Technical Lead — First Article Inspection & Metrology (2 Day Assessment)

Lever, Inc.; Blaine, Northern (MN, KY); Hybrid; USD 114,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

SQA Services seeks a Technical Lead for First Article Inspection and Metrology to oversee two supplier readiness assessments. You will guide FAI, CMM programming and metrology activities, ensuring compliance with GD&T, AS9102, and MSA standards, and deliver technical findings with SME support.

The role requires travel to supplier facilities for the full two-day assessments and strong expertise in calibration and traceability within ISO/IEC 17025 frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, metrology, or related technical discipline, or 10+ years of directly related experience.
• 7+ years of dimensional metrology, quality engineering, or precision inspection experience.
• Hands-on CMM programming and program validation using PC-DMIS, Calypso, or equivalent software.
• Expert GD&T/ASME Y14.5 knowledge with datum reference frames.
• Experience preparing and reviewing AS9102 First Article Inspection Reports.
• MSA/Gauge R&R studies using AIAG principles.
• Calibration systems and ISO/IEC 17025 concepts.

Responsibilities

• Support RCR reviews covering product definition, GD&T, and inspection plans.
• Lead reviews of FAIRs for completeness and linkage to certifications.
• Evaluate FAI trigger and delta-FAI practices.
• Review CMM programs for datum structure and GD&T interpretation.
• Evaluate measurement systems where CMMs are not used, including gauging methods.
• Review MSA/Gauge R&R studies and calibration status.
• Assess casting and gear inspection methods and job-specific capabilities.
• Identify FAI and measurement gaps affecting specs, and report findings.

Skills

Dimensional metrology

Quality engineering

CMM programming

GD&T

AS9102

MSA principles

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering/metrology

10+ years related experience

Tools

PC-DMIS

Calypso

Job description

For more than 30 years, SQA Services has been a leader in providing managed supplier quality services — including audits, assessments, corrective actions, inspections, remediation, and engineering — to manufacturers across all industries.

Overview

SQA Services is seeking a Technical Lead – First Article Inspection & Metrology to support two supplier readiness assessments at a casting supplier and a custom worm gear manufacturer.

The Technical Lead will evaluate the suppliers’ ability to reliably verify product design characteristics through First Article Inspection (FAI), CMM programming, dimensional metrology, measurement systems, calibration, and MSA. You will work alongside an SQA commodity SME at each supplier and contribute technical findings to the final assessment report.

Key Responsibilities

• Support Requirements Consumption Reviews (RCR) covering product definition, GD&T, critical/key characteristics, and inspection/test plans.
• Lead reviews of First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) for completeness, characteristic accountability, ballooning, and linkage to material and special-process certifications.
• Evaluate FAI trigger and delta-FAI practices.
• Review CMM programs for datum/alignment structure, GD&T interpretation, program validation, revision control, probe qualification, and operator competency.
• Evaluate measurement systems where CMMs are not used, including equipment suitability, resolution, gauging methods, and environmental controls.
• Review MSA / Gauge R&R studies for critical characteristics, along with calibration status, traceability, and recall controls.
• Evaluate commodity-specific measurement capabilities, including casting dimensional inspection and gear inspection methods such as gear analyzers, single-/double-flank roll testing, and contact-pattern checks.
• Identify and assess FAI and measurement-system gaps based on risk to product specifications.
• Provide technical findings and report sections to the SQA commodity SME for the consolidated assessment report.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, metrology, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent education and 10+ years of directly related experience.
• 7+ years of dimensional metrology, quality engineering, or precision inspection experience.
• Hands-on CMM programming and program validation experience using PC-DMIS, Calypso, or equivalent software.
• Expert-level GD&T / ASME Y14.5 knowledge, including datum reference frames and translating drawing requirements into CMM alignments.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and reviewing AS9102 First Article Inspection Reports.
• Hands-on experience planning, conducting, and interpreting MSA / Gauge R&R studies using AIAG MSA principles.
• Working knowledge of calibration systems and measurement traceability, including ISO/IEC 17025 concepts.
• Ability to travel to and work onsite at both supplier facilities for the full two-day assessments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with aerospace or other highly regulated precision manufacturing environments.
• Experience with casting inspection and dimensional layouts.
• Experience with precision gear inspection, including gear analyzers, single-/double-flank testing, or contact-pattern inspection.
• Supplier quality or supplier readiness assessment experience.
• Experience identifying and risk-ranking measurement and inspection system gaps.

$55 - $60 an hour

2 FULL day assessments

Note:

SQA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based on merit and qualifications, and is not influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or any other legally protected status.

This position requires access to ITAR-controlled technical data and/or defense articles. As such, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) to comply with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Applicants who do not meet these criteria will not be considered for this role.