Paint & Coatings Process Engineer

Job Summary

The Paint & Coatings Process Engineer develops, improves, and supports industrial paint and coating processes, equipment, tooling, and capital projects across manufacturing operations. This position is responsible for paint-process optimization, hanger and fixture design, equipment capacity analysis, coating-related project execution, and technical problem solving. The engineer leads projects from concept and business-case development through installation, commissioning, process validation, and operational handoff. The role partners with Production, Quality, Maintenance, Environmental, Purchasing, Safety, and external suppliers to improve safety, quality, uptime, throughput, cost, and environmental performance.

The successful candidate must be a self-motivated problem solver capable of independently managing projects from concept through implementation while providing day-to-day technical support to paint operations.

Span of Control:

Direct Reports: N/A

Indirect Reports: N/A

Budget Responsibility: Develops capital requests, cost estimates, ROI analyses, and project budgets. Manages approved coating-related project expenditures within delegated authority.

Roles &

Responsibilities

Paint Hanger & Fixture Design

• Design, develop, and improve paint hangers, fixtures, racks, and tooling to maximize paint quality, ergonomics, throughput, and operational efficiency.
• Create detailed engineering drawings and 3D models utilizing AutoCAD and Autodesk Inventor.
• Evaluate hanger and fixture performance and implement improvements to reduce defects, improve coverage, and increase line efficiency.
• Standardize hanger designs and maintain engineering documentation.

Capacity Planning & Capital Investment

• Analyze coating system equipment capacities, line utilization, bottlenecks, and future production requirements.
• Develop capacity models and forecasts to support business growth and operational objectives.
• Recommend and justify capital expenditures (CAPEX) related to paint systems, conveyors, pre-treatment, ovens, booths, automation, and material handling systems.
• Support budget development and long-range facility planning initiatives.

Project Management

• Lead coating-related projects from concept development through implementation and startup.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, budgets, and success metrics.
• Coordinate equipment installation, commissioning, testing, and process validation activities.
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, and within budget.

Internal Customer Support

• Partners with production, quality, maintenance, environmental, and purchasing teams to identify and resolve coating-related issues.
• Serve as a technical resource for new model launches, process changes, and continuous improvement activities.
• Facilitate cross-functional communication to ensure project alignment and stakeholder engagement.
• Translate operational needs into engineering solutions.

Vendor, Contractor & Supplier Management

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with equipment suppliers, coating vendors, integrators, and contractors.
• Evaluate proposals, quotations, technical specifications, and project deliverables.
• Coordinate on-site contractor activities and ensure compliance with plant safety requirements.
• Support supplier performance reviews and technical issue resolution.

Operational Support & Continuous Improvement

• Provide day-to-day engineering support for paint operations across all shifts as required.
• Troubleshoot process, equipment, quality, and productivity issues.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, cost, uptime, and throughput.
• Support environmental compliance and coating process optimization initiatives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Performs special projects and related tasks as needed.

Competency

Requirements

Core Competencies:

1. Problem Solving
2. Communication
3. Commitment to Excellence

Functional Competencies:

1. Project Management
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration
3. Strategic Thinking

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Abilities):

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Manufacturing, Chemical, Materials, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent directly related experience
• Three to five years of engineering experience in manufacturing, industrial paint systems, coatings, finishing systems, or a closely related process environment
• Working knowledge of industrial coating processes such as pretreatment, e-coat, powder coating, liquid paint, curing ovens, booths, conveyors, and automated application equipment
• Demonstrated experience leading engineering or capital projects through installation, commissioning, validation, and operational handoff
• Proficiency in AutoCAD or comparable engineering drawing software
• Experience performing root cause analysis and improving process capability, equipment reliability, quality, cost and throughput
• Ability to work effectively with production teams, technical specialists, vendors, integrators, and contractors.
• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, equipment specifications, process data and technical documentation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to obtain Kubota LOTO, Confined Space Entry certification within 60 days
• HAZWOPER and DOT certification or ability to obtain certification within 6 months

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with conveyor systems and material handling equipment.
• Experience supporting FANUC robotic systems and automated paint application equipment.
• Experience supporting environmental compliance requirements related to paint operations, including air permitting, wastewater systems, hazardous materials management, and OSHA/EPA regulations
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, PMP, or similar continuous improvement certification
• Demonstrated experience leading capital projects, including equipment specification, budget development, vendor management, installation, commissioning and startup.
• Ability to obtain sit-down forklift certification

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, Manufacturing, Chemical, Materials, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent directly related experience In lieu of a degree, we consider equivalent, job-related experience, military service, professional certifications, and demonstrated skills. Equivalency determinations are made based on the essential functions of the role.

Language

Requirements

Must be able to read, write, understand, and communicate effectively in English.

Work Environment:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Ability to work in extreme heat and cold. Ability to work in a loud environment.

Physical Demands:

Regularly works in office and manufacturing environments and must be able to walk through production areas, climb stairs and ladders, inspect equipment, bend or kneel during equipment evaluations, and occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. May be required to enter paint-process areas and wear job-specific PPE, including respiratory protection, subject to required medical evaluation, fit testing, and training.

DISCLAIMER:

The information provided in the description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within the classification. This description is not intended to be a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job/classification. This job is intended to include the current essential functions of the job. Management reserves the right to add or modify the duties and responsibilities and to designate other functions as essential at any time.