PAINTER PREP

Job Description

Job Summary

We are seeking a meticulous and efficient Automotive Painter Prepper to join our team. You will be responsible for the critical foundational work that happens before a vehicle enters the spray booth. Your primary goal is to ensure all vehicle surfaces are perfectly cleaned, sanded, repaired, and masked, allowing our lead painters to deliver a flawless, high-quality finish.

Core Responsibilities

• Surface Preparation: Wash, degrease, and chemically clean vehicle surfaces using wax and grease removers to eliminate all contaminants.
• Disassembly & Masking: Remove external trim, emblems, and mirrors. Tape and bag windows, wheels, engine bays, and adjacent panels using automotive-grade paper and plastic to protect against overspray.
• Sanding & Leveling: Use pneumatic DA sanders and manual block-sanding techniques to feather edge rock chips, level body filler, and scuff panels for maximum paint adhesion.
• Priming: Mix, introduce, and spray etching primers and high-build block primers. Apply guide coats to locate and sand out minor surface ripples.
• Booth Prep & Final Wipe: Clean the vehicle cabin, pull the vehicle into the spray booth, and execute the final tack-cloth wipe-down prior to color application.
• Maintenance & Safety: Clean and maintain primer guns, sanders, and shop equipment. Strictly adhere to OSHA and EPA regulations, including the consistent use of respirators and proper disposal of hazardous waste.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Minimum of 1–3 years of experience prepping vehicles in a professional collision repair or custom paint shop environment.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of different sanding grit sequences, masking techniques, and mixing ratios for primers/fillers.
• Detail-Oriented: A sharp eye for identifying subtle surface imperfections, low spots, and sand scratches.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and perform repetitive sanding motions for extended periods, and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Certifications (Preferred): I-CAR certifications or formal vocational training in automotive collision repair is a plus.