Mechanic/Painter - USC Carlsbad, LLC

Job Title: Painter/Mechanic

Hiring Manager: Josh Hendrick

Hourly Non-Exempt Position

Company: United Salt Carlsbad, LLC

Job Summary: The Painter/Mechanic performs hands-on mechanical maintenance and industrial painting work to support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of plant facilities, mobile equipment, and production assets. This role focuses on inspecting, troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining mechanical systems and components, and on preparing and coating surfaces to protect equipment and structures from wear, corrosion, and environmental exposure. The position uses hand and power tools, mechanical diagrams, operating instructions, and preventive maintenance practices to identify issues, complete routine repairs, support equipment readiness, and maintain a clean, serviceable work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Inspects, troubleshoots, and performs routine mechanical maintenance on plant equipment, machinery, and facility systems to support safe and reliable operations.
• Assists with disassembly, repair, reassembly, adjustment, and replacement of mechanical components such as bearings, belts, chains, seals, guards, hoses, filters, and related parts.
• Performs preventive maintenance activities, including lubrication, cleaning, tightening, alignment checks, and basic operational inspections in accordance with work orders and maintenance procedures.
• Uses hand tools, power tools, measuring devices, diagrams, and equipment instructions to diagnose issues and complete assigned mechanical tasks accurately and efficiently.
• Prepares metal, concrete, and other industrial surfaces for coating by cleaning, scraping, sanding, masking, and removing rust, scale, grease, old paint, and other contaminants.
• Applies industrial coatings, primers, paints, varnishes, stains, enamels, or other protective finishes to equipment, piping, structures, and facility surfaces using brushes, rollers, or spray equipment.
• Mixes and prepares paints and coating materials to meet required specifications for color, thickness, adhesion, and durability.
• Supports shutdowns, repairs, and general maintenance activities by preparing work areas, protecting adjacent equipment, handling materials, and maintaining housekeeping standards.
• Identifies worn or damaged parts, reports equipment deficiencies to supervision, and helps maintain tools, supplies, and spare parts needed for assigned work.
• Follows lockout/tagout, confined space, fall protection, hot work, and other plant safety procedures while performing maintenance and painting tasks.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out the essential mechanical maintenance and industrial painting duties of the position in a safe, efficient, and reliable manner. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 6 months of experience in industrial maintenance, mechanical repair, painting, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of basic mechanical systems, preventive maintenance practices, and safe use of maintenance tools and equipment.
• Ability to read and interpret work orders, operating instructions, safety procedures, and basic mechanical diagrams.
• Ability to troubleshoot routine equipment issues, complete repairs with attention to detail, and recognize when additional support is needed.
• Basic math skills, including measurement, fractions, and simple calculations used in maintenance and material preparation.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands outlined below are essential for an employee to effectively perform the fundamental aspects of this job:

• Employees must regularly stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, use their hands for gripping, handling, and operating tools, and reach with their hands and arms while performing maintenance and painting tasks.
• The role frequently requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, bending, and working in awkward positions around machinery, structures, and equipment.
• Employees must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 80 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 80 pounds with assistance or proper equipment when required.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to identify equipment conditions, surface preparation needs, and safe work area hazards.

Training:

• Employees are required to complete and maintain all assigned training related to safety, maintenance procedures, equipment operation, and site-specific regulatory requirements, and to keep all required training current and up to date.

Education, Experience, and Certifications:

• High school diploma or general education degree (GED) and at least 6 months of related experience and/or training in industrial maintenance, mechanical repair, industrial painting, or a similar hands-on field.

Other Requirements:

Must be able to complete and pass post-offer checks, including, but not limited to, background, drug, references, and education.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.