Sr. Quality Control Inspector (3362)

SUMMARY: The Sr. Quality Control Inspector leads quality and airworthiness activities for engines and engine components at an FAA Part 145 repair station. This role develops and reviews workscopes for routine, complex, and non-routine articles, performs receiving, in-process, and final inspections, and, when assigned, completes final release of articles, verifying that maintenance work and documentation meet applicable regulatory, manufacturer, customer, and company requirements.

The Sr. Quality Control Inspector also directs the daily workflow of the inspection team, serves as the senior technical resource on complex or disputed product acceptance decisions, drives corrective actions, audit readiness, and control of tooling, calibration, shelf-life materials, and related repair station activities.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develop workscopes for routine, complex, and non-routine articles based on customer requirements, technical data, and inspection reports, and review and approve workscopes prepared by other Quality personnel.
• Perform receiving, in-process, and final inspections of engines, engine components, materials, tooling, hardware, and supplies, and perform final acceptance of incoming parts, materials, and supplies.
• When assigned to final inspection, perform pre-final inspection, prepare release documentation, and complete final release of FAA 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 documents in accordance with FAA Order 8130 and the Repair Station/Quality Control Manual.
• Verify that inspection and maintenance activities comply with the Repair Station/Quality Control Manual, manufacturer specifications, customer requirements, and applicable 14 CFR and EASA requirements, and ensure these standards are applied consistently across the inspection team.
• Review maintenance documentation, including work orders, parts tags, FAA 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 documents, trace documentation, and customer workscopes, and perform final review of inspection reports and maintenance records prior to release.
• Use precision measuring instruments and inspection equipment to verify that articles conform to specifications and ensure inspection team members use inspection equipment correctly.
• Identify and document nonconformances, communicate findings to the Manager, Quality and affected departments, and drive nonconformances through root cause analysis and corrective action to closure.
• Complete first-run articles with support from Engineering.
• Oversee shelf-life materials and the scrap, tooling, and calibration areas, ensure expired materials are properly segregated, and resolve or escalate tooling and calibration issues.
• Ensure all incoming and outgoing articles are photographed, and records are uploaded to the required systems, and coordinate with Shipping/Receiving on packaging documentation and shipment records.
• Lead assigned internal quality audits, coordinate preparation for FAA and customer audits, monitor inspection records for audit readiness, and support the Safety Management System (SMS) and other Quality Department initiatives.
• Direct the daily workflow and inspection assignments of the Quality Control inspection team, set priorities, and manage inspection volume and throughput to meet production schedules.
• Provide training and mentorship to Quality personnel, ensure required training is completed and documented, and serve as the senior technical resource on complex, non-routine, or disputed findings.
• Ensure safety requirements are followed by all members of the inspection team.
• Work independently, exercise sound judgment in product acceptance decisions, and escalate quality or compliance concerns to the Manager, Quality and the Accountable Manager as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• FAA Powerplant certificate.
• 7 years of prior inspection or relevant/technical work experience, including at least 2 years at the Quality Control Inspector III level or equivalent.
• OR Associate's or Bachelor's Degree OR relevant technical certifications/licenses, including the required FAA Powerplant certificate, may be considered in lieu of up to 3 years of experience.
• Ability to develop and review accurate workscopes for routine, complex, and non-routine articles and determine product configuration at the piece-part level using technical data.
• Thorough knowledge of FAA Part 145 repair station requirements, applicable FAA/EASA regulations, repair station quality procedures, and FAA Order 8130.21 release documentation requirements.
• Strong ability to read and interpret component maintenance manuals (CMMs), engine manuals, Service Bulletins, Airworthiness Directives, work instructions, inspection criteria, and regulatory documentation.
• Proficiency in using precision measuring instruments (micrometers & calipers) and inspection equipment.
• Demonstrated decisiveness in product acceptance, including complex or disputed findings, and the ability to identify nonconformances and maintain accurate inspection and maintenance records.
• Demonstrated ability to direct the daily work of others, set priorities, and manage inspection throughput.
• Demonstrated ability to train and mentor less experienced inspectors.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills, sound judgment, and effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and ERP systems.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Quality, Production, Engineering, Materials, Shipping/Receiving, and management, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced aviation environment.
• Ability to read, write, and understand English and meet applicable near- and distance-vision requirements for inspection work.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• 8 years of experience in quality inspection, maintenance, or repair station operations in the aviation industry, with a focus on engines or engine components.
• Experience performing final inspection and release, including FAA 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 documentation.
• Experience leading or coordinating quality audits and experience with quality management systems (QMS) and the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Experience with root cause analysis and corrective action processes.
• Experience directing the work of an inspection team.
• FAA Airframe certificate (full A&P).
• Experience with Quantum or a similar ERP system.
• Forklift experience.

OTHER:

• The selected applicant will be subject to a background check and DOT drug testing.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. VSE considers candidates regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.