Disclosed herein is an additive manufacturing system that includes an energy source, a powder supply, and a build chamber. The build chamber includes a base plate and two or more variable build plates coupled to the base plate. The two or more variable build plates each have one or more adjustable features. The two or more variable build plates are configurable to position two or more parts at different heights relative to a top level of the build chamber. The additive manufacturing system also includes a control system configured to control the energy source to fuse material from the powder supply to at least one of the two or more parts while the two or more parts are respectively positioned by the two or more variable build plates at different heights relative to the top level of the build chamber.