Hire NDT Inspectors

Time to shortlist is typically 2 weeks from scoping call. Total time to placement (shortlist through offer acceptance) is typically 3–5 weeks. Level III seats, multi-method certifications with PAUT or CT depth, clearance requirements, or relocation to a remote launch or shipyard site can run a week or two longer.

Most US NDT Level II Inspectors at aerospace, launch, shipyard and defense manufacturers land between $65K and $95K base depending on methods held, metro and shift, with multi-method and PAUT or CT specialists at the top of that band. NDT Level IIIs typically run $110K–$150K, with NDT managers responsible for a NADCAP-accredited lab above that. Overtime and shift differentials add materially at 24/7 plants and shipyards. These are market bands; we confirm live market bands during scoping. See our quality engineer salary guide for the adjacent engineering tier.

This page covers direct-hire NDT Inspectors, technicians and Level IIIs who join your quality organization. Contract and per-diem NDT staffing for surge inspection, outages and turnaround work is a separate track with different terms; tell us on the scoping call if that is what you need and we will route it correctly.

An NDT Inspector examines the hardware and calls the indication against the acceptance criteria. A Quality Engineer owns the nonconformance, MRB disposition, root cause and corrective action that follow, plus the inspection planning that decides what gets inspected. The two share the technique sheet and the NCR.

The NDT Level III owns the written practice, procedures, certification of Level I and II staff, and the technical answer when an indication is disputed. A Quality Manager runs the whole quality system — AS9100, NADCAP across all special processes, customer and supplier quality — and the Level III usually reports to that seat. At smaller plants one person may carry both.

It depends on your customer flow-down. Aerospace and launch primes generally require NAS 410 certification under an employer written practice; shipyards and general industry often work under SNT-TC-1A or NAVSEA requirements; Level III seats usually call for the ASNT NDT Level III certificate. Certifications are employer-based, so a strong Level II from another shop will need to be recertified under your practice. We confirm the requirement during scoping and verify all certification records directly.

Yes. Every NDT Inspector placement carries a replacement guarantee. Guarantee terms are confirmed in writing at engagement start.

Yes. Multi-hire builds (a Level III plus Level II inspectors across UT, PT, RT and CT for a new launch-vehicle factory or an additive propulsion cell, or a shipyard NDT crew ahead of a hull-block ramp) route through embedded recruiting or RPO. Adjacent quality seats — Manufacturing Engineers, Fabrication Managers and Tooling Engineers — can be scoped in the same engagement.