Senior Quality Inspector

Location Los Angeles Employment Type Full time Location Type On-site Department Manufacturing & Quality Compensation $30–$50 Offers Equity As a growing Series B startup, the salary range is intentionally wide as we determine the most appropriate package for each individual, taking into consideration: years of experience, educational background, and unique skills and abilities as demonstrated throughout the interview process. Our intent is to offer a salary that is commensurate for the company’s current stage of development and allows the employee to grow and develop within a role. In addition to the significant stock option package, the estimated salary range for this role is posted. About Us At Antares, our long-term mission is to make clean energy abundant from Earth to the Asteroid Belt. We are fueled by the belief that advanced nuclear energy can strengthen our military, solve the climate crisis, elevate global living standards, and expand humanity's presence in outer space. To achieve our mission, we build mass‑producible, inherently safe, deployable microreactors that can be used terrestrially, underwater, and in space. Formed in 2023, the Antares team hails from SpaceX, The White House, MIT, Rigetti Computing, The Air Force, General Atomics, Relativity Space, Ursa Major, and national laboratories such as Los Alamos, Idaho, and Oak Ridge. Antares has raised over $130 million in venture capital from top‑tier investors and has over $13 million in government funding. About the Team The Quality Engineering team at Antares owns the quality of the product from design through operation and decommissioning. The team works closely with all cross‑functional organizations (Mission Engineering, Mechanical Design, Nuclear Licensing) to make sure that requirements are incorporated, validated, and verified throughout the design, build, and operation of the reactor. Roles and Responsibilities Receiving Inspection: Inspect and verify the quality and documentation of incoming raw materials and finished goods to ensure compliance with specifications and purchase order requirements. Dimensional and Visual Inspection: Perform precision dimensional inspections of machined and fabricated components using hand tools, gauges, and advanced metrology equipment (e.g., calipers, micrometers, CMM). Conduct visual inspections of surfaces, finishes, and assembly fit‑ups. Test Setup and Result Verification: Review and inspect test setups, fixtures, and outcomes to ensure conformance with testing protocols and standards. Assembly Inspection: Inspect in‑process and final assemblies for fit, function, and conformance to engineering drawings and specifications. Documentation and Reporting: Accurately record inspection results, maintain quality records, and support root cause and corrective action processes. Training and Development: Assist in developing and refining inspection procedures, training materials, and qualification processes for new inspectors as the organization scales. Basic Qualifications High school diploma or GED 3+ years of direct manufacturing inspection experience in a production, fabrication, or assembly environment Proficiency with basic inspection tools and techniques (micrometers, calipers, height gauges, etc.) Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) Preferred Skills & Experience Experience with visual weld inspection (AWS or equivalent preferred) Familiarity with ISO 9001, AS9100, NQA‑1 or other quality management systems Experience with CMM or advanced metrology tools Knowledge of non‑destructive testing (NDT) methods is a plus Experience with electronic Manufacturing Enterprise Software (MES) Experience with leak checks, vacuum checks, and other test validation activities Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting inspections and collaborating with cross‑functional teams Ability to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and support the development of scalable processes Additional Requirements Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones Location We are located in Torrance, CA in a 322,000 square foot, brand new facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles’ vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high‑growth startups and enterprises. Culture Think in Systems – Energy and Defense are complex ecosystems with numerous stakeholders with competing priorities, conflicting policies, perverse incentives, and emergent and path‑dependent properties. First principles thinking alone is insufficient. Think probabilistically and then take action. If you want to be certain, then you are apt to be obsolete. Over‑optimizing the components often degrades the system Obsess over the End User – The customer and end user are often not the same. We will never build globally competitive commercial products if we lose sight of our end users and their entire interaction with the product life cycle Be Unconstrained by Convention – Our only limits are the laws of physics. Many, even experts, will say what we are working on is impossible. They said the same about SpaceX reusing rockets. Generationally impactful companies, by definition, must accomplish the seemingly impossible. If it were easy, it would have already been done. Never shy away from a solution because it has never been tried before, and never choose to do something because that’s how it’s always been done Go Where the Work Is – Never miss a chance to meet a customer, user, or stakeholder face to face, even if that means hopping on a plane. If you can’t make it, find a teammate who can channel your intentions and go in your place. Deep work can be done from anywhere, but we believe teams are built in person, and aim to maximize our time together Operate in the Grey – Embrace nuance in pursuit of truth. Question every fundamental assumption Equal Opportunity Antares is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, competence, and qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status. ITAR Requirements To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here. Compensation Range $30 – $50 #J-18808-Ljbffr 53 Stations