Electronic Quality Inspector

ND Defense; West Point (MS); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

ND Defense LLC in West Point, MS is seeking an experienced Electronics Quality Inspector to lead inspection activities across circuit card assemblies and wire harness production. You will serve as the technical authority for inspection criteria on the shop floor, mentor junior inspectors, and drive continuous improvement in first-pass yield and defect containment in a defense manufacturing environment.

The role requires strict adherence to customer specifications, workmanship standards, and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of quality inspection experience in electronics manufacturing, including exposure to both circuit card assembly and harness/cable assembly.
• 2+ years in a lead or senior inspector capacity.
• Certification in IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620; J-STD-001 certification a plus.
• Blueprint reading, GD&T fundamentals; use of standard inspection equipment.
• Experience supporting AS9100 / ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• US Person.

Responsibilities

• Perform in-process and final inspection of CCA and wire harness/cable assemblies.
• Apply J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 criteria to assemblies.
• Identify and document defects (solder bridging, tombstoning, etc.).
• Support AOI and X-ray inspection review and disposition.
• Lead inspection activities and mentor junior inspectors across lines.
• Maintain calibration of inspection tools per schedule.
• Support internal and customer/government quality audits (AS9100 / ISO 9001).
• Maintain inspection records and documentation; participate in PPAP/APQP as applicable.
• Escalate quality risks to Quality Manager.

Skills

Quality inspection

AS9100/ISO 9001

IPC-A-610

IPC/WHMA-A-620

J-STD-001

Blueprint reading

GD&T

Lead inspector

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's degree in Electronics/Quality or related field

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Continuity/hipot testers

Pull testers

Magnification systems

Job description

ND Defense LLC is seeking an experienced Electronics Quality Inspector to lead inspection activities across both circuit card assembly (CCA) and wire harness/cable assembly production at our West Point, MS manufacturing facility. This role serves as the technical authority for inspection criteria on the production floor, mentors junior inspectors, and drives continuous improvement in first-pass yield and defect containment across both product lines. This position supports a defense manufacturing environment and requires strict adherence to customer specifications, workmanship standards, and export control requirements.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Circuit Card Assembly (CCA)

• Perform in-process and final inspection of printed circuit board assemblies, including solder joint quality, component placement, polarity, and conformal coating where applicable.
• Apply J-STD-001 (Soldering) and IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies) criteria to SMT and through-hole assemblies.
• Identify and document defects such as solder bridging, tombstoning, insufficient wetting, cold joints, and component damage.
• Support AOI (automated optical inspection) and, where applicable, X-ray inspection review and disposition.
• Verify ESD-control procedures are followed during handling and inspection of static-sensitive assemblies.

Wire Harness / Cable Assembly

• Lead in-process and final inspection of wire harnesses and cable assemblies against engineering drawings, work instructions, and IPC/WHMA-A-620 (Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies).
• Verify crimp quality, wire routing, continuity/hipot test results, labeling, and connector assembly.

Shared Quality Responsibilities

• Perform first article inspections (FAI) and support AS9102 documentation as required by customer contracts.
• Review incoming material inspection results and coordinate material review board (MRB) dispositions for nonconforming material.
• Identify, document, and drive root cause / corrective action (RCCA) for recurring defects in coordination with Engineering and Production.
• Train, mentor, and provide technical guidance to junior and floor-level quality inspectors across both CCA and harness lines; review their inspection results for consistency.
• Maintain and calibrate inspection tools and gauges (calipers, continuity/hipot testers, pull testers, magnification equipment) per calibration schedule.
• Support internal audits and customer/government quality audits (AS9100 / ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements).
• Maintain accurate, complete inspection records and quality documentation, consistent with document control and CUI handling procedures.
• Participate in Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities as applicable to assigned programs.
• Escalate quality risks that could affect delivery schedule or contractual compliance to the Quality Manager.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate's degree in Electronics, Quality, or a related technical field preferred.
• 5+ years of quality inspection experience in electronics manufacturing, including exposure to both circuit card assembly and wire harness/cable assembly, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior inspector capacity.
• Current or ability to obtain certification in IPC-A-610 (Acceptability of Electronic Assemblies) and IPC/WHMA-A-620 (Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies); J-STD-001 certification a plus.
• Working knowledge of blueprint reading, GD&T fundamentals, and use of standard inspection equipment (calipers, micrometers, continuity/hipot testers, pull testers, magnification systems).
• Experience supporting AS9100 / ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to identify subtle workmanship defects across both PCB assemblies and harness/cable builds.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, schematics, and customer specifications.
• Strong written communication skills for inspection records, nonconformance reports, and corrective action documentation.
• US Person.

ND Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Veteran.