Senior Material Inspection Surveyor

ZipRecruiter; Washington (District of Columbia); Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Material Inspection Surveyor to provide vital technical support to the U.S. Navy's Boats and Combatant Craft Program. This remote position offers the opportunity to engage in material inspections and technical analysis, ensuring that naval vessels meet stringent operational and quality standards. Ideal candidates will possess extensive knowledge of Navy small boats and combatant craft, along with a strong background in quality assurance and DoD acquisition practices. Join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence in maritime defense, contributing to critical projects that shape the future of naval operations.

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant experience in material inspection or acquisition support.
• Knowledge of U.S. Navy and DoD acquisition regulations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed material inspections and readiness assessments.
• Review and interpret technical data packages and contract documentation.
• Support Acceptance Trials and Pre-Delivery Inspections.

Skills

Material Inspection

Quality Assurance

Systems Engineering

Technical Analysis

DoD Acquisition Practices

Education

Associate's Degree in Engineering

Marine Technology

Quality Assurance

Job description

Job Description

Sayres Defense is seeking a Senior Material Inspection Surveyor (part-time) to provide technical engineering and acquisition support to the U.S. Navy's Boats and Combatant Craft Program. The position involves material inspections, technical analysis, and support for acquisition lifecycle activities to ensure boats, craft, and related systems meet operational, contractual, and quality requirements.

This position is remote and based in Washington, DC, with occasional travel up to 30% to support the customer (approximately 2 weeks). The duration for this position is 8-10 weeks, with the potential to extend part-time hours on special projects.

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of Navy small boats and combatant craft, quality assurance principles, and DoD acquisition practices, with experience supporting Program Executive Offices (PEOs), NAVSEA, or similar maritime defense organizations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct detailed material inspections and readiness assessments of Navy boats and combatant craft at shipyards, OEM facilities, and operational locations.
• Review, revise, write, and interpret technical data packages, engineering drawings, specifications, and contract documentation to verify compliance with program requirements.
• Support Acceptance Trials, Pre-Delivery Inspections, and Post-Delivery testing for new construction and in-service craft.
• Evaluate vendor and OEM processes, conduct root cause analysis on deficiencies, and support corrective action implementation.
• Assist government clients with acquisition planning, source selection activities, and technical evaluations related to small boat and craft procurement.
• Track and report inspection findings, quality trends, and fleet readiness issues to the government lead and acquisition stakeholders.
• Contribute to lifecycle sustainment and modernization planning through material condition assessments and technical input.
• Interface with PEO Ships, PMS 325, PMS 300, NAVSEA technical branches, and other supporting agencies as required.
• Develop and maintain inspection checklists, data repositories, and quality monitoring tools tailored to boat and craft platforms.

Qualifications

Required:

• U.S. citizenship with an active Secret clearance.
• Associate's degree in engineering, Marine Technology, Quality Assurance, or a related technical field.
• 10 years of relevant experience in material inspection, systems engineering, or acquisition support—preferably with Navy small craft or maritime platforms.
• Knowledge of U.S. Navy and DoD acquisition regulations, quality standards (e.g., ISO 9001, MIL-STD-882, MIL-STD-167/2037/2045), and technical review processes.
• Experience with combatant craft, patrol boats, RHIBs, landing craft, or other high-speed naval platforms.

• Prior experience supporting NAVSEA, PMS 325, PMS 300, or other PEO Ships programs.
• DAWIA certification (or equivalent experience) in Production, Quality and Manufacturing (PQM), Engineering, or Program Management.
• Familiarity with shipboard systems integration (electrical, mechanical, navigation, and C4ISR systems).
• Work Environment & Travel:
• Frequent travel to shipyards, OEM facilities, waterfront locations, and test sites (up to 25-40%).
• Work may require shipboard access, climbing ladders, confined spaces, or PPE in accordance with safety protocols.

The position description is a general summary of the major responsibilities and accountabilities. Incumbents may be requested to perform other tasks related to the position. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.

At Sayres, our employees enjoy an environment conducive to personal and professional growth while exceeding customer expectations.

We offer a broad range of services including acquisition, financial and program management; fleet training; logistics; ship construction engineering; systems engineering and integration; wargaming; testing and evaluation; security, counterintelligence, and policy analysis.

Sayres is headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices across the United States and abroad.