Quality Technician III

AeroVironment

•

Lawrence, Kansas

•

PERMANENT

Updated 09/08/2026

Job Description

Job Summary

Summary

The Quality Technician III supports the Quality Engineering group through processing First Article Inspection (FAI) and Part Approval Process, selective inspection, analysis and processing of internal Nonconformance Reporting (NC) material and other administrative and logistical support duties. Represents the Quality Department in witnessing and documenting UAV flight acceptance test activity.

Position Responsibilities

Processes inbound or outbound FAI and deliverable submissions accurately and timely including: receipt and analysis of parts and/or supporting documentation; completion of associated records and logs; communication of submission status as needed to QEs, managers, engineers or interested parties; processing of parts after completion; maintaining records and files associated with submissions; and other related tasks

Conducts selective inspection under the direction of the QE group including: receipt and verification of material, completion and maintenance of related documentation, communication of inspection results to concerned parties and processing of material after verification using Agile/Oracle database

Processes internal non-conforming material as needed in support of QE including: retrieval and analysis of material, interpretation of preliminary findings and restatement of problem statements to ensure understanding of problem, processing material through the necessary NC processes, communication of status to concerned parties, maintaining necessary documentation and processing material to internal and external suppliers

Provides general support of QEs including communication, Corrective Action Request processing, product evaluation, and sorting activities under exceptional circumstances, and interfacing with other team members as necessary to complete assigned tasks in support of continuous improvement initiatives using A3, Six Sigma DMAIC forms

Leads & facilitates problem solving activities such as Fishbone, 5-Why, Fault-tree, etc. Plans and coordinates QA Technician I and II activities and provides general guidance

Support DCMA Source Inspection process

Responsible for creating the Final Inspection documentation package including COC, TDRs, etc., and as necessary support internal/external customer inspection

Represents and supports QEs during internal and 3rd party audits regarding the essential functions above and as needed regarding our measurements system and documented system

Develops and maintains process instructions for quality-related activities

Works on assignments that are moderately difficult, requiring judgement in resolving issues or in making recommendations

Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

High School Diploma or GED equivalent

2 - 4 years of related work experience is required or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

Has Aerospace quality management system experience (AS9100DD) and/or internal audit experience

Demonstrated expertise in mechanical inspection methods and skills including surface plate work, hand tools, and gages, etc.

Solid ability to read and understand drawing requirements including a solid understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance to

ANSI Y14.5

Good knowledge of FAI validation and verification process requirements

Good knowledge of engineering drawings and specification systems

Strong computer skills and is proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel)

Must be able to fill out the necessary flight test documentation

Must document any/all non-conformances encountered

Must have the skills necessary to perform pre and post-flight visual inspections on flight hardware and components

Must possess the skills necessary to remove and replace field replaceable components on aircraft. Will populate excel spreadsheets on a daily basis documenting flight test results

Must able to work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume environment

Required to travel to and from remote flying sites on a daily basis

Must have a valid California drivers license and clean driving record

Willingness to work overtime also a must

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

2 year technical degree preferred; Quality system courses and/or equivalent experience preferred

Solid ability to accurately record and manage data, records, files and other documents to support tasks

Has an analytical approach to problem solving and high organizational skills in a fast-paced environment as well as effective time management, interpersonal and communication skills

Strong ability to manage time and prioritize tasks

Receives little instruction on daily work, general instructions on newly introduced assignments. Has substantial understanding of the job and applies knowledge & skills to complete wide range of tasks

Able to excel in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, where small teams share a broad variety of duties

Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives

Takes ownership and responsibility for current and past work products

Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company

Has effective problem-solving, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills. Focuses on teamwork, collaboration and puts the success of the team above ones own interests

Physical Demands

Ability to work the majority of the time outdoors in varying weather conditions, when needed, during flight test activity (Frequent)

Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and carry/move objects of varying shapes and sizes (Frequent)

Regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Clearance Level

No Clearance

AeroVironment considers several factors, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits:

• AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.
• We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
• Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.
• Who We Are

Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we've been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world's most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection in Washington, DC.

Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty - and succeed.

What We Do

Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or a person approved for an export license from the appropriate governing agency.

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