Powder Coat Painter

Job Description

Job Description

Industrial Powder Coater / Painter

Position Type: Contractor
Compensation: $19.00 / hour

completion of a 90-day review, the position is eligible for an increased hourly pay rate based on meeting baseline accuracy without rework, speed, and attendance and cost-saving metrics

Job Summary -We are seeking a physically strong, experienced Powder Coater and Forklift Operator to join our team in a fast-paced manual batch shop environment. In this role, you will be responsible for the full hands-on processing of fabricated metal parts—from operating a forklift to safely transport and stage heavy loads, to manual gun application and managing large batch oven cure cycles.

Core Responsibilities: - Forklift Operation & Rigging: Safely operate sit-down forklifts to load, unload, transport, and stack heavy metal fabrications, raw materials, and finished goods throughout the shop and yard. - Heavy Surface Preparation: Manually wash, degrease, sand, or blast heavy steel and aluminum parts to ensure an optimal profile for powder adhesion. - Manual Racking: Lift, move, and hoist heavy or bulky metal parts onto batch carts, rolling racks, or overhead hooks using proper rigging procedures. - Precision Masking: Review shop drawings and orders to protect threads, machined surfaces, and high-tolerance areas using high-temperature tapes, plugs, and caps. - Electrostatic Powder Application: Utilize manual electrostatic spray guns to apply consistent, specified mil-thickness coatings on complex geometries, ensuring zero runs, thin spots, or cross-contamination. - Batch Oven Operations: Safely maneuver heavy rolling racks into industrial batch curing ovens. Monitor bake times and temperatures accurately according to substrate thickness. - Quality Control & Maintenance: Inspect cured fabrications for proper finish, gloss, and adhesion. Perform fast color changes, clean fluidizing hoppers, and manage spray booth filter maintenance.

Qualifications & Requirements: - Forklift Experience: Minimum of 1–2 years of experience safely operating a forklift in an industrial manufacturing, fabrication, or warehouse setting (certification preferred). - Physical Stamina (Heavy Lifting): Must be physically capable of regularly lifting, pushing, pulling, and maneuvering heavy metal parts weighing up to 50+ lbs throughout an 8-to-10 hour shift. - Powder Coating Experience: Minimum of 1 year of experience in a manual batch powder coating shop or industrial spray painting environment. - Technical Knowledge: Basic understanding of manual batch oven cure cycles, mil-thickness testing, and proper handling of large steel fabrications. - Work Environment: Ability to thrive in a high-temperature industrial shop environment near large curing ovens, with constant physical activity. - Safety Compliance: Must comfortably and consistently wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including a respirator, safety glasses, and steel-toed boots.

90-Day Performance Evaluation: based on performance, attendance, and quality metrics. to shop output efficiency and low reject/rework rates.