Chief Inspector

Air Tractor, Inc.; Wichita Falls (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Tractor, Inc. in Texas seeks a Chief Inspector to serve as the final customer proxy, validating airworthiness and conformance before delivery. The role ensures the highest quality standard for each aircraft and drives continuous improvement across Flightline operations.

The Chief Inspector will lead defect identification, tracking, and escalation, collaborating with Quality Engineering and audits teams to meet FAA and company requirements.

Qualifications

• 10+ years aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, or inspection experience.
• Extensive knowledge of FAA regulations and aircraft inspection practices.
• Understanding of AS9100 quality requirements preferred.
• Leadership and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform final aircraft inspections prior to customer delivery.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, customer, and company requirements.
• Serve as the final authority for aircraft quality acceptance.
• Identify, document, and trend aircraft defects and escapes.
• Maintain aircraft delivery quality metrics.
• Partner with Quality Engineering to investigate recurring defects.
• Support root cause and corrective action activities.
• Provide actionable quality data to drive process improvements.
• Support regulatory and customer audits.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making

FAA regulations knowledge

Aircraft inspection practices

Job description

Company Description

Air Tractor, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of agricultural aircraft, offering one of the most extensive product lines in the world with multiple type-certified models in current production. For more than 50 years, Air Tractor and its predecessors have been at the forefront of modern agricultural aviation from their manufacturing base in Olney, Texas. Operators use Air Tractor aircraft for spraying, seeding, fertilizing, and firefighting, relying on their productivity, safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness. The company is supported by a worldwide dealer network that provides dependable service, parts, and technical support. Air Tractor is committed to continually improving its aircraft for pilots, operators, the industry, and the environment.

Role Description

The Chief Inspector serves as the final customer proxy and is responsible for verifying airworthiness, conformance, and overall aircraft quality prior to delivery. This role establishes and manages the final quality gate following Flightline operations, ensuring defects are identified, documented, and prevented from reaching the customer. The Chief Inspector is a key contributor to reducing Customer Concern Reports (CCRs) and driving continuous quality improvement throughout the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform final aircraft inspections prior to customer delivery.
• Ensure compliance with FAA, customer, and company requirements.
• Serve as the final authority for aircraft quality acceptance.
• Identify, document, and trend aircraft defects and escapes.
• Maintain aircraft delivery quality metrics.
• Partner with Quality Engineering to investigate recurring defects.
• Support root cause and corrective action activities.
• Provide actionable quality data to drive process improvements.
• Support regulatory and customer audits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years aerospace manufacturing, maintenance, or inspection experience.
• Extensive knowledge of FAA regulations and aircraft inspection practices.
• Understanding of AS9100 quality requirements preferred.
• Leadership and decision-making skills.