NDT Level III Inspector

The future of aerospace and defense starts here. 

Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands. 

Our products and technologies require an extraordinary team. A team that will mold tomorrow’s technologies while deploying today’s best. We are an intrinsically motivated team that has a passion for solving problems and empowering each other every day to develop our skills, knowing that there is always room for growth.

Reporting to the Quality Control Manager, the NDT Level III Inspector will serve as Ursa Major’s onsite technical authority for Radiographic Testing (RT) and Penetrant Testing (PT), including digital X-ray inspection of both energetic and inert hardware and visible and fluorescent penetrant inspection. This is a hands-on individual contributor role that owns Ursa Major’s NDT capability from end to end: written practices, process and technique development, personnel qualification and training, inspection execution and interpretation, supplier oversight, and the selection and implementation of future NDT capital equipment. The right candidate is both a deeply experienced technical expert and a builder who can create compliant, scalable inspection processes while supporting the urgency of development and production. This position will work out of our Berthoud and Galeton locations in Colorado.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as Ursa Major’s onsite Responsible Level 3 and technical authority for Radiographic Testing and Penetrant Testing.
• Establish, maintain, and administer Ursa Major’s NAS410-compliant NDT written practice and personnel qualification and certification program.
• Develop, qualify, approve, and maintain NDT procedures, work instructions, technique sheets, inspection plans, and reference standards for digital radiography and penetrant inspection.
• Perform and oversee hands-on NDT inspections of development and production hardware, including inert and energetic components and assemblies.
• Interpret and evaluate indications, make acceptance decisions against approved criteria, and ensure inspection results are accurate, complete, traceable, and clearly communicated.
• Establish technical controls for digital image acquisition, processing, review, storage, traceability, and data integrity.
• Develop and maintain process controls for visible dye penetrant and fluorescent penetrant inspection, including material control, system performance checks, lighting verification, processing parameters, and indication evaluation.
• Review engineering drawings, welding symbols, material and process specifications, purchase requirements, and customer flow-downs to ensure NDT requirements are understood and correctly implemented.
• Partner with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Welding Engineering, Quality Engineering, and Operations to select appropriate inspection methods and incorporate inspectability into product and process designs.
• Develop and deliver classroom, practical, and on-the-job training for NDT personnel.
• Prepare or approve examinations, evaluate personnel competency, mentor Level 1 and Level 2 inspectors, and maintain complete qualification and certification records.
• Provide CWI-level support for weld inspection planning, visual weld inspection, drawing and specification review, and weld-related nonconformance or failure investigations.
• Lead or support investigations involving NDT findings, including nonconformance review, MRB, failure analysis, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Define and maintain equipment verification, calibration, system-performance, preventive-maintenance, and reference-standard requirements necessary to ensure reliable inspection results.
• Own the long-term NDT technology and capital-equipment roadmap based on program requirements, inspection demand, risk, and anticipated production growth.
• Lead NDT capital-equipment projects from requirements development and business-case preparation through vendor selection, facility integration, factory and site acceptance testing, validation, commissioning, and production release. Equipment may include future digital X-ray systems, radiography cells, FPI lines, inspection software, and supporting systems.
• Collaborate closely with the Radiation Safety Officer, EHS, Energetics Safety, Facilities, and Operations to ensure radiographic inspection of inert and energetic hardware is performed within approved radiation, explosives, chemical, and operational safety controls.
• Provide technical oversight of outsourced NDT suppliers, including capability assessments, specification review, audit support, technique review, discrepancy resolution, and inspection-record review.
• Support internal, customer, and accreditation audits and lead corrective actions associated with NDT processes or personnel qualification.
• Identify and implement improvements that increase NDT capability, throughput, repeatability, and scalability without compromising personnel safety or product quality.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• 8+ years of experience as a Quality Inspector with a focus on Radiographic Testing and Penetrant Testing
• Current or prior employer certification as a NAS410 Level 3 in Radiographic Testing, Penetrant Testing, and Visual Testing, with complete training, experience, examination, and certification records sufficient to support certification under Ursa Major’s written practice.
• Current AWS Certified Welding Inspector certification.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience developing, qualifying, and approving digital radiography techniques for complex hardware.
• Strong working knowledge of digital radiography fundamentals, including exposure parameters, image-quality indicators, sensitivity, geometric unsharpness, image acquisition and processing, system-performance verification, and digital-image archiving.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience developing and controlling liquid penetrant inspection processes, including fluorescent penetrant inspection.
• Strong working knowledge of penetrant inspection variables, including surface preparation, penetrant application, dwell, removal, emulsification, development, lighting conditions, material control, system-performance checks, and indication evaluation.
• Experience serving as a Level 3 technical authority and developing or administering an aerospace NDT written practice.
• Experience authoring and approving NDT procedures, work instructions, technique sheets, training materials, examinations, and personnel certification documentation.
• Experience training, examining, mentoring, and providing technical direction to Level 1 and Level 2 NDT personnel.
• Experience performing and overseeing NDT on complex weldments, castings, forgings, additive-manufactured components, machined components, or multi-component assemblies.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, welding symbols, material specifications, process specifications, customer requirements, and acceptance criteria.
• Experience supporting nonconformance review, MRB, failure investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective action.
• Experience defining technical requirements for NDT equipment and working with equipment manufacturers or integrators through selection, installation, acceptance, and qualification.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical requirements and defend inspection decisions with technicians, engineers, leaders, suppliers, customers, and auditors.
• Demonstrated technical judgment, procedural discipline, attention to detail, and commitment to personnel and product safety.
• Ability to work onsite and support operations involving radiation-generating equipment, penetrant-processing chemicals, and energetic materials after completion of all required safety training.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ASNT NDT Level III certification in Radiographic Testing and/or Penetrant Testing.
• Experience performing radiographic inspection of energetic materials, solid rocket motors, ordnance, propulsion systems, or similarly regulated hardware.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, spaceflight, or another safety-critical manufacturing environment.
• Experience with multiple non-film radiography technologies, including digital detector arrays, computed radiography, real-time radiography, or industrial computed tomography.
• Experience specifying, purchasing, installing, validating, or commissioning shielded X-ray systems, radiography cells, or automated or semi-automated FPI lines.
• Formal industrial radiation-safety training and experience working within a radiation-protection program led by a Radiation Safety Officer.
• Experience operating within a Nadcap-accredited NDT program or preparing an NDT operation for initial Nadcap accreditation.
• Working knowledge of AS9100 and applicable ASTM, AWS, military, aerospace, and customer-specific NDT requirements.
• Experience inspecting aerospace weldments to AWS D17.1/D17.1M, AWS D17.2/D17.2M, or comparable requirements.
• Experience overseeing external NDT suppliers and conducting technical process or personnel-qualification audits.
• Experience supporting the transition of NDT processes from development and first-article inspection into repeatable production.
• Experience establishing a new internal NDT capability or substantially scaling an existing program.
• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nondestructive testing, welding technology, materials science, engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Work Environment:

• The position involves working in office, test facilities, and laboratories which may include exposure to hazardous materials and conditions. Strict adherence to safety protocols and procedures is mandatory.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $123,520 - $154,400, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can’t quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. 

Classification: Full-time Exempt

Benefits Include: (Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits)

• Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement
• Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA)
• Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D
• Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport
• EAP Program
• Retirement Savings Plan - 401k with Company Match

How To Apply: 
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by filling out the application below and clicking "Submit Application". This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants.

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. 

We’re an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

No outside recruiters, please.