Material and Test Engineer

PDS Defense; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

PDS Defense is seeking an experienced NDT leader in Sunnyvale, CA to oversee non-destructive testing and composites quality across flight hardware materials. You will develop procedures, train Level I/II inspectors, and perform in-situ NDT with a focus on phased array ultrasonic testing.

Ideal candidates bring NAS 410 Level III certification, 5+ years of composites experience, and strong communication skills. FAA/Aircraft industry experience and leadership abilities are highly valued.

Qualifications

• NAS 410 Level III certification required.
• 5+ years of composites-specific experience including phased array UT.
• Knowledge of composites manufacturing techniques, common quality issues, and failure modes.
• Strong leadership/mentorship ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee non-destructive testing and composites quality.
• Develop and maintain written inspection procedures and techniques.
• Train and maintain records for Level I and Level II inspectors.
• Perform routine NDT in-situ and on flight hardware materials.
• Conduct failure analysis on composite components.
• Evaluate prototype composite materials for quality and inspectability.

Skills

Leadership

Technical inspection

NDT expertise

Documentation

Education

NAS 410 Level III certification

Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering

Master's in Operations Management

Tools

LabVIEW

PLC programming

Python

MATLAB

R

JMP

Tableau

Job description

• Oversee non-destructive testing and composites quality
• Develop and maintain written inspection procedures and techniques
• Train and maintain records for Level I and Level II inspectors
• Perform routine NDT in-situ and on flight hardware materials
• Conduct failure analysis on composite components
• Evaluate prototype composite materials for quality and inspectability

Required Qualifications:

• NAS 410 or SNT-TC-1A Level III certification
• 5+ years of composites-specific experience, including phased array ultrasonic testing
• Knowledge of composites manufacturing techniques, common quality issues, and failure modes
• Strong leadership/mentorship ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred:

• 7+ years with FAA composites airframe inspection requirements
• Advanced degree in a related field
• Automated immersion UT experience
• AS9100/NADCAP/ISO lab or manufacturing experience
• BondMaster, Thermography, or similar composites NDT techniques
• LabVIEW/PLC programming; data analysis in Python, MATLAB, R, JMP, or Tableau

Keywords: NDT, NDI, nondestructive inspection, NAS 410 Level III, SNT-TC-1A Level III, phased array ultrasonic testing, composites, aviation, FAA

Education:

Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering (minor in Nondestructive Evaluation); Master's in Operations Management.