Paint Prep Technician

Job Title: Body Prep Technician
Location: Kanona, NY
Employment Type: Contract to Direct
Industry: Transportation Manufacturing / Rail Vehicle Production
Compensation: $18.25/hr starting (up to $22/hr upon successful training & certification)
Shift: Day Shift
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM (optional weekday overtime available)

About the Opportunity:
Join a leading transportation manufacturing team where your craftsmanship and attention to detail directly impact the quality and finish of rail vehicles. As a Body Prep Technician, you'll play a critical hands-on role preparing vehicle bodies and components for paint application, ensuring surfaces meet strict quality and safety standards.

This is a great opportunity for someone with trade school experience or a background in industrial or automotive painting who enjoys detailed, physical work and takes pride in producing high-quality finishes. You'll gain specialized experience in rail vehicle surface preparation while working in a structured, growth-focused environment.

What You'll Do:

Surface Preparation
* Perform body filling, smoothing, and shaping using fillers and related materials
* Sand, grind, and feather-edge surfaces to achieve required smoothness and contour
* Clean and degrease metal and composite surfaces to ensure proper paint adhesion
* Inspect surfaces for defects, corrosion, or imperfections and correct as needed

Pre-Paint Preparation
* Mask, cover, or remove components to protect non-painted areas
* Ensure work areas, tools, and materials are clean and ready prior to paint application

Quality & Compliance
* Follow technical specifications, work instructions, and rail vehicle finishing standards
* Perform visual and tactile inspections to verify surface preparation quality
* Document completed work and report defects or discrepancies to supervision

Tools & Equipment
* Operate sanding tools, grinders, DA sanders, and related bodywork equipment safely
* Mix and fillers, putty, and compounds per manufacturer guidelines
* Maintain tools and equipment and report maintenance needs as required

Safety
* Follow all PPE, OSHA, environmental, and company safety standards
* Maintain a clean, organized, and safety-focused work environment
* Participate in safety training and contribute to a culture of safety awareness

Why You'll Love Working Here:

* Opportunity to grow within a specialized transportation manufacturing environment
* Hands-on trade skill development in industrial surface preparation and finishing
* Training and certification pathway with pay increase potential up to $22/hr
* Supportive environment focused on safety, quality, and continuous improvement
* Optional overtime opportunities for additional earning potential
* Benefits including 401(k), medical, dental, and direct deposit

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:
This role offers a strong entry point into rail vehicle manufacturing with clear growth potential and skill development. If you enjoy hands-on trade work, take pride in detailed finishing, and want to build a long-term career in industrial painting and surface prep, this position provides both stability and advancement opportunity.

About Acara Solutions:
Acara is a premier provider of recruiting and workforce solutions-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in a variety of industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

Sound like a good fit?
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Job Requirements

What you'll bring:

• High school diploma or GED with 6 months of experience in automotive or industrial paint preparation
  OR
• Trade school diploma in automotive or industrial painting

What sets you apart: 

• Trade school diploma in a painting-related field
• Experience in industrial, rail, or automotive paint prep with large parts (sanding, masking, body filler, etc.)
• Ability to read and follow work instructions, drawings, and safety procedures.
• Strong attention to detail and quality craftsmanship.
• Certification in industrial coatings or auto body repair is a plus.

Additional Information:

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds 
• Required bending, kneeling, walking, and standing for long periods of time
• Required use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Ability to obtain a respirator certification through the company
• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check and a drug screen
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

After you , you may receive a call or message from our AI Talent Scout about this role or other opportunities that match your skills and preferences. AI agent role is to help speed up your hiring process by answering questions, confirming basic information, and identifying whether there's a mutual fit.

The call or chat may be recorded so that our recruiting team can review it - they make all final hiring decisions, while AI agent simply helps move you forward faster. The best part? They are available 24/7, so you can connect whenever it's convenient for you.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.