Schedule: Onsite 100%

About the Role

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking an experienced Quality Inspector A to support comprehensive aircraft and component inspection activities at our Columbus, MS facility. This role ensures that all aircraft components, materials, and completed assemblies meet regulatory, safety, and production standards. You will play a critical role in certifying products as safe, compliant, and ready for service.

Key Responsibilities
Total Aircraft & Component Inspection (60%)

• Perform detailed aircraft inspections including dimensional checks, hidden damage detection, and functional testing.
• Approve or reject incoming materials to ensure they meet quality and documentation requirements (e.g., 8130-3, Certificates of Conformance, etc.).
• Use precision measuring tools to verify specification limits.
• Conduct final airworthiness inspections and issue approval for aircraft, engines, parts, and components.
• Identify and report suspected unapproved parts.
• Perform in-process inspections in electrical backshops, manufacturing, composites, paint, and MRO areas.
• Inspect metal structures (aluminum, titanium, steel) for cracks, corrosion, damage, and assembly accuracy.
• Validate shimming, riveting, and structural joining per engineering drawings and approved data.
• Detect hidden damage during inspections of airframe structures and assemblies.
• Validate wiring harnesses, connectors, and electrical terminations.
• Quarantine all non-conforming materials and components.
• Ensure all measuring and test equipment is properly maintained and calibrated.
• Conduct stock inspections/purges and evaluate sales returns.
• Perform dimensional and functional testing to validate conformity to approved drawings.
• Complete inspection activities for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and aircraft/system modifications.
• Conduct conformity inspections for supplemental certifications, manufacturer approvals, and structural/electrical components.
• Validate conformity and serviceability of parts routed from suppliers, shops, or warehouses.
• Inspect dynamic component parts using precision measurement and visual inspection methods.
• Observe and validate testing and adjustments of radios, navigation systems, flight controls, and aircraft instruments.
• Confirm compliance with maintenance intervals, directives, and required bulletins.
• Verify regulatory testing requirements for ELTs, transponders, altimeters, airspeed indicators, and air data computers.

Documentation & Compliance (30%)

• Ensure proper identification, tagging, and airworthiness documentation for all released parts and components.
• Validate part/serial numbers and quantities against procurement data.
• Create and manage the Shelf Life Expiration Date (SLED) report.
• Create QNs/NCs for non-conforming materials and collaborate with Quality Engineers.
• Process Goods Receipts during material receiving.
• Document maintenance and inspection activities per FAA/EASA regulations and company procedures.
• Research applicable airworthiness directives and service bulletins.
• Interpret engineering drawings, technical data, and test reports.
• Manage and document items in the quarantine cage.
• Prepare airframe, engine, component, and system documentation for return to service.

Quality Support & Continuous Improvement (10%)

• Uphold company core values including teamwork, reliability, integrity, customer focus, and respect.
• Perform routine process audits to ensure training, tooling, and technical data availability.
• Review quality-related procedures and forms for accuracy.
• Support team meetings, company initiatives, and special projects.
• Propose process improvements using lean and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Current & valid FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) License.
• 4+ years of quality inspection experience on aircraft systems and components OR
  6+ years as an aviation maintenance technician (AMT).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and technical/regulatory documentation.
• Proficiency with inspection tools and measurement devices.
• Experience working in a Part 145 Repair Station environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• FAA Inspection Authorization (IA).
• FCC 2nd Class License.
• Non-Destructive Inspection (NDI) certification.
• Proficiency in French, German, or Spanish.
• 6+ years diversified aircraft experience as a certified AMT or quality inspector.
• Associate degree in Aviation or a related technical field.

Physical Requirements

• Onsite work required 100%.
• Ability to lift/carry up to 30 lbs and operate tools, equipment, and inspection devices daily.
• Ability to walk, stand, kneel, and bend on production floors.
• Travel up to 15%.
• Must meet vision, hearing, and PPE requirements (safety shoes, glasses, hearing protection, masks/respirators, gloves).

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

PDS Defense, Inc. is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please call 1-866-224-2745 to contact us. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The law requires PDS Defense, Inc. to post a notice describing the Federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. For information regarding your legal rights and protections, please click on the following links: EEO is the Law and EEO is the Law Supplement

PDS Defense, Inc. will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

As a Federal Contractor, PDS Defense, Inc. is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information, please click on the following link: E-Verify

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit https://www.pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/.