Senior Quality Inspector

Inversion builds advanced reentry systems to deliver next-generation capabilities from space.
 
Our mission is to make Earth radically more accessible by turning Low-Earth Orbit into an on-demand logistics domain. We see space not as a destination, but as a platform — one that unlocks unprecedented speed and global reach.
 
Our spacecraft are designed to deliver payloads anywhere on Earth in under an hour, operating through extreme reentry conditions and landing with high precision. These systems open the door to new ways of testing, delivering, and operating at hypersonic speeds.
 
Inherently dual-use, our technology is built to meet urgent national security needs while laying the groundwork for future commercial applications. Backed by leading investors including Y Combinator, Spark Capital, and Lockheed Martin Ventures, and working with partners such as the U.S. Space Force and NASA, Inversion is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in space-based defense and logistics.

As a Senior Quality Inspector at Inversion, you will serve as a critical line of defense in ensuring that every component, assembly, and system we build meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and precision. You will perform dimensional and geometric inspections on metallic and non-metallic aerospace parts using coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), laser tracking machines, and other similar tools. You will interpret complex engineering drawings and apply a deep understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5 to verify first-article, in-process, and final inspection requirements. You will be responsible for creating and reviewing Inspection Plans, First Article Inspection Reports per AS9102, and Non-Conformance Reports. You will work closely with manufacturing engineers, design engineers, internal manufacturing teams, and external suppliers to disposition discrepant hardware, drive root cause and corrective action, and support continuous improvement initiatives. You will also contribute to the development and refinement of inspection procedures, work instructions, and quality documentation to support our growing production cadence. From incoming inspection through final acceptance, your attention to detail and technical expertise will directly underpin the reliability and mission success of Inversion’s flight hardware.

This role reports to the Director of Manufacturing

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate’s degree or technical certification preferred.
• 7+ years of hands-on quality inspection experience within aerospace, aviation, defense, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• Proficiency operating and programming CMM equipment, including Brown & Sharpe PC-DMIS systems, Portable CMM platforms, FARO arm, and Leica laser tracker systems utilizing Verisurf software.
• Strong ability to interpret engineering drawings, 3D models, specifications, and inspection criteria for complex machined and assembly components.
• Experience inspecting precision machined aerospace hardware and assemblies utilizing conventional inspection tools including micrometers, calipers, height gauges, thread gauges, and related metrology equipment.
• Hands-on experience creating and executing inspection programs and supporting source inspections with aerospace customers.
• Experience preparing First Article Inspection Reports (FAIRs) in accordance with AS9102 requirements.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 quality management systems, internal audit support, and quality process compliance.
• Experience reviewing and processing nonconformances in collaboration with MRB teams.
• Familiarity with FAA regulatory requirements, including 8130-3 documentation, PMA supplements, and conformity inspections.
• Strong documentation skills with high attention to detail and traceability requirements.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supplier quality, and customer representatives in a fast-paced environment.

• FAA DMIR and/or ODA Unit Member (UM) experience strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting Boeing, commercial airline, military, or spaceflight programs.
• Experience supporting source inspections and direct customer interface activities.
• Background performing conformity inspections for static and dynamic aerospace test programs, including 16G sled testing and occupant injury test setups.
• Experience supporting internal quality audits and maintaining QMS procedures.
• Familiarity with export compliance requirements, bilateral agreements, and FAA Dynamic Regulatory System processes.
• Experience in both receiving inspection and final inspection environments.
• Exposure to portable metrology systems, laser tracking, and advanced inspection technologies.
• Experience working in high-mix, low-volume aerospace manufacturing environments with tight quality and delivery requirements.

_{The California annual base salary for this role is currently $46 - 58 an hour.  Pay Grades are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data.  Individual pay will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: interviews and an assessment of several factors that are unique to each candidate, job-related skills, relevant education and experience, certifications, abilities of the candidate and internal equity.}