Chief Quality Inspector (m/f/d)

Isar Aerospace SE; Ottobrunn; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Participation Program

30 days of vacation

Company pension plan

Subsidised lunch

Flexible mobility budget

Rental clothing with laundry service

Sport Clubs membership

Individual learning allowance

Childcare allowance

Job summary

Isar Aerospace SE seeks a Chief Quality Inspector to define and govern inspection strategies, establish conformity criteria, and own the quality governance framework across manufacturing operations.

The role leads lab testing, qualification activities, and scalable quality initiatives, partnering with multiple functions to ensure objective evidence supports all product acceptance decisions and drives continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in manufacturing quality, inspection, product assurance, or quality engineering leadership.
• Expertise in inspection methods, conformity assessment, acceptance criteria, and verification planning.
• Strong knowledge of incoming, in-process, final inspection and release processes.
• Experience leading NDT disciplines including X-Ray, CT, Ultrasonic, and Dye Penetrant inspection.
• Ability to design inspection standards, governance models, and competency frameworks.
• Leadership experience with multidisciplinary teams and scalable quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Define and govern the company inspection strategy, acceptance approaches, and verification methodologies.
• Establish conformity assessment criteria and ensure objective evidence supports all product acceptance decisions.
• Own inspection governance, standards, procedures, and inspection-related competency frameworks.
• Lead laboratory functions including material testing, metallography, composite testing, calibration activities, and failure investigations.
• Support process qualification activities by defining required verification and inspection evidence.
• Drive implementation of quality-at-source principles across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure inspection resources, technologies, and capabilities can scale with future production demand.
• Develop and maintain inspector training, qualification, certification, and recertification requirements.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Production Engineering, Product Assurance, and Supplier Quality to resolve conformity concerns and improve product quality.
• Provide clear conformity recommendations and inspection performance reporting to senior leadership.

Skills

Quality leadership

Analytical mindset

Stakeholder management

English proficiency

Problem solving

Tools

X-Ray NDT

Computed Tomography (CT)

Ultrasonic testing

Dye Penetrant inspection

Job description

Mission Brief

The Chief Quality Inspector is the independent authority responsible for defining how product conformity is verified across manufacturing operations. This role establishes inspection strategies, verification methods, conformity assessment criteria, and competency standards to ensure objective evidence exists that every product meets defined requirements.

The position is driving a quality-at-source culture and a scalable inspection framework capable of supporting company growth. The Chief Quality Inspector ensures inspection activities provide reliable product acceptance decisions and robust evidence of compliance throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.

Your Role in Our Space Mission:

• Define and govern the company inspection strategy, acceptance approaches, and verification methodologies.
• Establish conformity assessment criteria and ensure objective evidence supports all product acceptance decisions.
• Own inspection governance, standards, procedures, and inspection-related competency frameworks.
• Lead laboratory functions including material testing, metallography, composite testing, calibration activities, and failure investigations.
• Support process qualification activities by defining required verification and inspection evidence.
• Drive implementation of quality-at-source principles across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure inspection resources, technologies, and capabilities can scale with future production demand.
• Develop and maintain inspector training, qualification, certification, and recertification requirements.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Production Engineering, Product Assurance, and Supplier Quality to resolve conformity concerns and improve product quality.
• Provide clear conformity recommendations and inspection performance reporting to senior leadership.

Qualification Checklist

• Extensive experience in manufacturing quality, inspection, product assurance, or quality engineering leadership roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in inspection methods, conformity assessment, acceptance criteria, and verification planning.
• Strong understanding of incoming inspection, in-process inspection, final inspection, and release processes.
• Experience leading NDT disciplines including X-Ray, Computed Tomography (CT), Ultrasonic, and Dye Penetrant inspection.
• Knowledge of laboratory operations, materials testing, metallography, calibration systems, and failure analysis methods.
• Experience developing inspection standards, procedures, governance models, and competency frameworks.
• Ability to make objective conformity decisions based on technical evidence and risk assessment.
• Strong leadership capability with experience developing and managing multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Proven ability to implement scalable quality systems within fast-growing manufacturing organizations.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with high attention to detail and commitment to product integrity.
• Professional proficiency in English; German language skills are advantageous.

Aim high, deliver relentlessly, act with integrity, and keep the mission first.

Benefits

• Employee Participation Program: Share in our success through our virtual company share program
• 30 days of vacation: Enjoy the days off to relax and recharge
• Company pension plan: Secure your future with our company pension plan, featuring a 20% employer contribution after the probation period
• Subsidised lunch: Stay energised with delicious, subsidised lunches every day
• Flexible mobility budget : Travel your way with a choice between a fully financed Deutschlandticket, JobRad bicycle leasing, FINN JobAuto, or a fuel allowance
• Rental clothing with laundry service: Enjoy hassle-free workwear with our convenient rental clothing and laundry service
• Sport Clubs membership: Stay fit with our sponsored sports club memberships (EGYM Wellpass)
• Individual learning allowance: Grow your skills with an individual learning budget granted after the probation period
• Childcare allowance: Receive a childcare allowance for your non-school-age children
• And Much More! Discover additional perks and benefits when you join our team.

Who we are

We are Isar Aerospace and we are at the forefront of New Space building a modern space business to enable faster, better and cheaper access to space.

Our mission is to help democratise space and use it for good in order to improve life on Earth now and for the future generations.

We are a fast-growing company aiming to provide sustainable and environmentally friendly launch solutions for small and medium-sized satellites and constellations into Low Earth Orbit. The company is privately funded by world-leading technology investors with strong commitment and support and our team is made of driven and talented people with a real passion for space innovation.

We're making rockets in a way that hasn't been done before disrupting a traditional industry. If you are up for the challenge, want to work on cutting-edge projects and be part of a team changing the world for better, come, join us and launch your career!

Want to find out more about us?

Visit www.isaraerospace.com

Data Protection

We process your personal data for the purpose of managing the recruitment process and assessing your application. For detailed information on how your data is processed, including your rights, please refer to our Privacy Policy .

Disclaimer

Isar Aerospace SE is an equal-opportunity employer committed to fairness and inclusivity. We do not prioritize any specific religion, gender, nationality, or background. Due to security clearance requirements, affiliations with countries listed under § 13 para. 1 no. 17 SÜG may affect the application process. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.