Hadrian

Automation Engineer, Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Hadrian$145K — $230K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years in automated inspection / NDT systems
  • Direct responsibility for an automated inspection station
  • Deep practical experience in advanced NDT methods: UT, VT, RT, CT
  • Measurement and statistical analysis skills: MSA, gauge R&R, POD
  • Familiarity with industrial controls: Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, etc.
  • Skill in debugging across mechanical and software systems
  • Bachelor's degree in relevant STEM field or equivalent experience

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement automated inspection cells for advanced NDT
  • Manage the full automation stack including motion, sensor integration, and HMI
  • Plan inspection paths to optimize detection and workflow
  • Integrate specialized hardware relevant to each NDT method
  • Collaborate with NDT certified personnel for method validation
  • Establish data pipelines for quality control and traceability
  • Ensure safety compliance with EHS standards

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401k retirement plan
  • Relocation assistance for eligible candidates
  • Flexible vacation time
  • Equity options for employees
Full Job Description
The Role

We are hiring an Automation Engineer, NDT to design and deploy automation for advanced NDT inspection cells across UT, VT, RT, and CT.

This is an end-to-end automation role for someone who has direct experience building inspection capability in the real world. You will own robot / motion paths, sensor integration, acquisition timing, station sequencing, operator UX, data traceability, safety, and production commissioning. You will partner with certified NDT personnel and Quality on method validation, acceptance criteria, and audit evidence.

This is not an NDT technician role and not a generic controls role. We are looking for someone who has personally designed, deployed, or commissioned automated inspection / NDT systems and knows what breaks when those systems hit production.

What You'll Do
  • Design and deploy automated inspection cells for advanced NDT methods including ultrasonic testing (UT), visual testing / visual inspection (VT), radiographic testing (RT), and computed tomography (CT).
  • Own the cell automation stack: robot / motion path, sensor integration, deterministic triggering, acquisition PC, sequencer, HMI / operator UX, data logging, and production handoff.
  • Plan scan / inspection paths that balance coverage, probability of detection, cycle time, kinematics, collision risk, and operator workflow.
  • Integrate modality-specific hardware: phased-array UT probes, cameras / lighting / optics, digital radiography sources and detectors, CT turntables / reconstruction flows, and related acquisition systems.
  • Partner with certified NDT personnel and Quality to validate methods against applicable standards and customer requirements.
  • Build structured inspection data pipelines for SPC, traceability, customer handoff, and archival.
  • Own station safety with EHS: radiation for RT / CT, laser / lighting for VT, couplant / water / ergonomics for UT, collision and LOTO for all modalities.
  • Commission on the floor, debug drift / escapes / false calls / timing issues, and hold the line when inspection blocks production.
  • Qualify vendors and integrators; write acceptance tests, red-line designs, and keep suppliers honest.
  • Codify reusable inspection automation patterns so the next station inherits a platform instead of a one-off science project.
What We're Looking For
  • 3+ years designing, deploying, or commissioning automated inspection / NDT systems in production or high-reliability environments.
  • Direct ownership of at least one automated inspection station involving robot / motion, sensor acquisition, station sequencing, data logging, and acceptance / production handoff.
  • Deep practical experience in at least one advanced NDT modality:
    • UT: phased-array, TFM / FMC, encoded scanning, robotic scan paths, couplant handling.
    • VT: 2D / 3D / multispectral vision, lighting, optics, calibration, dimensional / cosmetic inspection, gauge R&R.
    • RT: digital radiography, source / detector integration, shielding, interlocks, radiation safety.
    • CT: turntable / positioning, reconstruction pipeline, volumetric analysis, large-data workflow.
  • Measurement rigor: MSA / gauge R&R, POD / ROC where applicable, uncertainty, acceptance criteria, and audit-ready evidence.
  • Working knowledge of robot / motion systems and industrial controls such as Fanuc, ABB, Kuka, Yaskawa, Beckhoff TwinCAT, or Siemens TIA.
  • Comfort debugging across mechanical, controls, acquisition, software, data, Quality, and operator workflows.
  • Bachelor's degree in EE, ME, Mechatronics, Robotics, Physics, Materials, or related STEM, or equivalent direct experience.
  • ITAR eligible.
What Will Set You Apart
  • Radiation safety officer / state radiation safety training for RT / CT.
  • GD&T, CMM, metrology, or dimensional inspection background.
  • Python or C# for acquisition glue, vendor SDK wrappers, data processing, or inspection automation tooling.
  • Experience with inspecting to industry standards such as NAS 410, SNT-TC-1A, ASTM, AWS D1.x, MIL-STD, NAVSEA, or customer-specific aerospace / defense inspection requirements.
  • Experience designing and deploying automation into production.
  • Offline robot programming and simulation experience with RoboDK, Process Simulate, Visual Components, or native robot tools.
  • Production experience in aerospace, defense, medical, power generation, nuclear, or shipbuilding environments where customers audit inspection methods.
  • Experience turning one-off inspection stations into reusable platforms: calibration workflows, scan-path templates, fixture standards, data schemas, and acceptance tests.
Compensation

$145,000 - $230,000 (actual range may vary based on experience)

This range reflects what we reasonably expect to pay at the time of posting. Compensation depends on education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs.

Benefits for Full-time Employees
  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans for employees
  • 401k
  • Relocation support may be provided for certain situations, based on business need.
  • Flexible vacation policy
  • Equity


ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

About Hadrian

Hadrianadri?ja?n?s]; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born in Italica, a Roman municipium founded by Italic settlers in Hispania Baetica and he came from a branch of the gens Aelia that originated in the Picenean town of Hadria, the Aeli Hadriani. His father was of senatorial rank and was a first cousin of Emperor Trajan. Hadrian married Trajan's grand-niece Vibia Sabina early in his career before Trajan became emperor and possibly at the behest of Trajan's wife Pompeia Plotina. Plotina and Trajan's close friend and adviser Lucius Licinius Sura were well disposed towards Hadrian. When Trajan died, his widow claimed that he had nominated Hadrian as emperor immediately before his death. Rome's military and Senate approved Hadrian's succession, but four leading senators were unlawfully put to death soon after. They had opposed Hadrian or seemed to threaten his succession, and the Senate held him responsible for their deaths and never forgave him. He earned further disapproval among the elite by abandoning Trajan's expansionist policies and territorial gains in Mesopotamia, Assyria, Armenia, and parts of Dacia. Hadrian preferred to invest in the development of stable, defensible borders and the unification of the empire's disparate peoples. He is known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Britannia.
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