NDT Physicist / NDT Research Engineer
NOV Open · verified Oct 22, 2026 At a glance
Mid-level AI Research role at NOV. Houston · full-time · no salary stated · we estimate $135,000–$232,000 across the United States.
NOV has not published a salary for this role. The figure below is our estimate, not theirs.
aimlroles summary, based on the employer's posting.
What you'll do
- Develop and refine inspection methods for industrial and tubular applications using UT, PAUT and EMI
- Analyze inspection results to identify defects, assess indications and improve detection performance
- Test equipment, sensors and instrumentation in lab and field settings, checking sensitivity and repeatability
- Troubleshoot inspection systems and workflows, then document methods, findings and recommendations
- Work with engineering and operations teams to validate technologies and move them toward implementation
What you bring
- Three to five years of practical NDT work, including experience with UT and PAUT
- Experience with EMI or a closely related electromagnetic NDT method
- A bachelor's degree or higher in physics, engineering, materials science or another related technical field
- Experience interpreting inspection data, solving technical problems and working directly with inspection equipment
Who this fits
This is a hands-on individual-contributor role for someone who enjoys experimental testing, data analysis and engineering problem-solving. The position is onsite in Houston.
From the employer
NOV is seeking an NDT Physicist / NDT Research Engineer to support the development, validation, optimization, and application of advanced nondestructive testing technologies for industrial and tubular inspection applications.
The ideal candidate will have a strong technical foundation in ultrasonic testing (UT), phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT), and electromagnetic inspection (EMI), combined with a bachelor’s degree or higher in Physics, Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
This is a hands-on technical individual contributor role focused on inspection technology, experimental testing, data analysis, troubleshooting, method development, and engineering problem solving.
- Develop, evaluate, and improve NDT inspection methods and technologies for industrial and tubular applications.
- Apply Ultrasonic Testing (UT), Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT), and Electromagnetic Inspection (EMI) techniques to inspection and characterization challenges.
- Support development and optimization of inspection procedures, scan plans, calibration approaches, and inspection methodologies.
- Analyze NDT and inspection data to identify defects, characterize indications, evaluate inspection quality, and improve detection performance.
- Support testing and validation of inspection equipment, sensors, probes, transducers, and related instrumentation.
- Conduct laboratory and field testing to evaluate inspection system performance, repeatability, sensitivity, and reliability.
- Troubleshoot technical issues involving inspection equipment, acquisition systems, instrumentation, and inspection workflows.
- Apply engineering and physics principles to solve inspection and measurement problems.
- Use data analysis, modeling, simulation, or programming tools to support NDT technology development and evaluation.
- Document test methods, technical findings, procedures, results, and recommendations in engineering reports and technical documentation.
- Work closely with mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing, quality, and operations teams.
- Support technology development from concept and experimental validation through implementation and continuous improvement.
- Stay current with applicable NDT standards, customer requirements, and industry practices.
Required Qualifications
- 3–5 years of hands-on NDT experience.
- Experience with Ultrasonic Testing (UT).
- Experience with Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT).
- Experience with Electromagnetic Inspection (EMI) or a directly applicable electromagnetic NDT technology.
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Physics, Engineering, Materials Science, Metallurgical Engineering, or another closely related technical discipline.
- Experience interpreting and analyzing inspection data.
- Demonstrated troubleshooting and technical problem-solving ability.
- Ability to work hands-on with inspection equipment and technical systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary engineering and technical teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with eddy current, electromagnetic, MFL, EMAT, guided wave, or other advanced electromagnetic inspection technologies.
- Experience with NDT inspection systems, sensors, transducers, instrumentation, or data acquisition.
- Experience developing or validating NDT procedures and inspection methodologies.
- Experience with tubular, OCTG, pipeline, manufacturing, aerospace, oil & gas, or other safety-critical inspection applications.
- Experience with MATLAB, Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, or similar technical computing/programming tools.
- Experience with signal processing, image processing, numerical modeling, finite-element analysis, or data analytics.
- Experience with OmniScan, BeamTool, Eddyfi, Zetec, Evident/Olympus, or similar NDT equipment/software.
- Familiarity with ASME, ASTM, API, ASNT, or related inspection standards.
- Research, product development, laboratory experimentation, or technology commercialization experience.