Ultrasonic Level III – Aerospace & Defense, Fort Worth, TX
Posted: 7/23/2026 3:24:54 PM
NDT.org Job Number:
82594
* Please reference NDT.org Job Number on all correspondence
Contact:
Michelle Culbertson
Phone:
310-480-4204
Company:
NDE Labs
State:
TX Texas
Contact:
Michelle Culbertson
Country:
United States
Length:
Full Time Employment
Email:
michelle.culbertson@ndts.com
Position Summary-Full Time onsite, minimum travel
Responsible for technical leadership, qualification, oversight, and continuous improvement of ultrasonic inspection processes supporting aerospace, defense, and Navy nuclear programs. This position serves as the organization's subject matter expert for advanced ultrasonic inspection technologies, including conventional contact ultrasonics, immersion testing, modified immersion techniques, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), and other advanced ultrasonic methods.
The Ultrasonic Level III develops, qualifies, and approves inspection techniques, ensures compliance with customer and regulatory requirements, certifies personnel, supports new product development, and provides technical direction to engineering, quality, and production teams. This position plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with customer specifications, military standards, FAA requirements, and industry best practices.
Technical Leadership
• Serve as the Responsible Ultrasonic Level III for aerospace, defense, and nuclear inspection programs.
• Develop, qualify, validate, and approve ultrasonic inspection procedures and techniques.
• Interpret customer drawings, engineering specifications, military standards, and contractual inspection requirements.
• Establish inspection methods for metallic and composite materials utilizing:
o Conventional Contact Ultrasonics
o Immersion Ultrasonic Testing
o Modified Immersion Techniques
o Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)
o TOFD (when applicable)
o Automated C-Scan Systems
o Precision Manual Ultrasonic Inspection
• Support inspection of complex aerospace structures including:
o Composite laminates
o Honeycomb sandwich structures and Bonded assemblies
o Metals i.e., Titanium, Aluminum, Nickel alloys, Steel
o Additive manufactured components
o Castings, Forgings, Weldments
Procedure Development
• Develop and approve written ultrasonic procedures in accordance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Develop calibration standards and reference standards.
• Perform Probability of Detection (POD) evaluations when required.
• Develop scan plans for automated and manual inspections.
• Optimize inspection parameters to maximize flaw detection and repeatability.
• Evaluate emerging ultrasonic technologies for implementation.
Personnel Qualification
• Train, mentor, and technically develop Level I and Level II inspectors.
• Support RL3 in preparation and administration of general, specific and practical examinations.
• Support certification protocols and recertify NDT personnel in accordance with:
o NAS410
o SNT-TC-1A
o Employer Written Practice
• Evaluate inspector proficiency and maintain qualification records.
• Conduct annual performance reviews and technical evaluations of certified personnel.
Quality Assurance
• Ensure inspection activities comply with customer requirements and internal Quality Management Systems.
• Participate in internal, customer, FAA, NADCAP, DoD, and third-party audits.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions related to ultrasonic inspections.
• Review nonconforming material dispositions and technical justifications.
• Assist in process capability improvements and continuous improvement initiative
Responsible for technical leadership, qualification, oversight, and continuous improvement of ultrasonic inspection processes supporting aerospace, defense, and Navy nuclear programs. This position serves as the organization's subject matter expert for advanced ultrasonic inspection technologies, including conventional contact ultrasonics, immersion testing, modified immersion techniques, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), and other advanced ultrasonic methods.
The Ultrasonic Level III develops, qualifies, and approves inspection techniques, ensures compliance with customer and regulatory requirements, certifies personnel, supports new product development, and provides technical direction to engineering, quality, and production teams. This position plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with customer specifications, military standards, FAA requirements, and industry best practices.
Technical Leadership
• Serve as the Responsible Ultrasonic Level III for aerospace, defense, and nuclear inspection programs.
• Develop, qualify, validate, and approve ultrasonic inspection procedures and techniques.
• Interpret customer drawings, engineering specifications, military standards, and contractual inspection requirements.
• Establish inspection methods for metallic and composite materials utilizing:
o Conventional Contact Ultrasonics
o Immersion Ultrasonic Testing
o Modified Immersion Techniques
o Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT)
o TOFD (when applicable)
o Automated C-Scan Systems
o Precision Manual Ultrasonic Inspection
• Support inspection of complex aerospace structures including:
o Composite laminates
o Honeycomb sandwich structures and Bonded assemblies
o Metals i.e., Titanium, Aluminum, Nickel alloys, Steel
o Additive manufactured components
o Castings, Forgings, Weldments
Procedure Development
• Develop and approve written ultrasonic procedures in accordance with customer and regulatory requirements.
• Develop calibration standards and reference standards.
• Perform Probability of Detection (POD) evaluations when required.
• Develop scan plans for automated and manual inspections.
• Optimize inspection parameters to maximize flaw detection and repeatability.
• Evaluate emerging ultrasonic technologies for implementation.
Personnel Qualification
• Train, mentor, and technically develop Level I and Level II inspectors.
• Support RL3 in preparation and administration of general, specific and practical examinations.
• Support certification protocols and recertify NDT personnel in accordance with:
o NAS410
o SNT-TC-1A
o Employer Written Practice
• Evaluate inspector proficiency and maintain qualification records.
• Conduct annual performance reviews and technical evaluations of certified personnel.
Quality Assurance
• Ensure inspection activities comply with customer requirements and internal Quality Management Systems.
• Participate in internal, customer, FAA, NADCAP, DoD, and third-party audits.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions related to ultrasonic inspections.
• Review nonconforming material dispositions and technical justifications.
• Assist in process capability improvements and continuous improvement initiative
Skills:
Minimum Qualifications
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Current or previously certifiable as an Ultrasonic Level III in accordance with NAS410.
• Current or previously certifiable as an Ultrasonic Level III under SNT-TC-1A.
• Minimum 10 years of ultrasonic inspection experience in aerospace, defense, or nuclear applications.
• Demonstrated experience with automated ultrasonic inspection systems.
• Experience inspecting both metallic and composite aerospace structures.
• Ability to develop written procedures and inspection techniques.
• Strong technical report writing and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Aerospace manufacturing experience.
• FAA Repair Station experience.
• NADCAP audit experience.
• Experience with robotic or automated ultrasonic systems.
• Knowledge of Probability of Detection (POD) methodology.
• Experience with advanced phased array simulation and focal law development.
• Experience with digital inspection data management and analysis software.
Core Competencies
• Technical leadership
• Sound engineering judgment
• Procedure development
• Personnel development
• Problem solving
• Root cause analysis
• Quality assurance and Regulatory compliance
• Customer engagement
• Project management
• Written and verbal communication
• Continuous improvement
Physical Requirements
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work in laboratory, manufacturing, aircraft, and field environments.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and climb as required.
• Ability to travel occasionally in support of customer programs, audits, and technical demonstrations.
Certifications
The successful candidate shall be qualified or capable of certification in accordance with:
• NAS410 Ultrasonic Level III
• SNT-TC-1A Ultrasonic Level III
• Company Written Practice
Additional certifications in Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), Radiography (RT), Eddy Current (ET), Penetrant Testing (PT), Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), or Visual Testing (VT) are considered highly desirable.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Physics, or related technical discipline preferred.
• Current or previously certifiable as an Ultrasonic Level III in accordance with NAS410.
• Current or previously certifiable as an Ultrasonic Level III under SNT-TC-1A.
• Minimum 10 years of ultrasonic inspection experience in aerospace, defense, or nuclear applications.
• Demonstrated experience with automated ultrasonic inspection systems.
• Experience inspecting both metallic and composite aerospace structures.
• Ability to develop written procedures and inspection techniques.
• Strong technical report writing and communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
• Aerospace manufacturing experience.
• FAA Repair Station experience.
• NADCAP audit experience.
• Experience with robotic or automated ultrasonic systems.
• Knowledge of Probability of Detection (POD) methodology.
• Experience with advanced phased array simulation and focal law development.
• Experience with digital inspection data management and analysis software.
Core Competencies
• Technical leadership
• Sound engineering judgment
• Procedure development
• Personnel development
• Problem solving
• Root cause analysis
• Quality assurance and Regulatory compliance
• Customer engagement
• Project management
• Written and verbal communication
• Continuous improvement
Physical Requirements
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to work in laboratory, manufacturing, aircraft, and field environments.
• Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and climb as required.
• Ability to travel occasionally in support of customer programs, audits, and technical demonstrations.
Certifications
The successful candidate shall be qualified or capable of certification in accordance with:
• NAS410 Ultrasonic Level III
• SNT-TC-1A Ultrasonic Level III
• Company Written Practice
Additional certifications in Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD), Radiography (RT), Eddy Current (ET), Penetrant Testing (PT), Magnetic Particle Testing (MT), or Visual Testing (VT) are considered highly desirable.
