Regional Responsible Level 3 NDT - Midwest

Valence•Camden, AR

About The Position

The Regional Responsible Level III supports Valence Surface Technologies’ non-destructive testing (NDT), engineering, and quality teams. Valence performs Liquid Penetrant and Magnetic Particle inspection to help ensure the safety of aerospace and defense components at facilities across the United States. This role implements NAS 410 and administers NDT qualification and certification requirements for assigned sites and/or regions. It provides technical responsibility for planning, organizing, executing, coordinating, and tracking assignments, and independently directs NDT projects involving complex problems that may significantly affect programs or products. The position requires travel and may be based anywhere in the Midwest; access to a major airport is preferred. The Regional Responsible Level III maintains NDT standards and the company’s Written Practice; serves as technical authority for assigned inspection methods; interprets drawings, specifications, and requirements; develops and approves procedures; and verifies inspection equipment and results. The role also trains, examines, and certifies NDT personnel, evaluates external service providers, provides technical guidance, supports audits and continuous improvement, and develops inspection capabilities and methods. It performs and oversees penetrant and magnetic particle inspections, maintains records and traceability, supports Nadcap and customer requirements, and contributes to quality assurance planning and process validation. Access to technical data regulated under ITAR is required. The role is restricted to U.S. Persons as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.15. Eligibility to access export-controlled information must be verified before employment and throughout employment. Employees must comply with export control laws and complete mandatory ITAR compliance training.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required.
Minimum 5 years of aerospace-relevant experience.
NAS 410 Level III certification in penetrant testing (PT) and magnetic particle testing (MT) required.
U.S. Person status is required to access information under the program.
Ability to travel.
Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; SPC programs; and Visio.
5–7 years of Nadcap experience required.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree or higher in engineering, or equivalent experience.
ASNT Level III certification in penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), or other methods may be required.
Experience in aerospace manufacturing operations and chemical processing.
Residence anywhere in the Midwest.
Access to a major airport.

Responsibilities

Maintain and ensure application of current NDT standards, including NAS 410, SNT-TC-1A, ASTM methods, and applicable OEM specifications.
Develop, maintain, and administer the company’s NDT Written Practice, including certification requirements, training programs, and recertification processes.
Serve as technical authority for assigned NDT methods, including method selection, technique development, and procedure approval.
Interpret engineering drawings, technical manuals, specifications, standards, planning documents, and contractual requirements to determine appropriate NDT methods, inspection sequences, and acceptance criteria.
Ensure compliance with customer, industry, and government regulations governing NDT activities.
Develop, review, and approve NDT work instructions and procedures in accordance with customer specifications, OEM requirements, and internal quality standards.
Verify setup, calibration, and operation of NDT equipment; interpret test results, readouts, and recordings to determine product acceptability.
Oversee setup and use of surface-inspection equipment, including borescopes, black lights, and precision measurement instruments, and ensure accurate system performance checks.
Analyze and evaluate parts, assemblies, and weldments for conformance to specifications and standards; develop and refine inspection techniques as needed.
Ensure proper documentation, retention, and traceability of NDT records, reports, and certifications.
Train, examine, and certify NDT Level I, II, and III personnel in accordance with applicable standards and requirements.
Evaluate, approve, and periodically audit external NDT service providers.
Provide technical guidance to management, engineering, sales, customers, suppliers, and auditors on NDT processes, materials, inspection requirements, and compliance.
Conduct product, system, compliance, and surveillance audits; investigate customer concerns; and collaborate with cross-functional teams on process improvements.
Identify emerging NDT technologies and lead initiatives to enhance inspection capability and organizational competitiveness.
Assist with development and qualification of new technologies, inspection methods, and procedures to support approvals and customer needs.
Maintain compliance with Nadcap and customer requirements, including audit preparation, corrective actions, and ongoing program oversight.
Act as the primary NDT technical representative during customer, OEM, and regulatory audits.
Develop, optimize, and streamline inspection programs to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance process capability.
Perform calibration and NDT testing to verify product integrity and adherence to quality standards.
Establish, approve, and validate inspection techniques while maintaining safety protocols.
Conduct magnetic particle, fluorescent penetrant, and contrast dye penetrant inspections, including examination of hidden or difficult-to-access surfaces.
Apply problem-solving and quality-improvement methodologies, including preventive and corrective action tools, management and planning tools, and barrier-removal strategies.
Collect, analyze, and interpret data using quantitative methods to support business decisions, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement.
Support quality assurance objectives through strategic planning, action plans, quality and productivity standards, issue resolution, and system improvements.
Develop quality assurance plans based on risk analyses, critical control points, preventive measures, critical limits, monitoring, and verification procedures.
Validate quality processes by defining product specifications and attributes, measuring production outputs, documenting objective evidence, determining qualification requirements, and authoring or updating quality procedures.
Take ownership of new assignments, identify improvement opportunities, and contribute to organizational performance and a culture of excellence.
Perform additional duties as assigned to support organizational goals and operational needs.
Maintain integrity, impartiality, professionalism, and ethical conduct in NDT activities, decisions, certifications, and interactions.
Comply with ITAR and other export-control laws and complete mandatory ITAR compliance training.