Lead Metrology Specialist — Flight Hardware (CMM / PC-DMIS)

Who We Are

Final Frontier Manufacturing is an AS9100D-certified, ITAR-registered precision machine shop in Arvada,

Colorado. We machine complex, tight-tolerance parts in hard metals for rockets and satellites — our parts fly.

We're a small, engineering-led team with high talent density, and quality isn't a department here; it's how we win work.

The Role

You'll own the measurement of flight hardware — from first article through final release. You decide how features get measured, you build and validate the CMM programs, and your inspection results are what let a part ship. Real GD&T, real datum strategy, real CMM and surface-plate work — not a stamp-and-file job.

This is a startup-pace environment — priorities shift, launches don't wait, and the work moves fast. You'll get clear expectations and real autonomy: you run your own queue, close your own loops, and your improvements actually get adopted. People who like ownership do well here.

What you'll do

• Own inspection from first article through final release — you run your own queue and close your own loops on flight hardware
• Develop and validate CMM programs in PC-DMIS — datum alignment strategy, probing and sampling density, and feature construction for true position, profile of a surface, and composite tolerances on complex geometry
• Interpret GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and translate drawing callouts into defensible measurement plans — datum reference frames, material condition modifiers, and simultaneous requirements
• Perform First Article Inspections per AS9102 and author complete FAIR packages that stand up in customer and audit review
• Own measurement system integrity — gage R&R, MSA, and CMM-to-hand-tool correlation studies — and resolve measurement disputes to root cause (probing strategy, datum interpretation, fixturing, or instrument divergence)
• Execute in-process, final, and 100% serialized inspections against customer drawings and specs
• Prepare parts and documentation for customer source inspections and support source events on-site
• Verify finishing certifications (chem film, anodize, passivation) and material traceability
• Maintain inspection records to AS9100D standards — your documentation will stand up in audits

What you'll own: Every inspector here has clear ownership of their work. FAIs get walked to sign-off, parts don't move untagged, and verification means verified. We trust our people with real responsibility, and we hold that standard together.

What We're Looking For

Required

• 3 years of dimensional inspection experience in a CNC machining environment
• Deep, working command of GD&T per ASME Y14.5 — you can independently interpret true position (including composite), profile of a surface, datum reference frames, and material condition modifiers (MMC/LMC and bonus tolerance) on complex multi-datum drawings
• Hands-on CMM programming in PC-DMIS — not just execution: you write, edit, and validate programs, build alignments, and construct features from scratch
• A working understanding of measurement fundamentals — datum simulation, measurement uncertainty, and the judgment to know when a feature belongs on the CMM versus the surface plate
• Proficiency with surface plate and hand inspection tools (micrometers, indicators, height gages, gage pins)
• A track record of working independently: prioritizing your own queue, flagging problems early, and following through to completion
• Comfortable balancing speed and rigor — you keep pace with production and your paperwork survives an audit
• U.S. person status per ITAR (22 CFR 120.62) — required for access to export-controlled technical data

Nice to have

None of the below is required. Our quality engineering side is covered internally — if you bring any of this, great, but we're hiring first and foremost for a strong measurement person on the CMM and surface plate.

• Aerospace or space-industry experience with AS9102 FAIR authorship
• PC-DMIS macro or parametric programming and measurement uncertainty budgeting
• GD&T experience on castings, forgings, or complex freeform geometry
• Quality planning exposure — inspection planning, control plans, APQP, PPAP, or PFMEA
• Experience supporting customer source inspection
• Familiarity with nonconformance, MRB, and root cause processes under AS9100

Schedule

Full-time, on-site in Arvada. Schedule specifics discussed at interview.

Who Thrives Here

People who want to be better and make things better. Our best people treat problems as theirs to fix, bring solutions instead of status updates, and take pride in work that flies. You'll get autonomy, direct access to leadership, and a team that moves quickly — and your ideas for improving how we work will actually get implemented.

How We Work With AI

We use AI heavily — our quality systems, dashboards, and daily workflows are built with and around it, and our team works alongside tools like Claude for everything from NC documentation to report generation. You don't need any AI experience to apply. What matters is curiosity: we're looking for someone who sees a tool that eliminates tedious work and thinks “what else can it do,” not “that's not how we've always done it.” If you've never touched AI but you're the kind of person who automates their own annoyances, you'll pick it up fast here.

Pay: $55,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $55,000 - $75,000