What are the responsibilities and job description for the Non-destructive Inspection Lead position at Apera?
About: This role sits within the Quality team of a pioneering electric aviation company developing certifying electric aircraft from the ground up. The organisation operates across the full development lifecycle, from early-stage design through to FAA certification and production, with a mission to fundamentally decarbonise commercial aviation.
The NDI Lead will take ownership of non-destructive inspection operations across manufacturing, production, and post-production environments, working to the NAS 410 Aerospace Standard. We are looking to place both a Level II and Level III engineer into this team. These are hands-on leadership positions suited to experienced NDI professionals who combine deep technical expertise across multiple inspection methods with the ability to lead, develop, and coordinate a team of technicians in a fast-paced, safety-critical manufacturing environment.
Responsibilities:
- Supervise and coordinate NDI technicians across multiple manufacturing and inspection teams
- Develop and implement advanced inspection strategies and methodologies across composite and metallic materials
- Provide technical guidance and expertise in complex inspection scenarios
- Review and validate inspection procedures and techniques to ensure rigour and compliance
- Ensure adherence to relevant industry standards including ASME, ASTM, and NAS
- Conduct comprehensive quality control reviews and maintain inspection documentation and reporting systems
- Develop and maintain probes and tools for NDT use
- Perform advanced flaw evaluation and analysis
- Lead, mentor, and manage NDI technicians including performance evaluations
- Coordinate training, professional development programmes, and equipment operation guidance
- Foster a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and technical excellence across the team
Required Experience & Skills:
- NAS 410 NDI Level II or Level III certification across multiple methods including UT, RT, PT, MT, and ET
- Minimum 5 years of relevant NDI experience, with seniority aligned to certification level held
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, a related technical field, or equivalent industry experience
- Experience in aerospace quality assurance inspection within an AS9100 or ISO 9000 certified environment
- Proficiency in the use and inspection of composite materials in aircraft structures
- Strong knowledge of inspection equipment, software, and the ability to interpret relevant codes and standards
- Capability to prepare, verify, and validate inspection procedures and work instructions
- Understanding of materials science and inspection technologies
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Ability to plan, prioritise, and manage multiple workstreams under tight deadlines
- Willingness to travel, including frequent travel to Plattsburgh, NY
Desirable / Additional Qualifications:
- Experience with advanced material testing and defect analysis
- Proficiency in data analysis and statistical process control
- Experience with emerging NDI technologies such as phased array ultrasonics and digital radiography
- Familiarity with advanced computer-aided inspection software and computational modelling tools
- Knowledge of machine learning and AI applications within NDI
- Advanced CAD software proficiency and technical writing skills
- Experience developing and delivering inspection training programmes
- GD&T experience
- Six Sigma or Lean manufacturing principles certification
- Certification in advanced metallurgy or materials engineering
- Additional NAS, AWS, or ASNT certifications or advanced credentials
Salary : $90,000 - $250,000