Flight Inspector
Listed on 2026-10-06
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Quality Assurance - QA/QC
Quality Control - QC Analysts/Managers
Location: Sterling
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE:
No relocation assistance available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START:
No
CLEARANCE TYPE:
Confidential
TRAVEL:
No
At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon.
We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.
Northrop Grumman’s Space Sector is seeking a Flight Inspector – Level 3 to join our team in Dulles, VA. This position is 100% onsite and cannot accommodate telecommute work.
Flight Inspection is the last check before purchased flight hardware reaches the production floor. The Level 3 inspector accepts material independently, decides how a part gets inspected when no plan exists, and trains the inspectors coming up behind them.
This position will work a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off.
In this job, you will:
- Inspect and accept purchased flight hardware against the purchase order, drawing, and specification. Hardware includes EEE components, printed wiring boards, RF cable assemblies, mechanical parts, COTS items, and government- and contractor-furnished equipment.
- Read the engineering drawing and determine the inspection method, tools, and acceptance criteria for new or unfamiliar part types.
- Review supplier documentation (certificate of conformance, test data, lot and date code traceability) for completeness and accuracy before acceptance.
- Perform dimensional and visual inspection using calibrated measuring equipment, including inspection under magnification.
- Write nonconformance reports with clear, factual defect descriptions. Hold and segregate nonconforming material. Support Material Review Board documentation.
- Complete inspection records in the quality system of record (TIPQA) and verify inspection routing in the ERP system (Costpoint) so every acceptance stands up in audit.
- Train, coach, and check the work of Level 1 and Level 2 inspectors. Support their qualification sign-offs.
- Resolve most discrepancies directly with Procurement, Supplier Quality, Engineering, and Production. Escalate complex or precedent-setting questions.
- Support root cause and corrective action when an escape or a repeat intake problem is found.
- Follow ESD, FOD, and handling controls for flight hardware.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned.
- High School diploma or equivalent and 4 years additional education and/or related experience.
- No clearance required to start
- Experience inspecting aerospace, defense, or space hardware under AS9100 or an equivalent quality management system.
- Experience accepting purchased material against purchase order, drawing, and specification requirements.
- Experience reading engineering drawings and performing dimensional inspection with precision measuring tools (calipers, micrometers, height gages, pin and thread gages).
- Experience writing nonconformance reports.
- Experience reviewing supplier certifications and traceability records against supplier quality requirements flowed down on a purchase order.
- Receiving or incoming inspection experience on space flight hardware.
- GD&T (ASME Y14.5) training or applied experience.…
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