Quality Control Inspector Lead

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantage -domain dominance. The company's products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams to act faster, adapt rapidly, and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors, including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London. For more information, please visit .

About the Role
CHAOS Industries is seeking a Lead Quality Control Inspector Lead to support our growing hardware manufacturing operations in Los Angeles. In this hands-on leadership role, you will oversee day-to-day inspection activities, ensure hardware meets engineering drawings and quality requirements, and help maintain consistent inspection standards throughout the production process.
You will work closely with Manufacturing, Quality Engineering, and Production teams to identify nonconforming hardware, resolve inspection-related issues, and support the delivery of high-quality products. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in precision mechanical and electromechanical inspection, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to guide and mentor other inspectors in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

Quality Inspection & Control

• Perform and oversee incoming, in-process, and final inspections of mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical components and assemblies.
• Verify hardware conformity against engineering drawings, specifications, workmanship standards, and established inspection procedures.
• Perform dimensional inspections using precision measurement tools, including calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and other inspection equipment.
• Interpret engineering drawings, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and technical documentation to evaluate product quality.
• Identify, document, and communicate nonconforming materials or assemblies, ensuring proper segregation and disposition through established quality processes.
• Lead daily inspection activities, coordinate priorities, and help ensure inspection tasks are completed in alignment with production schedules.
• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Quality Control Inspectors.
• Promote consistency in inspection methods, documentation, and adherence to established quality standards.
• Collaborate with Production and Quality Engineering teams to address inspection bottlenecks and resolve quality-related issues.
• Support the development and improvement of inspection procedures, checklists, and work instructions.

Quality Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate inspection records, quality documentation, and product traceability within applicable manufacturing and quality systems.
• Support nonconformance reporting (NCR), root cause investigations, and corrective and preventive actions.
• Identify recurring defects, inspection trends, and opportunities to improve manufacturing quality and efficiency.
• Ensure inspection tools and equipment are properly maintained and calibrated.
• Support internal audits and compliance with applicable quality management systems and industry standards.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in Quality Control Inspection within a manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or precision hardware environment.
• Experience leading, training, or mentoring inspectors or other manufacturing quality personnel.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and GD&T.
• Hands-on experience with precision measuring instruments and dimensional inspection techniques.
• Experience inspecting mechanical and electromechanical components and assemblies.
• Knowledge and experience with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality management systems.
• Knowledge and experience with AS9102
• Familiarity with nonconformance documentation, inspection records, and quality control processes.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing production needs, and collaborate across teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Experience using Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), optical measurement systems, or other advanced inspection equipment.
• Knowledge of IPC workmanship standards, including IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620.
• Experience working with ERP, MES, or electronic quality management systems.
• Familiarity with root cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting inspection activities in a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.

Why CHAOS?

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k (+ 50% company match up to 6% of pay), FSA, HSA, life insurance, and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch while you're working onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 350+ employees and counting across 5 global offices

Salary Range: $120,000 - $190,000

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus, equity, and benefits.If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range, we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations.

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EXPORT CONTROLS - This position may require access to information and technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Your responses to the questions below will be used solely to determine your eligibility under U.S. law to receive information and materials subject to U.S. export controls.

Voluntary Self-Identification

As set forth in CHAOS Industries's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.