QA & Source Inspection

What you'll do

This is inspection judgment written down. You work through first article inspection packages (AS9102), cosmetic defect cases from manufacturing and assembly, and web or line inspection data, and you make the disposition call an experienced inspector would make, then explain why.

The ad spans three sectors at once: aerospace, defense and marine. Alongside the FAI and cosmetic work there are virtual hull and marine surveys run from documentation and data, and simulated Government Source Inspection scenarios where you apply DCMA practice and FAR Part 46 requirements. The output is written (and sometimes verbal) feedback, reports and data sets that capture your reasoning, which the customer uses to train AI models.

The justification matters as much as the verdict. Anyone can mark a part reject; the value here is documenting which clause, which tolerance or which cosmetic standard drove the decision, clearly enough that someone else could follow it.

Who fits

• Around eight or more years of complex quality inspection, with real experience making first article, cosmetic or production line disposition calls
• Working fluency in AS9102 and in how DCMA and FAR Part 46 criteria are applied in practice
• A background in US defense or aerospace manufacturing, or marine surveying in a regulated environment
• Hull and marine survey knowledge
• Clear written and spoken explanation of technical rationale
• Comfort with digital documentation and remote collaboration tools

The ad singles out senior QA inspectors, supplier quality engineers, DCMA QARs and marine surveyors as the strongest fit. No prior AI experience is needed; micro1 says outright that domain knowledge is what counts. All of the qualifications are listed as preferred rather than mandatory, and no certificate is named as required.

What it pays

$60–100/hour, micro1's published band. No compensation structure is described beyond that, so the ad does not say whether pay is strictly hourly or tied to tasks, what decides where you land in the band, or how many hours a week are on offer. Treat $60 as the planning figure until an offer says otherwise.

Worth knowing

Good:

• Recognises a specialism (source inspection and disposition) that rarely shows up in AI training work
• Ten openings, flagged as high demand
• No certification is made a hard requirement
• Fully remote, with no country restriction on the ad

Less good:

• The narrowest opening count among micro1's current industrial inspection roles
• A wide mix of skills (FAI, cosmetic, marine survey, government source inspection) in one listing, with no indication of whether you need all of them or one
• Project duration, weekly hours and pay mechanics are not stated
• The customer is not named
• Contractor engagement: no benefits, no notice period, your own tax to manage

About this listing

Posted by micro1 on its own jobs portal and read on 29 September 2026. The $60–100/hour band, the ten openings and the skill list (AS9102 first article inspection, cosmetic defect acceptance, web/line inspection disposition, hull and marine survey, government source inspection under DCMA and FAR Part 46) are micro1's own published text. The location is listed simply as remote. See micro1.