Painter, Construction & Maintenance

Job Title: Shipyard Painter - Career Opportunity - San Diego, CA
This role focuses on preparing and painting wood and metal surfaces on ships and shipyard structures, ensuring high-quality coating application that meets rigorous safety and performance standards. You will clean, mask, and paint interior and exterior surfaces, mix materials according to technical specifications, and perform detailed inspections and touch-up work. The position supports new construction programs for large naval vessels, contributing directly to mission-critical shipbuilding projects.

Set up painting tools and equipment at the job site to conduct surface preparation and coating application safely and efficiently.
Clean and prepare wood and metal surfaces for painting by removing dirt, grease, rust, scale, and other contaminants.
Mask and tape areas that do not require painting to protect adjacent surfaces and equipment.
Set up and operate spray paint equipment, including conventional and airless systems, to apply coatings to a variety of surfaces.
Mix paint materials in accordance with the Product Data Sheet (PDS), ensuring correct ratios, consistency, and application properties.
Apply coatings using both hand brush and spray painting techniques on parts, equipment, and structural surfaces on ships and shipyard buildings.
Inspect prepared and painted areas for coverage, adhesion, and finish quality, and perform touch-up work as needed.
Operate high-reach equipment to prepare surfaces and apply coatings in elevated or hard-to-reach areas.
Perform housekeeping in assigned work areas during and at the completion of work, including general cleaning, sweeping, and removal of scrap.
Work with cross-trade teams, such as General Services, to support tasks like erecting and dismantling scaffolds, water evacuation, load out, and compartment grooming.
Attend safety, quality, and process improvement meetings as required and follow all safety instructions, regulations, and warnings.
Perform other related tasks as assigned that are relevant to the painting trade and shipyard operations.
Three years of experience with hand brush and spray painting applications in an industrial or similar environment, or accreditation with SSPC C-12 Certification.
Knowledge of basic painting applications, including surface preparation procedures and proper use and mixing of paints.
Ability to read, understand, and follow Product Data Sheets (PDS) for paint and coating materials.
Ability to identify paint application requirements and select appropriate equipment for coating application.
Proficiency in operating high-reach equipment safely to access elevated work areas.
Ability to work at heights and in confined spaces while maintaining safety and work quality.
Capability to work any shift as required by project and production needs.
Ability to safely access and move around ships, including climbing, balancing, and navigating various shipyard areas.
Ability to distinguish differences in color to ensure proper coating coverage and quality.
Ability to hear and respond to warning signals in a busy industrial environment.
Physical ability to frequently lift and carry painting equipment and occasionally lift paint cans up to approximately 94 pounds.
Manual and finger dexterity for detailed painting, masking, and equipment handling.
The work environment emphasizes engineering excellence, quality, and safety, with opportunities to participate in high-impact projects that support national defense. You will join a team recognized for innovation and reliability in ship construction, where your skills in industrial painting directly support the performance and longevity of advanced fleet replenishment vessels. The role is based in a large, active shipyard environment supporting new construction programs for modern fleet oilers designed for the U.Work takes place both indoors and outdoors, on board ships and throughout shipyard facilities, often in elevated areas, confined spaces, and occasionally in awkward postures or positions. You will regularly use industrial materials and equipment, including paints, solvents, biodegradable degreasers, masking materials, cleaning materials and equipment, air respirators, full-face respirators, mechanical and hand tools, and conventional and airless spray systems. Personal protective equipment is required and routinely used. The environment includes exposure to fumes, odors, dust, mist, gases, and potentially toxic or caustic chemicals, as well as proximity to moving machines and mechanical parts. The work is physically demanding, involving frequent lifting and carrying of equipment, occasional lifting of heavy paint cans, standing, walking, reaching, kneeling, crawling, reclining, climbing, balancing, pushing, and frequent use of manual and finger dexterity. Work is performed to support multiple shifts and may require flexibility in hours to meet production schedules. The overall setting is safety-focused and industrial, centered on constructing large, complex vessels with significant fuel and cargo capacities.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of San Diego, CA.
If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• 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)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Application Deadline

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. 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.
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.