Entry-level Research NDI Engineer

About the Role

Spirit Defense, a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, is seeking a Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) Engineer to support commercial and defense research, development, and production applications. This role involves working with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to develop and implement advanced NDI solutions for aerospace structures and components.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply broad technical knowledge of Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) methods, applications, and theory to aerospace materials, components, and structures.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement NDI techniques and inspection solutions for composite, metallic, and other aerospace materials.
• Apply knowledge of NDI methods including ultrasonic testing (UT), eddy current testing (ET), radiographic testing (RT), penetrant testing (PT), magnetic particle testing (MT), and other advanced inspection technologies.
• Develop and integrate automated and/or robotic NDI inspection solutions, including multi-axis inspection systems, motion control, sensors, tooling, and data-acquisition systems.
• Support the programming, integration, testing, commissioning, and troubleshooting of automated NDI equipment and robotic inspection systems.
• Analyze inspection requirements to determine appropriate NDI methods, equipment, techniques, and automation approaches.
• Develop and document engineering requirements, inspection concepts, processes, test plans, and technical solutions for NDI applications.
• Evaluate inspection data and support the development of methods for data acquisition, processing, analysis, and interpretation.
• Conduct research and trade studies involving emerging NDI technologies, automation, robotics, sensors, inspection methods, and process improvements.
• Collaborate with Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, NDI personnel, suppliers, and other technical organizations to transition NDI technologies from development into production.
• Support equipment qualification, calibration, verification, and validation activities.
• Review engineering drawings, specifications, material requirements, and manufacturing processes to determine NDI requirements and inspection approaches.
• Support root-cause investigations and corrective actions involving inspection processes, equipment, materials, and manufacturing conditions.
• Ensure NDI engineering solutions comply with applicable company procedures, customer requirements, industry standards, and governmental regulations.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance.
• Experience developing or integrating automated or robotic NDI systems for aerospace manufacturing applications.
• Experience with automated ultrasonic scanning systems, phased-array ultrasonics, eddy current, or other advanced NDI technologies.
• Experience with robotic programming, industrial automation, motion-control systems, machine vision, sensors, or automated data-acquisition systems.
• Experience with Catia V5.
• Experience developing NDI techniques, procedures, inspection plans, or engineering requirements.
• Knowledge of NAS 410 and applicable aerospace NDI standards and specifications.
• NDI Level II or Level III certification, or previous certification, in one or more NDI methods.
• Experience inspecting or developing inspection processes for aerospace metallic and/or composite structures.
• Experience transitioning new inspection technologies from research and development into a manufacturing or production environment.
• Experience with statistical analysis, inspection data analysis, or software used for NDI data acquisition and evaluation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• Ability to obtain a US Security Clearance.

This is a union-represented position.

Pay range: $62,250 - $95,450