Marine Painter

This role supports high‑priority U.S. Navy corrosion mitigation and ship repair projects by performing shipboard preservation and painting on active naval vessels. You will prepare and coat a variety of shipboard structures, working in a fast‑paced industrial marine environment alongside experienced technicians and trades professionals. The position involves hands‑on work aboard ships, piers, dry docks, and other industrial marine facilities, following strict safety and NAVSEA standards to help sustain fleet readiness.

Responsibilities

• Perform shipboard painting, touch‑ups, and preservation on a variety of ship structures and components.
• Carry out sanding, grinding, chipping, masking, and other surface preparation activities to ensure proper coating adhesion.
• Assist senior technicians with coating application, material handling, and setup of tools and equipment.
• Apply coatings, primers, and preservation materials inside ship tanks, bilges, voids, and other compartments.
• Conduct cleaning and post‑application cleanup to maintain a safe and orderly work area.
• Work aboard ships, piers, dry docks, and industrial marine facilities while adhering to strict safety protocols and NAVSEA standards.
• Operate basic pneumatic and electric tools, such as needle guns and other surface preparation equipment, as required.
• Support corrosion mitigation and composite component installation efforts as part of broader ship repair and sustainment projects.
• Follow confined space entry procedures and work safely in enclosed or restricted shipboard environments.
• Complete assigned tasks on schedule in a high‑tempo, project‑driven environment, including overtime and weekend work when required.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors and team members to coordinate work, report progress, and address issues promptly.
• Comply with all Navy base and shipyard access requirements, including security and safety protocols.
• Maintain strong attendance, reliability, and follow‑through to support continuous operations and project timelines.

• Shipboard painting experience, including preservation, coating, sanding, prepping, and masking on Navy or similar vessels.
• Ability to perform painting, touch‑ups, and surface preparation on shipboard structures in an industrial marine environment.
• Ability to apply coatings, primers, and preservation materials inside tanks, bilges, voids, and other confined compartments.
• Understanding of marine coating processes, including surface preparation, grinding, sanding, masking, and cleanup activities.
• Experience using painting and surface preparation tools such as sanders, grinders, needle guns, and related equipment.
• Shipboard paint experience with 2+ years preferred.
• Ability to work safely in confined spaces, at heights, and in active shipboard and shipyard environments.
• Capability to lift 50+ pounds, stand for extended periods, and operate basic pneumatic and electric tools.
• DBIDS access or the ability to obtain DBIDS immediately to meet Navy base and shipyard access requirements.
• Ability to pass background checks and meet all Navy base access and onsite security protocols.
• Willingness and ability to work overtime and weekends as project demands require.
• Strong attendance, work ethic, reliability, and follow‑through in a high‑tempo industrial setting.
• Effective communication skills to work as part of a team under onsite supervision.

• High school diploma or GED is preferred.
• Prior experience in shipyards, ship repair, or industrial/manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience with marine coatings, including knowledge of temperatures, cure times, and mixing requirements.
• Familiarity with confined space entry procedures and tank preservation practices.
• Experience with blasting or ultra‑high‑pressure water jetting for coating removal or surface preparation.
• Knowledge of NAVSEA Standard Items and Navy ship systems layouts.
• Experience working on CVN, DDG, LCS, or Amphibious platforms is beneficial.
• Experience with marine blasting or coating removal processes.
• OSHA‑10 or OSHA‑Shipyard certification is a plus.
• Firewatch or tank watch experience in shipyard or industrial environments.
• Experience operating JLG manlifts (3 roles require JLG/manlift experience).
• Experience operating forklifts (1 role requires forklift experience).
• Comfort working on deckplates and in industrial marine environments, including heights and confined spaces.
• Demonstrated ability to follow detailed instructions, safety guidelines, and quality standards in a regulated environment.

You will contribute directly to a long‑term, high‑visibility Navy program that plays a critical role in fleet readiness and mission‑critical operations. The work offers frequent overtime opportunities and a clear pathway to progress into higher trade tiers and more advanced technical roles. You will gain specialized skills in corrosion control, composite installation, and ship systems maintenance while working for a respected defense contractor with a strong reputation in the maritime industry. The environment emphasizes safety, teamwork, and professional development, providing a solid foundation for building a stable, long‑term career in marine and shipyard trades.

Work Environment

Work takes place in Navy shipboard and shipyard industrial environments, including active vessels, piers, dry docks, and other marine facilities. The setting is high‑tempo and project‑driven, with standard hours supplemented by frequent overtime based on operational needs. You will work in confined spaces, at heights, and in busy industrial areas where strict adherence to safety protocols is required. Personal protective equipment is mandatory and provided on site. The role is physically demanding, requiring lifting, standing for extended periods, and operating pneumatic and electric tools. You will work as part of a team under onsite supervision, collaborating closely with other trades and technicians to meet schedule and quality expectations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Everett, WA.

The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $24.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Everett,WA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 11, 2026.

About Aerotek

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meets their goals, skills and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role solving for companies’ construction, manufacturing and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.