Manufacturing Quality Technician

Socket.dev; Beachwood (OH); On-site; USD 74,501,000 - 85,962,000; Full time

Job summary

Helix Linear Technologies in Beachwood, OH is seeking a Manufacturing Quality Technician to join our high‑precision production team. You will inspect incoming, in‑process, and final parts on a high‑mix line using optical comparators, GD&T, and vision systems to ensure parts meet exacting tolerances.

You will own AS9102 First Article inspections, generate complete inspection packages, and partner with Engineering to resolve issues.

Qualifications

• Experience inspecting optical components and thread forms to print callouts.
• Strong GD&T knowledge and ability to apply callouts from prints.
• Familiarity with Keyence IM or similar vision systems for dimensional checks.
• Experience with Zeiss Surfcom for surface/form tracing.
• AS9102 First Article inspection authoring and audit readiness.
• Background in high-mix, tight-tolerance manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Operate optical comparator and perform thread form inspections to validate tolerances.
• Apply GD&T on prints to build inspection plans and determine feature requirements.
• Run vision measurements with Keyence IM for dimensional verification.
• Perform surface finish and form tracing with Zeiss Surfcom and interpret results.
• Author complete AS9102 First Article inspection packages for new/revised parts.
• Support general inspection duties with calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and CMM as needed.

Skills

Optical comparator inspection

GD&T proficiency

Vision system experience

Zeiss Surfcom experience

AS9102 First Article

High-mix tight-tolerance manufacturing

Thread form inspection

Tools

Keyence IM vision system

Zeiss Surfcom

CMM support equipment

Job description

Manufacturing Quality Technician

Location

: Beachwood, OH

Job Type

: Full-time, on-site

Pay Range

: $26 - $30/hour (+ overtime eligibility)

Reports to

: Director of Quality

About the Position

Helix builds motion components to tolerances as tight as ±0.0001–0.0003 inches, for customers who don’t give second chances on a bad part. This role is not a plate inspector. It’s a technician who can run an optical comparator, hold a Keyence or comparable vision system, pull a surface or form trace on a Zeiss Surfcom, apply GD&T straight off a print, and author a First Article Inspection package that survives an AS9100 audit.

You’ll inspect incoming, in-process, and final parts across a high-mix production floor, threads, helical features, and tight-tolerance precision components, and you’ll be the person Engineering and Production trust when a measurement is in question.

What You Will Own

• Optical comparator & thread form inspection:verify thread profile, pitch, and form against print callouts, and flag out-of-tolerance conditions before parts move downstream.
• GD&T application:read prints and apply geometric dimensioning and tolerancing callouts to build inspection plans and identify feature control requirements.
• Vision system inspection:run Keyence IM (or comparable) vision measurement for dimensional and feature inspection on precision parts.
• Surface & form metrology: perform surface finish and form (roundness/waviness) trace measurements on a Zeiss Surfcom or comparable system, and interpret results against print specifications.
• AS9102 First Article Inspection:author complete FAI packages (Forms 1/2/3) for new and revised part numbers, audit-ready on the first pass.
• General inspection: incoming, in-process, and final inspection using standard tools; calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and CMM support as needed.

What You Bring

• Optical comparator and thread form inspection experience.
• Working GD&T proficiency; able to read and apply callouts directly from a print.
• Keyence IM or comparable vision system experience.
• Zeiss Surfcom or comparable surface/form trace experience.
• AS9102 First Article authoring experience.
• Background in high-mix, tight-tolerance manufacturing; screw machine shop, medical device, or comparable precision environment.
• Experience inspecting helical or thread features.

Who Will Thrive in This Role

• You trust the instrument, not the assumption; if a thread form or trace is borderline, you re-check it before you sign off.
• You’re fluent enough in GD&T to catch a feature control issue on your own, not just follow a checklist.
• You document as carefully as you inspect; your First Article packages are complete the first time, not after three rounds of corrections.
• You’ve worked around tight tolerances before and don’t need ramp-up time on advanced measurement equipment.

About Helix Linear

Helix Linear Technologies designs and manufactures high-precision motion control systems for medical, industrial, aerospace & defense markets where performance isn't optional. We hold tolerances to ±0.0001 inches, machining, grinding, and assembling critical motion components in-house, including precision ball screws and linear systems.

We're in a growth phase; investing in R&D, advanced equipment, and new product lines. Our climate-controlled facility is built for precision and continuous improvement, and our team solves hard problems together. We value ownership, technical excellence, and a growth mindset, if that's what drives you, we'd love to meet you.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, retirement plans, PTO, most major holidays, steady daytime hours, and flexible scheduling. This is a chance to build something real: strong teams, trusted customer relationships, and systems that last.

Helix Linear Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Due to U.S. export control laws, applicants must be U.S. persons (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident).