Job Description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced NDE Radiographic Testing Inspector to support aerospace manufacturing operations by performing radiographic and other nondestructive inspections on components, assemblies, and weldments. This role requires strong technical judgment, attention to detail, and strict adherence to safety and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

  • Perform nondestructive inspections using qualified methods such as Radiographic Testing (RT) and, as assigned, Visual Testing (VT), Penetrant Testing (PT), Eddy Current Testing (ET), or other certified methods.
  • Conduct radiographic inspections on components, assemblies, and weldments to identify and evaluate discontinuities.
  • Interpret and evaluate radiographic images in compliance with applicable engineering requirements, specifications, codes, standards, procedures, and customer requirements.
  • Set up, calibrate, and operate radiographic equipment, Digital Radiography (DR) systems, and related software/tools.
  • Prepare accurate inspection reports and maintain complete inspection documentation and records.
  • Partner with Engineering, Production, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to resolve inspection findings and support production objectives.
  • Follow all radiation safety requirements and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) policies.
  • Assist in the development and improvement of NDE procedures, work instructions, and inspection processes.
  • Support continuous improvement efforts while maintaining compliance with regulatory and quality requirements.
  • Train and mentor junior inspectors/contractors as needed.
  • Support cross-functional NDE priorities based on production needs.

Requirements

  • NDE Level II certification (ASNT TC-1A, NAS-410, or DOD guidance) in Digital Radiography (DR) or Computed Radiography (CR).
  • Proven experience performing NDE inspections on weldments.
  • Experience performing NDE testing within the aerospace industry.
  • 3–5+ years of hands-on NDE experience in aerospace, manufacturing, or a related industry.
  • Strong working knowledge of NDE principles and applicable requirements such as ASTM, ASME, AWS, and NAS410.
  • Ability to learn and operate Digital Radiography equipment and inspection software.
  • Strong attention to detail, documentation discipline, and problem-solving skills.

How this job compares in Long Beach, CA

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Long Beach, CA currently run a median of $43/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $30–$54/hr across 35 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Long Beach, CA

We're tracking 43 other active welding openings in Long Beach, CA right now, from 16 different employers. 12 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 594 other active welding openings from 271 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Long Beach, or widen the search to California.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (37), Welding Shop in Los Angeles, CA (17), and Honeywell Aerospace (16). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Pasadena at $51/hr, Santa Ana at $48/hr, and El Segundo at $48/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Long Beach, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Nondestructive Evaluation Technician figures were last recalculated when this page was built.