Lead Quality Inspector

Airbus•Grand Prairie, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Airbus Helicopters in Grand Prairie, Texas, is seeking a Lead Aircraft Quality Inspector to provide leadership, guidance, and accountability grounded in Airbus Core Values. The position reports activities and milestone achievements to Quality Management and supports quality inspectors through assistance, training, and technical guidance. The role requires inspecting articles to determine airworthiness after alterations, preventive maintenance, modifications, repairs, or rework to design specifications. The position combines aircraft and component inspections with team leadership, quality department support, continuous improvement, and documentation. The inspector verifies conformity, serviceability, regulatory compliance, and documentation for aircraft, structures, systems, components, and materials throughout receiving, manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and return-to-service activities. The role supports compliance with Airbus procedures and FAA regulations, contributes to internal audits and the Quality Management System, and helps keep aircraft and components on schedule and milestones on track. This is a 100% onsite position at Airbus Helicopters in Grand Prairie, Texas. Travel of 15% or less per year is required. The role requires current authorization to work in the United States without a current or future need for visa sponsorship. Required personal protective equipment includes safety shoes, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators or masks, and protective gloves as required by the site or customer site; steel-toed shoes and appropriate hearing and eye protection are required for shop-floor visits.

Requirements

Associate degree in an aerospace or aviation-related field, or equivalent experience.
10 years of combined experience as a quality inspector and certificated aviation maintenance technician (AMT) on aircraft components and/or systems.
At least 6 years of quality inspection experience at Airbus Helicopters.
Current, valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) license.
Able to work in the United States without a current or future need for visa sponsorship.
Able to meet the position's physical requirements, including carrying and lifting up to 30 pounds, walking through office and production areas, and using required personal protective equipment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace/Aviation Management or another aerospace-related field.
At least 8 years at Airbus Helicopters as a quality inspector.
FAA Inspection Authorization (IA).
FCC 2nd Class License.
Non Destructive Inspection (NDI) certificate.
Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative (DMIR).

Responsibilities

Perform incoming and receiving inspections of materials, aircraft structures, subcomponents, and other articles; identify and report suspected unapproved parts.
Perform in-process and dimensional inspections in electrical backshops, manufacturing, functional testing, composites, and paint to determine serviceability or rejection status.
Inspect aircraft composite panels and aluminum structures, including clearance-to-close, dimensional checks, acoustic tap testing, and repair inspections for damage or defects.
Evaluate shimming and joining of structures, hidden damage, wiring harness manufacturing, connectors, and electrical terminations against approved drawings and data.
Support physical and system quarantine of nonconforming items; monitor measuring and test equipment calibration; and support stock inspections or purges of potentially nonconforming, expired, or suspected unapproved material.
Conduct product sampling and first-article, in-process, final, and conformity inspections for maintenance, repair, modification, rework, overhaul, STC projects, PMA parts, and aircraft or component subassemblies.
Validate parts dispositions, aircraft compliance with inspections and life limits, and applicable airworthiness directives and service bulletins.
Support observation and validation of electrical instrument connections, functional tests, radio adjustments, navigation checks, flight controls, and testing of ELTs, transponders, altimeters, airspeed indicators, and air data computers under applicable federal regulations.
Support offsite repair station activities to ensure compliance with Airbus policies, procedures, and FAA regulations.
Provide leadership consistent with Airbus Core Values; help resolve conflicts, balance customer and regulatory needs with company objectives, and lead by example.
Evaluate team-member performance, assist with assignment of duties, track aircraft and component schedules and milestones, and provide technical guidance and training on documentation and inspection procedures.
Recommend updates to new-hire and recurrent training plans covering inspection methods, regulatory requirements, and company policies and procedures.
Collaborate with supervisors and management, review quality procedures and forms, support company policies and FAA regulations, and participate in departmental and company meetings and projects.
Support and participate in internal audits and maintain the Quality Management System and external audit readiness.
Use quality metrics and methods, including SQCDP, KPIs, practical problem solving, PDCA, root-cause analysis, and corrective action to improve policies, procedures, and processes.
Propose and implement innovations using lean methodologies to support top company objectives.
Verify proper tagging, identification, airworthiness, quantities, part and serial numbers, and required documentation for received and released items.
Create quality notifications or nonconformance reports for nonconforming material and coordinate resolution with Quality Engineers.
Document maintenance actions and support documentation and return-to-service activities for airframes, engines, accessories, components, and systems in accordance with FAA regulations, company procedures, and applicable tracking systems.
Research airworthiness directives and service bulletins; read and validate engineering drawings, reports, and test specifications; and review quarantined items for proper identification and documentation.
Prepare delivery documentation and confirm preservation records and traceability of life limits or time since overhaul, where applicable.

Benefits

Competitive base salary and incentive compensation, which may include profit-sharing schemes.
Retirement savings plan and ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
Paid time off, including personal time and holidays.
Paid parental leave program.
Medical insurance, including traditional and high-deductible health plans.
Prescription coverage.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Disability coverage.
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP).
Other supplemental benefit coverages.