Quality Inspector

BlueHalo; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 57,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

AeroVironment is seeking a Quality Inspector to join a dynamic quality team. You will inspect purchased parts and materials for conformity, determine inspection procedures, and communicate findings across departments using standard tools and reports.

Responsibilities include first article, incoming, and final inspections, calibration support, and training of level 1 and 2 inspectors. A high school diploma and IPC-610/620 certification are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• IPC-610/620 certification or recertification.
• Familiar with ISO and AS quality management systems.
• Experience with inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, height gauge).
• Experience reading engineering drawings, aerospace certifications, and test reports.
• Data entry, organizing, and scanning documentation.
• Familiar with ESD and material handling procedures.
• Basic computer skills (MS Office).
• Technical math and unit conversions.

Responsibilities

• Inspect purchased parts and materials for conformity to drawings and specs.
• Determine inspection methods, sequences, and procedures.
• Use inspection tools (micrometers, gauges, optical comparators, CMMs).
• Verify specifications against purchase orders and drawings.
• Prepare inspection reports and initiate nonconformance reports.
• Perform First Article, incoming, and final inspections.
• Assist with calibration of QC equipment and act as backup calibrator.
• Train quality inspectors (levels 1 and 2).
• Run statistical studies (reproducibility, capability).
• Identify areas for quality control improvements.
• Inspect machined, sheet-metal, molded, and assembled components.
• Interpret GD&T, tolerances, and inspection criteria.

Skills

Quality inspection

Reading drawings

Measurement tools

MS Office

Statistical methods

Team player

Data entry

ESD handling

Technical Math

Education

High School Diploma

IPC-610/620 Certified

ISO/AS quality systems

Tools

Calipers

Micrometers

Height gauge

Gauges

CMMs

Optical comparators

Job description

Worker Type Regular

Job Description

Summary

AV is seeking a Quality Inspector to become a part of a dynamic Quality team, reporting directly to the Quality Manager. The candidate will perform Inspection of purchased parts and materials for conformity to standards, specifications, and processing requirements as materials are received from external providers. This person shall determine or assist in determining methods, sequences, and procedures necessary for inspection. Works from released drawings, procedures, and specifications. Adapts inspection measuring devices and procedures where necessary. The candidate would be required to communicate between multiple departments and report key information to stakeholders in a timely manner. Must be dedicated to the quality function and possess a drive to enhance the quality of both the product and processes.

Position Responsibilities

• Good team player who can work efficiently with minimal supervision.
• Maintain a clean and organized workspace.
• Able to comply with all health, safety, and security regulations.
• Prioritize daily inspection requirements.
• Excellent attention to detail and critical thinking skills.
• Review and comprehend engineering and program requirements such as engineering drawings, models, and specifications, and perform inspections using tools such as micrometers, gauges, microscopes, micrometers, telescope gauges, and optical comparators.
• Verifies specifications referencing purchase orders, blueprints, drawing or inspection instructions, and checklists.
• Apply sampling principles to material inspections.
• Makes pass/fail decisions on inspected goods. Maintains records of results
• Visually inspects for obvious defects or damage such as corrosion, cracks, dents, scratches, and pits.
• Prepare inspection reports regarding conformance, initiate nonconformance reports, and quarantine material when needed.
• Create discrepancy reports for suspect or identified counterfeit parts.
• Perform inspections per IPC-610/620.
• Perform First Article Inspections, incoming inspections, and final inspections.
• Assist with calibration of quality control equipment.
• Calibration Technician backup.
• Able to train a quality inspection level 1 and 2.
• Foreign object debris/damage point of contact.
• Run statistical studies such as reproducibility and capability.
• Familiar with statistical process control methodologies.
• Prepare and maintain test data for review.
• Identify areas for quality control improvements.
• On material returned from repair, confirm repairs and product quality.
• Perform mechanical, dimensional, visual, and documentation inspections of machined, fabricated, molded, and assembled components.
• Interpret engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), datum structures, revisions, and inspection criteria.
• Use precision measuring equipment --including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, pin and plug gauges, thread gauges, surface plates, optical comparators, and coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) as applicable.
• Verify material certifications, special-process certifications, first-article inspection documentation, and other supplier or production records.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Competencies)

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• IPC-610-620 Certified or able to be re-certified
• Familiar with ISO and AS Quality Management Systems.
• Experience with inspection tools (calipers, micrometers, height gauge, etc.).
• Experience reading and understanding engineering drawings, aerospace certifications, and test reports.
• Experience receiving packages, data entry, organizing, and scanning documentation.
• Familiar with ESD and proper material handling procedures.
• Qualified candidates should possess a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Technical Math: Basic shop math; Measurement systems (units and conversion); and Numeric conversions (decimals, fractions, scientific notation)

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• 3+ years of inspection, precision, mechanical, or metrological inspection experience.
• Experience with the use of metrology tools and gauges.
• Experience within the aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, or electronic fields.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Associate degree, technical certificate, or completed vocational training in mechanical technology, manufacturing technology, metrology, quality, or a related field.
• Experience with advanced inspection methods or equipment, including:
  • CMM programming or operation
  • Portable CMM or articulated-arm measurement systems
  • Vision systems or optical comparators
  • Surface-roughness measurement
  • Digital inspection and reporting software
• Familiarity with inspection of machined parts, sheet-metal components, composites, additive-manufactured parts, electrical‑mechanical assemblies, or flight hardware.
• Experience performing or supporting AS9102 first‑article inspections.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Ability to work in an office, engineering laboratory, and manufacturing environment
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment
• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk or hear
• Occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds with or without assistance
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Clearance Level

No Clearance

The salary range for this role is: $56,500 - $86,250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV:

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next.

If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required