Quality Engineering Technician

About the role

The Senior Quality Engineering Technician leads inspection activities across incoming, in-process, and final inspection within a regulated aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. This role ensures strict compliance with AS9100 standards, customer specifications, and internal procedures while mentoring junior inspectors and supporting root cause investigation and corrective action implementation. The position plays a key role in maintaining product quality, driving continuous improvement, and upholding regulatory and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead incoming, in-process, and final inspection activities for aerospace and defense components and assemblies.
• Ensure all inspection work complies with AS9100 requirements, customer specifications, and internal quality procedures.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints, including GD&T tolerancing, using CREO, CAD, and related tools.
• Perform detailed mechanical inspections using calipers, gauges, micrometers, and other metrology equipment.
• Conduct First Article Inspections (FAI) and document results in accordance with applicable standards and customer requirements.
• Identify, document, and process nonconforming material, including generating Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs).
• Support and lead root cause analysis activities for nonconformances and quality issues.
• Participate in and support Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) processes to address quality problems and prevent recurrence.
• Analyze GD&T requirements to verify dimensional compliance and ensure proper interpretation of tolerances.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, and quality teams to resolve quality issues and improve processes.
• Mentor and guide junior inspectors, providing training and support on inspection techniques, tools, and quality procedures.
• Utilize quality assurance and quality control best practices to maintain consistent inspection standards.
• Support final inspection activities to verify that products meet all contractual, regulatory, and customer requirements prior to shipment.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, including Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing activities where applicable.
• Maintain accurate inspection records, reports, and documentation in accordance with internal and external requirements.
• Assist with or perform CMM inspections if experienced with CMM operation and programming.
• Ensure adherence to applicable aerospace and defense regulations, including ITAR and DFARS, where required.

Requirements

• 5+ years of quality inspection experience in aerospace or defense manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and blueprint reading.
• Experience working in AS9100-regulated environments and familiarity with related standards such as AS9102.
• Proficiency in mechanical inspection using calipers, gauges, micrometers, and other metrology tools.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints in CREO, CAD, AutoCAD, and similar platforms.
• Hands-on experience with incoming, in-process, and final inspection of parts and assemblies.
• Experience performing First Article Inspections (FAI) and documenting results.
• Proven experience with Non-Conformance Reports (NCRs) and nonconforming material processes.
• Demonstrated capability in root cause analysis and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) processes.
• Background in quality assurance and quality control within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and support junior inspectors.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and document findings clearly.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience with Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) operation and programming.
• Familiarity with ITAR and DFARS compliance requirements in aerospace and defense environments.
• Background in Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing methodologies.
• Experience working as a Mechanical Inspector or Quality Control Inspector.
• Exposure to GD&T analysis and interpretation in complex mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to interpret detailed blueprints and drawings for both simple and complex parts.
• Experience with quality inspection in a highly regulated environment, including aerospace and defense.
• Comfort working with quality inspection tools and software used for documentation and reporting.

Work Environment

The role is based in a small manufacturing company environment with approximately 60 employees across production, engineering, quality, and front office support functions. The organization operates as a leading supplier to the aerospace industry, particularly in moisture control solutions. The standard schedule follows four 10-hour shifts per week, providing every Friday off. The work involves hands-on inspection activities in a regulated aerospace and defense manufacturing setting, using mechanical measurement tools, metrology equipment, CAD platforms, and potentially CMM systems. Team members collaborate closely across departments in a dynamic, quality-focused environment that supports continuous improvement and structured quality processes.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $28.84 - $31.25 per hour.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Schedule

The standard schedule follows four 10-hour shifts per week, providing every Friday off.

This is a Contract to Hire, fully onsite position in Cookstown, NJ.