leadership, Talent Development & Command Role

• As a commissioned officer, lead and mentor teams of engineers, technicians, and soldiers specialising in additive manufacturing and digital production.
• Command engineering detachments and deployable AM teams during field operations and exercises.
• Guide engineers under the Army Engineer Professional Pathway (AEPP) toward professional accreditation and postgraduate development.
• Establish doctrine, governance, and safety frameworks for operational deployment of AM and mobile 3D printing systems.

Operational Readiness & Assurance

• Lead defect and performance investigations for printed components, ensuring technical assurance and operational readiness.
• Drive continuous evaluation of AM materials and technologies suitable for defence-grade applications.
• Monitor global AM trends in defence and allied militaries to ensure SAF’s AM ecosystem stays ahead of peers.

Qualifications

• A recognised degree in Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, or Systems Engineering.
• Proven mid-career experience (5–10+ years) in additive manufacturing, 3D printing for functional components, or reverse engineering.
• Strong systems-engineering mindset covering digital design, manufacturing, and sustainment workflows.
• Leadership ability to guide technical teams and integrate AM technologies into military operations.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills; strong stakeholder management experience in defence or manufacturing sectors.

Required Skills

• Experience with metal/composite AM systems and defence-grade printing standards.
• Familiarity with certification of printed parts, CAD/CAM integration, digital twins, and mobile/forward-deployed AM technologies.
• Professional accreditation (e.g., Chartered Engineer) or postgraduate qualification in advanced/additive manufacturing.

Who May Apply

• Singaporeans

Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) is a uniformed military scheme.