What does a senior inspector do?
In the manufacturing industry, a senior inspector is responsible for performing quality assurance procedures to ensure that products adhere to the company's standards and regulations. Among their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing data to study product specifications, performing various examinations and product assessments, identifying issues and inconsistencies, and providing advice to staff as needed. Besides conducting regular inspections, they must also produce progress reports, provide technical guidance and support, and develop quality assurance strategies. Moreover, as a senior inspector, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior inspectors while enforcing the company's policies.
Senior inspector responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior inspector resumes:
- Manage contractors and consultants performing compliance relate work including MTR and document control.
- Conduct QA tests on questionable motherboards/CPU's and accomplish environmental tests on new PC models.
- Coordinate joint surveys with SATORP inspectors and manage clearance of all issue active LBE and NCR.
- Maintain active certifications in SMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and GMAW welding processes.
- Work with ASME, API, AWS, ANSI, ASTM and NACE codes and specifications.
- Experience mostly in GTAW and GMAW welding procedures.
- Complete close tolerance measurements utilizing micrometers, calipers, gauges, etc.
- Field & review RFI's, CFR's, and change order requests prior to contractor submittal to owner.
- Perform visual inspections of weld and bolt connections of commercial steel structures as per AWS D1.1 and AISC codes.
- Perform visual inspections, weld tracking and documentation on GTAW orbital and manual field welds to ASME B31.3 acceptance criteria.
- Inspect on HDD bores, road, and river crossings.
- Work as a CWI / QA in various locations in the shop and out in the field.
- Assemble precision tooling using the CMM.
- Perform AQL testing for manufacturing batches.
- Weld using MIG and TIG welding.
Senior inspector skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Senior Inspectors are proficient in Asphalt, Traffic Control, and Construction Inspection. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Math skills, and Mechanical skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Inspectors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Asphalt, 10%
Project also involved utility relocation drainage modifications, subsoil removal sub grade base, asphalt placement and bridge widening.
- Traffic Control, 8%
Coordinated traffic control with subcontractor and city traffic engineers.
- Construction Inspection, 6%
Completed the Nuclear Moisture/Density Equipment and the Massachusetts Construction Inspection Board Cement Certification Programs.
- NDT, 6%
Assisted with material identification, evaluated radiography film, and monitored NDT.
- Inspection Reports, 5%
Directed three-man section; team standardized 1000 critical compliance items --significantly improved CEO's final Compliance/Operational Readiness Inspection reports.
- PT, 4%
Level II Inspector in UT, MT, PT, and RT performing nondestructive testing in accordance with ASME.
Common skills that a senior inspector uses to do their job include "asphalt," "traffic control," and "construction inspection." You can find details on the most important senior inspector responsibilities below.
Math skills. Many senior inspector duties rely on math skills. "knowledge of basic math is important for measuring, calibrating, and calculating specifications in quality control testing.," so a senior inspector will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior inspector responsibilities rely on math skills: "performed quantitative and qualitative inspection to assess the condition of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (hvac) systems. "
Mechanical skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of senior inspectors is mechanical skills. This skill is critical to many everyday senior inspector duties, as "quality control inspectors use tools and machinery when testing products." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "perform mechanical product inspection by using the cmm, roi and comparator and the gd&t; drawing. "
Physical strength. For certain senior inspector responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "physical strength." The day-to-day duties of a senior inspector rely on this skill, as "quality control inspectors may be required to lift or maneuver heavy production materials or finished products." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what senior inspectors do: "review site/facility designs and engineering drawings for potential security deficiencies and design/implement physical security systems for new facilities. "
Technical skills. Another crucial skill for a senior inspector to carry out their responsibilities is "technical skills." A big part of what senior inspectors relies on this skill, since "to ensure that products and parts meet quality standards, inspectors must understand the relevant blueprints, technical documents, and manuals." How this skill relates to senior inspector duties can be seen in an example from a senior inspector resume snippet: "acted as the training liaison with the local faa fisdo and presented technical classes for learjet systems as required. "
The three companies that hire the most senior inspectors are:
- SpaceX22 senior inspectors jobs
- Thompson Engineering14 senior inspectors jobs
- Honeywell12 senior inspectors jobs
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Compare different senior inspectors
Senior inspector vs. Catcher
The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement. Additionally, you will assemble electronics in their boxes and notify the quality/test engineer if the test yields below the acceptable levels.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior inspector responsibilities require skills like "asphalt," "traffic control," "construction inspection," and "ndt." Meanwhile a typical catcher has skills in areas such as "quality checks," "assembly line," "ppe," and "tape measure." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Catchers earn the highest salaries when working in the automotive industry, with an average yearly salary of $34,416. On the other hand, senior inspectors are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $63,942.The education levels that catchers earn slightly differ from senior inspectors. In particular, catchers are 6.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a senior inspector. Additionally, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior inspector vs. Test operator
Quality Assurance Auditors are employees who ensure the adherence of other employees to company processes and guidelines. They are expected to be experts on quality assurance processes and procedures. They also have in-depth knowledge of the expected outcomes of such processes to ensure that the company only provides quality products and services. Quality assurance auditors are also familiar with regulatory laws and policies of governing bodies that oversee companies in their particular industry. They ensure that their companies are compliant and may conduct random quality checks every now and then.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real senior inspector resumes. While senior inspector responsibilities can utilize skills like "asphalt," "traffic control," "construction inspection," and "ndt," test operators use skills like "hand tools," "test procedures," "safety rules," and "circuit boards."
Test operators earn a lower average salary than senior inspectors. But test operators earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $44,634. Additionally, senior inspectors earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $63,942 annually.In general, test operators achieve lower levels of education than senior inspectors. They're 5.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior inspector vs. Quality assurance inspector
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior inspectors are more likely to have skills like "asphalt," "traffic control," "construction inspection," and "osha." But a quality assurance inspector is more likely to have skills like "micrometers," "safety standards," "basic math," and "gmp."
Quality assurance inspectors make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $48,138. On the other hand, senior inspectors are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $63,942.Most quality assurance inspectors achieve a similar degree level compared to senior inspectors. For example, they're 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior inspector vs. Quality control inspector lead
Types of senior inspector
Updated January 8, 2025
