Quality Inspector

AeroVironment•Albuquerque, NM

26d•$56,500 - $86,250

About The Position

AV is seeking a Quality Inspector to join its Quality team and report directly to the Quality Manager. The role inspects purchased parts and materials received from external providers for conformity to standards, specifications, and processing requirements. The inspector works from released drawings, procedures, and specifications; determines or assists in determining inspection methods, sequences, and procedures; and adapts inspection measuring devices and procedures when necessary. The position requires communication across departments and timely reporting to stakeholders, with a focus on improving product and process quality.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
IPC-610/620 certification or ability to be re-certified.
Familiarity with ISO and AS Quality Management Systems.
Experience using inspection tools such as calipers, micrometers, and height gauges.
Experience reading and understanding engineering drawings, aerospace certifications, and test reports.
Experience receiving packages, entering data, organizing materials, and scanning documentation.
Familiarity with ESD and proper material-handling procedures.
Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
Technical math skills, including basic shop math, measurement systems and unit conversions, and numeric conversions involving decimals, fractions, and scientific notation.
Ability to work in an office, engineering laboratory, and manufacturing environment and wear required personal protective equipment.
Ability to perform frequent standing, walking, sitting, hand and finger use, handling or feeling objects, tools, or controls, reaching, climbing stairs, and talking or hearing; occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance.
Required vision abilities include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under ITAR/EAR or be eligible for an export license; U.S. citizenship is required for this position.

Nice To Haves

At least 3 years of inspection, precision, mechanical, or metrological inspection experience.
Experience using metrology tools and gauges.
Experience in aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, or electronic industries.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
Associate degree, technical certificate, or completed vocational training in mechanical technology, manufacturing technology, metrology, quality, or a related field.
Experience with advanced inspection methods or equipment, including CMM programming or operation, portable CMM or articulated-arm measurement systems, vision systems or optical comparators, surface-roughness measurement, or digital inspection and reporting software.
Familiarity with inspecting machined parts, sheet-metal components, composites, additive-manufactured parts, electromechanical assemblies, or flight hardware.
Experience performing or supporting AS9102 first-article inspections.

Responsibilities

Work effectively as a team member with minimal supervision, maintain a clean and organized workspace, comply with health, safety, and security regulations, and prioritize daily inspection requirements.
Review engineering and program requirements, including drawings, models, and specifications; perform inspections using appropriate measurement tools and equipment.
Verify specifications against purchase orders, blueprints, drawings, inspection instructions, and checklists; apply sampling principles to material inspections.
Make pass/fail decisions, maintain inspection result records, and visually inspect for defects or damage.
Prepare inspection reports, initiate nonconformance reports, quarantine material when needed, and create discrepancy reports for suspect or identified counterfeit parts.
Perform inspections in accordance with IPC-610/620, including first-article, incoming, and final inspections.
Assist with calibration of quality control equipment and serve as a backup Calibration Technician; train Quality Inspection Level 1 and 2 personnel.
Serve as the foreign object debris/damage point of contact.
Run statistical studies, including reproducibility and capability studies; apply familiarity with statistical process control methodologies.
Prepare and maintain test data for review and identify opportunities for quality control improvements.
Confirm repairs and product quality for material returned from repair.
Perform mechanical, dimensional, visual, and documentation inspections of machined, fabricated, molded, and assembled components.
Interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, datum structures, revisions, and inspection criteria; use applicable precision measuring equipment, including CMMs.
Verify material certifications, special-process certifications, first-article inspection documentation, and other supplier or production records.