Stratospheric Systems Quality & Test Technician

Urban Sky; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision and Dental

15 days PTO plus holidays

Cell phone stipend

Job summary

Urban Sky in Denver seeks a hands-on Quality/Inspection Technician to join the Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance team. On the manufacturing floor you’ll perform incoming, in-process, and final inspections against drawings and work instructions, ensuring traceability and first-time-right builds.

You’ll support PFMEA, audits, calibration, NCR dispositions, and continuous improvement initiatives on AS9100/ISO 9001 systems while collaborating with production to deliver safe, flight-ready hardware.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years in a quality/test technician, quality inspector, or QA role within aerospace, defense, or other high‑reliability manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, or comparable QMS requirements.
• Fluent in reading work instructions, test specs, inspection procedures, and engineering drawings.

Responsibilities

• Perform incoming, in-process, and final inspections against drawings, work instructions, and acceptance criteria.
• Log nonconformances, disposition materials, and drive corrective action with the team.
• Update or author inspection procedures; maintain version control in the system.

Skills

Quality inspection

Documentation

Problem solving

MSA awareness

Education

High school diploma

Technical degree or vocational training

Tools

Quality Control Software

Calipers & Micrometers

Job description

Step into the Stratosphere—Quality at the Edge of Space

At Urban Sky, we’re turning routine access to the stratosphere into reality. Our venture-backed team designs, builds, operates, and sells stratospheric balloon systems that support real-time wildfire monitoring, urban mapping, and missions for government customers including the Department of War (DoW), NASA, and others. We launch flight vehicles weekly—and your work will help ensure every system is safe, reliable, and flight-ready.

You’ll join our Safety, Quality & Mission Assurance team in Denver as a hands-on presence on the manufacturing floor. Your day weaves between precision inspection, test execution, and collaborative problem-solving with production—keeping builds on-time and first-time-right.

A day in the life

• Kick off by checking calibration status and verifying gauges and instruments are in tolerance.
• Move from station to station performing incoming, in-process, and final inspections of soft goods and hard goods against drawings, work instructions, and acceptance criteria.
• Spot an issue? You’ll tag, segregate, and disposition nonconforming material, log it in our system, and drive corrective action with the team.
• Author or update clear work instructions and inspection procedures; version-control them through our document system.
• Run R&D, verification, and validation test suites; then refurbish and rework hardware and soft goods as needed for the next flight.
• Partner with production to prevent defects at the source and protect on-time delivery.

What you’ll tackle

• Execute inspections to drawings, quality standards, and work instructions; ensure full traceability (part/serial/lot/CoC).
• Maintain the calibration log; coordinate internal and third‑party calibrations.
• Support PFMEA and Control Plan reviews, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Help sustain our AS9100 and ISO 9001 certified QMS via internal audits and compliance checks.
• Verify supplier documentation; support incoming inspection of externally provided materials.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years in a quality/test technician, quality inspector, or QA role within aerospace, defense, or other high‑reliability manufacturing.
• Working knowledge of AS9100, ISO 9001, or comparable QMS requirements.
• Fluent in reading work instructions, test specs, inspection procedures, and engineering drawings.
• Hands‑on inspection and testing of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems; experience with both soft goods and hard goods.
• Proficient with precision instruments and gauges; able to execute tests to written requirements.
• Experienced documenting nonconformances and performing dispositions.
• Familiar with calibration management and maintaining a calibrated tool inventory.
• Clear, concise technical communication; strong documentation skills.
• Comfortable working directly on an active production floor.
• Microsoft 365 proficiency; ERP/MRP exposure is a plus.
• High school diploma required; technical degree or vocational training preferred.

Bonus points

• Direct experience with AS9100 or ISO 9001 QMS administration.
• Structured problem solving (8D, 5‑Why, A3, Ishikawa).
• Lean, Six Sigma, or 5S familiarity.
• Quality data analysis or SPC/process capability (Minitab, Excel, etc.).

Where and how you’ll work

• On‑site in Denver, CO; flexibility to occasionally work extended hours (evenings/weekends) during high‑workload periods.

Culture & impact

We’re engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in candor, inclusion, respect, and empowerment. You’ll make a direct impact on systems that fly to the edge of space and help write the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and Texas.

Benefits

• Medical, Vision and Dental
• 15 days PTO plus company holidays
• Cell Phone Bill Stipend

Proficiencies we value

• GD&T
• Quality Inspection Experience
• Data Analysis and Manipulation
• Continuous Improvement
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
• Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA)
• Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP)
• AS9100 Quality Systems
• Kaizen
• Quality Control Experience
• Mechanical Testing
• Advanced Inspection & Gauge Measurement
• Aerospace Manufacturing
• Quality Control Data Analysis
• AS9100 Experience
• Blueprint Reading

Machines & technologies you’ll use

• Calipers and Micrometers
• Quality Control Software

Compliance & eligibility

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident

Urban Sky is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.