Apprentice Quality Inspector I at Barber-Nichols LLC – Denver, Colorado

About Barber-Nichols:

Barber-Nichols (BN) is a premier provider of custom turbomachinery solutions serving the Defense, Aerospace, Cryogenics, and Energy industries. Our team consists of industry leaders who collaborate closely with equally accomplished customers to deliver technologies that advance their markets and establish enduring partnerships. At BN, we foster a results-driven environment that values professional growth, rewards achievement, and supports innovation. From designing the blower for NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan to engineering critical components for the U.S. Navy’s MK-48 program, BN’s portfolio spans some of the most exciting and impactful projects in the world. For those seeking to contribute to impactful projects alongside a highly skilled team, BN offers an exceptional place to build your career.

Position Summary:

The Apprentice Quality Inspector I performs simple manual inspections with supervision and mentoring. Inspects components, assemblies, and related paperwork to ensure compliance with contract specifications. Ensures that no non-conforming or rejected product gets shipped to the end user or customer. Focused on providing the highest quality products to customers. This position is part of the Barber-Nichols Registered Apprenticeship Program for Quality Assurance Inspectors. The program combines structured on-the-job learning (OJL) with related instruction (RI) to develop technical competencies aligned with industry standards. Apprentices will progress through defined competencies and structured rotations with mentorship from experienced inspectors.

Key Results Areas:

1. Gather documents, prepare the workstation and ensure that changes have been incorporated prior to inspection.

• Utilize the drawings and specifications to develop a plan for basic manual inspections.
• Suggest and incorporate improvements for plans personally developed.

2. Evaluate parts to ensure that they meet the specified requirements per the inspection plans.

• Understand basic inspection plans with mentorship.
• Complete required documentation on all company product with limited supervision.
• Identify handling concerns then suggest and implement solutions.
• Select the appropriate qualification tool needed for the job and verify that it is calibrated and in good working condition.
• Review inspection technique with mentor prior to inspecting.
• Competently and safely inspect the part using hand tools in a manner that ensures repeatability and reproducibility of the measurement.
• Assist a mentor with proper setup and break down of the setups on the CMM safely.
• Confirm the results with a mentor.
• Complete the inspection step on the router to properly indicate pass/fail and note the time to ensure the inspection results are traceability to the appropriate inspector.
• Package the part to ensure the quality of the part and safety to personnel is maintained.
• Properly tag all non-conforming parts as out of specification and place them in the Material Review Board (MRB) cage.
• Document the defect/out of specification condition on the Material Review Report (MRR) and submit the report for review and disposition determination, with limited supervision.
• Sign the disposition identified by MRB on the MRR and properly process the part per the instruction.

3. Collaborate with all departments to ensure that information and data transfers effectively to meet customer needs and organizational objectives.

• Receive continual training from experts inside and outside of the QA department
• Constructive communicator with internal customers in support of inspections.
• Collaborate with second shift to communicate shift hand-off information such as safety concerns, process escapes and previous tasks to ensure second shift effectiveness.

4. Continuously improve procedures, processes and methods to ensure zero escapes on manual inspections.

• Identify areas for improvement in process and product relating to safety, quality, delivery and cost and elevates them to the Quality Manager.
• Suggest department process improvements and assist in implementation, as assigned.

Qualifications:

• At least 18 years of age
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Physically capable of performing the essential functions of the occupation with or without reasonable accommodation that will not pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the individual or others.
• Has completed at least 1-2 years of relevant machinist or manufacturing-related coursework through an approved training provider at either Warren Tech or MSU Denver.
• Submit to Drug Testing and background check conducted post selection but pre-employment.

Skills:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as geometric tolerances and drawing interpretation.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability and willingness to abide by set policies and/or safety programs established by BNI, our clients, and/or regulatory agencies which govern our performance and behavior in the normal course of our work while on BNI or the client’s property or job site.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills required.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• High attention to detail.
• Ability to successfully plan and implement objectives within established timelines and work schedules.
• Ability to analyze problems and develop effective solutions at both strategic and functional levels.
• Demonstrate behavior consistent with company values.
• Ability to work independently, with minimal direction as a highly motivated self-starter and within a team-oriented culture.

Physical and Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Mental demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is required to read, write, analyze data and reports, exercise judgment, develop plans, procedures and goals, present information to others and work under pressure.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is exposed to high level of manufacturing and equipment noise. Duties are performed indoors in a manufacturing environment with temperature changes. Exposure to hazardous materials, fumes or airborne particles and moving mechanical parts with vibration.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Must be able to work in the U.S without sponsorship. No security clearance is required.

ITAR Requirements:
To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Barber-Nichols must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e., current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Security clearance is not required for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Barber-Nichols is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by law.

Salary Pay Scale (Apprenticeship Wage Progression):
This role begins at $23.00/hour, with structured wage progression tied to competency completion throughout the apprenticeship program.

To view our benefits provided please visit Careers | Barber-Nichols.