Quality Control Inspector Jobs in Santa Maria, CA

Job Description

Inspired Flight is seeking to add a Quality Control Technician to its Production Team to help ensure every drone that leaves our facility meets our quality, performance, and safety standards. In this role, you'll perform in-process and final inspections on aircraft and subassemblies, run functional tests including power-on checks, motor and ESC verification, sensor calibration, and comm link testing, and conduct tethered hover or test flights per QC procedures.

You'll inspect electromechanical work such as solder joints, wire routing, connector seating, and torque values, verify that firmware and configuration match the released build for each unit, and complete final cosmetic inspection and packaging of finished aircraft per BOM. You'll also perform incoming inspection on purchased components and maintain serial number traceability in NetSuite, tag and segregate nonconforming parts, initiate NCRs, and support basic root cause investigations while keeping calipers, torque drivers, multimeters, and other tools within calibration.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience building or repairing drones, RC aircraft, or robotics, whether professional or hobbyist, along with prior QC, inspection, or assembly work in electronics, aerospace, or another regulated manufacturing environment. Strong soldering skills (especially on small electronics or PCB level work), crimping and wire harness experience, and comfort reading mechanical drawings, schematics, and BOMs are key. Familiarity with ERP or inventory systems (NetSuite a plus) and an FAA Part 107 certification or general drone piloting experience will help you hit the ground running.

Typical responsibilities:

• Perform in-process and final inspections of drones and subassemblies against work instructions and acceptance criteria
• Run functional tests on completed aircraft: power-on checks, motor/ESC verification, sensor calibration, and comm link testing
• Inspect solder joints, wire routing, connector seating, and torque values on electromechanical assemblies
• Perform incoming inspection on purchased components and document results with serial number traceability in NetSuite
• Tag and segregate nonconforming parts; initiate NCRs and support basic root cause investigations
• Operate calipers, torque drivers, and multimeters; keep tools within calibration
• Verify firmware versions and configuration match the released build for each unit
• Conduct tethered hover or test flights per QC procedures and log results
• Final cosmetic inspection and packaging of finished aircraft per BOM

You’ll excel in this role if you have:

• Hands-on experience building or repairing drones, RC aircraft, or robotics (hobby or professional)
• Prior QC, inspection, or assembly work in electronics, aerospace, or other regulated manufacturing
• Soldering experience, especially on small electronics or PCB-level work
• Crimping, wire harness building, or connector assembly
• Comfort reading mechanical drawings, schematics, and BOMs
• Experience with ERP or inventory systems (NetSuite a plus)
• FAA Part 107 or general drone piloting experience

Education/Experience Requirements: 

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's degree or technical certificate in electronics, manufacturing technology, aviation maintenance, mechatronics, or a related field preferred. 
• One to three years of hands-on experience in QC, inspection, assembly, or test in an electronics, aerospace, or regulated manufacturing environment.

Salary & Benefits Offered

• $22- $32 per hour
• Paid Time Off, plus Sick Time & Holidays
• World Class Health, Dental, Vision Insurance Plan
• 401k w/ 6% company match
• Quarterly Team Bonus Plan

Physical Demands:  The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may need to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone.

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Inspired Flight is deeply committed to building a workplace where inclusion is not only valued, but prioritized. We pride ourselves on being an equal opportunity employer that seeks to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, or expression, family status, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, neurodiversity, age, or veteran status, or any other non-merit based or legally protected grounds.  

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position.  Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.