Paint Prep Technician​/Apprentice Painter

Paint Prep Technician / Apprentice Painter

Join the Kniesel's Collision Family! Company Overview:
Kniesel's Collision has proudly served Northern California for over 58 years as a family-owned and operated leader in collision repair. With 13 state-of-the-art locations across El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties, we're known for delivering exceptional craftsmanship and a customer experience that stands above the rest. When you join Kniesel's, you're not just taking a job, you're building a career with a team that values your expertise, invests in your growth, and supports you every step of the way.

Be part of a company where quality matters, people come first, and your future has room to grow. Position Available:
Paint Prep Technician / Apprentice Painter

Location:

Kniesel's Collision – Rocklin, 4680 Pacific St., Rocklin, CA 95677

Position Summary:

Kniesel's Collision is seeking a motivated Paint Prep Technician who wants to build a long-term career in automotive refinishing. This role is ideal for candidates with previous paint prep, detailing, body shop, or other hands-on trade experience who are ready to develop into a professional Automotive Painter. Working alongside experienced refinish technicians, you will receive hands-on training in OEM repair procedures, PPG paint systems, advanced color matching, blending techniques, and modern refinishing practices while contributing to high-quality repairs.

This is the first step in a defined career path with one of Northern California's largest family-owned collision repair companies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist painters with vehicle preparation, including washing, sanding, masking, priming, and cleaning surfaces.
• Follow OEM, PPG, and Kniesel's Collision repair and refinish procedures to restore vehicles to pre-accident condition.
• Assist with paint mixing, color matching, blending, and material preparation.
• Learn and properly operate paint equipment, spray guns, paint booths, and related tools.
• Follow repair plans and work orders to ensure quality, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Perform quality checks and adhere to Kniesel's Quality Control (QC) standards.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
• Comply with all safety, environmental, and hazardous waste disposal regulations.
• Support production flow by moving vehicles, parts, and materials as needed.
• Communicate effectively with team members and management to ensure repairs meet manufacturer specifications.
• Participate in ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to Kniesel's Collision's core values, quality standards, and customer service expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management.

Qualifications:

• Previous automotive paint prep, detailing, body repair, or similar experience is preferred
• Strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and pride in craftsmanship.
• Experience using DA sanders, masking materials, pneumatic tools, or spray equipment is preferred
• Trade school or automotive technical education is a plus
• Ability to multi-task and adapt to a fast-paced environment
• Ability to effectively communicate with others
• Ability to read and understand instructions on written estimates, work orders, and SOPs
• Reliable attendance and a desire to build a long-term career in collision repair
• Must be able to fluently read English
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have a valid driver's license
• Ability to lift and move boxes, and furniture up to 20 pounds
• Maintains a well-groomed, professional appearance

Career Development:

Build your career through hands-on training in:

• OEM-approved repair and refinishing procedures
• PPG paint systems and advanced color matching
• Blending, waterborne paint technology, and paint booth operations
• Spray gun setup, maintenance, buffing, and polishing
• Quality control and industry best practices
• I-CAR training and continuous professional development
• Advancement opportunities from Paint Prep Technician to Automotive Painter, with future leadership potential through Kniesel's Management Trainee Program

Why Kniesel's?

Sacramento's largest family-owned collision repair company Supportive, team-oriented culture focused on craftsmanship and continuous learning OEM-certified repair facilities with industry-leading equipment Over 58 years of repair excellence State-of-the-art repair facilities Industry-leading equipment and training Career advancement opportunities Stable year-round workload

Our Core Values:

The ideal candidate reflects Kniesel's core values: WOW Customer Service Integrity Humility Family The Golden Rule Quality

What We Offer:

Competitive salary with performance-based incentives Paid Holidays, Paid Sick Time, and Paid Personal Time (PTO) Competitive 401(k) Savings program with a company contribution Life Insurance, EAP, Travel Assistance Additional Life, LTD, AFLAC options available Opportunities for professional development and advancement within the company.

Pay Range:
Competitive hourly pay ($18.00 - $35.00/hour DOE)

Equal Opportunity…