Surface Treatment & Industrial Paint Technician

Overview The Surface Treatment/Paint Technician is responsible for performing surface preparation, shot blasting, industrial painting, and protective coating application activities on structural steel and pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) components. This role plays a critical part in ensuring steel products meet company quality standards for surface cleanliness, coating adhesion, corrosion resistance, durability, and finish appearance. The position is responsible for operating shot blast and surface preparation equipment to remove rust, mill scale, weld slag, contaminants, and other surface imperfections prior to coating application. The technician prepares fabricated steel components for primer and finish coatings by following applicable surface preparation standards, coating specifications, and production requirements. This role also performs industrial paint mixing and application using spray systems and other coating methods while ensuring proper coating thickness, finish quality, and curing requirements are achieved. The Surface Treatment/Paint Technician works closely with production, fabrication, and quality teams to support production schedules, minimize rework, and maintain high-quality finishing standards within a fast-paced structural steel manufacturing environment. Duties Operate shot blast equipment and surface preparation machinery to clean and prepare structural steel components prior to coating application. Perform abrasive blasting activities to achieve required surface profiles and cleanliness standards for industrial coatings. Inspect steel surfaces before and after blasting to ensure proper preparation and coating readiness. Apply primers, intermediate coatings, and finish topcoats to structural steel and PEMB components according to production specifications and coating requirements. Monitor coating thickness, finish consistency, adhesion, and overall paint quality to ensure compliance with customer and company standards. Identify and correct paint defects, contamination, or surface imperfections to minimize rework and quality issues. Maintain blast equipment, spray systems, hoses, nozzles, paint booths, and related finishing equipment in proper working condition. Safely handle blasting media, industrial coatings, solvents, and hazardous materials in accordance with OSHA, SDS, and company safety requirements. Assist with maintaining proper environmental and housekeeping standards within blast and paint operations. Coordinate with fabrication, welding, and shipping teams to support workflow efficiency and production schedules. Follow work orders and specifications to ensure correct paint types, thickness, and finishes are applied. Inspect finished surfaces for uniformity and touch up as needed to ensure high-quality results. Record paint usage, work completed, and any issues encountered during the painting process. Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements Experience:

1-3 years of experience in surface treatment and industrial or structural painting preferred. High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Experience with abrasive blasting, shot blast equipment, or industrial surface preparation preferred. Familiarity with coating thickness gauges, blast profiles, and industrial paint specifications preferred. Understanding of industrial coating systems, corrosion protection, and surface treatment processes. Familiarity with spray painting equipment, paint mixing, and surface preparation techniques.

Pay:

$20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person