Team Lead - Quality NDI

The NDT Team Leader is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and strategic direction of the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) organization. This role provides leadership for NDT Operations, NDT Engineering, and the Responsible Level III while ensuring the department safely delivers quality products, supports production objectives, develops technical capabilities, and drives continuous improvement.

The NDT Team Leader is accountable for department performance, staffing, budget management, customer support, capital planning, and organizational development. While NDT technical experience is preferred, this position is primarily a leadership role. The Responsible Level III maintains independent authority for NDT certification, written practices, procedures, and technical compliance in accordance with NAS410 and applicable customer and regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide leadership and strategic direction for the NDT organization, including Operations, Engineering, and Technical Authority.
• Develop and execute departmental goals aligned with business objectives related to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and continuous improvement.
• Establish department priorities, staffing plans, succession planning, and employee development strategies.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Lead organizational change initiatives and support business growth through scalable NDT capabilities.

Operations Management

• Monitor key performance indicators including throughput, productivity, quality, schedule adherence, equipment utilization, and cost performance.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Program Management to resolve operational issues.

Engineering & Technical Support

• Provide leadership to NDT Engineers responsible for process development, equipment qualification, automation, and continuous improvement.
• Prioritize engineering projects that improve inspection capability, capacity, repeatability, and cost effectiveness.
• Coordinate with Central Engineering on tooling, machine programming, controls, reliability, and capital equipment initiatives.
• Support implementation of new inspection technologies and process improvements.

Technical Governance

• Partner with the Responsible Level III to ensure compliance with NAS410, customer requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Support the Responsible Level III in maintaining personnel qualification programs, written practices, technical procedures, and audit readiness.
• Ensure adequate resources are available to maintain technical excellence without assuming the independent responsibilities of the Responsible Level III.

Qualifications / Characteristics

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Business, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent leadership experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within manufacturing, aerospace, quality, engineering, or operations.
• Strong organizational, communication, and people leadership skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working knowledge of manufacturing operations, quality systems, and process improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and enterprise business systems (SAP experience preferred).