Painting Technician 1st Shift

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Full Time Manual Labor Salt Lake City, West Valley City, UT, US

2 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $22.50 To $31.00 Hourly

Karman Space & Defense is a leader in the rapid design, development, and production of critical, next-generation system solutions that align with the U.S. Department of War and its allies’ core mission priorities and meet the accelerating demand for access to space. Building on nearly 50 years of success, we deliver Payload & Protection Systems, Aero/Hydrodynamic Interstage Systems, and Propulsion & Launch Systems to more than 80 prime contractors supporting over 130 space and defense programs.

This role is part of our Space and Launch business, which has contributed to the nation’s space programs for decades by delivering complete solutions from concept to flight. We enable successful space operations with mission-critical technology supporting every step from first launch to final landing, including launch vehicle subsystems, propulsion systems, aerodynamic and interstage systems, and payload protection and deployment. Our high-performance solutions are engineered to operate in the most extreme environments and meet precise mission requirements.

As a Painting Technician, you will perform surface preparation, masking, mixing, application, inspection, and finishing activities on launcher tubes and associated space and defense components. Depending on experience level, you may support foundational coating operations, independently perform complete coating processes, troubleshoot coating and finishing issues, perform rework, and serve as a technical resource to less-experienced team members.

Prepare launcher tubes and associated components for primer, paint, and protective coating operations using approved tools, equipment, and processes.

Operate approved surface-preparation equipment and tools used to clean, abrade, profile, sand, or otherwise prepare components prior to coating.

Inspect prepared surfaces to verify acceptable cleanliness and surface condition before primer or paint application.

Mask components and defined areas according to engineering drawings, work instructions, and manufacturing travelers.

Mix primers, paints, coatings, reducers, and related materials according to approved ratios, manufacturer requirements, and applicable process specifications.

Apply primers, paints, and protective coatings using approved manual spray equipment and established application techniques.

Maintain required coating coverage, appearance, wet- or dry-film thickness, flash times, cure requirements, environmental controls, and process parameters.

Identify coating defects including runs, sags, overspray, contamination, insufficient coverage, and finish imperfections, and perform approved touch-up, spot repair, and rework.

Clean and maintain spray guns, preparation equipment, fixtures, tooling, and work areas.

Complete production travelers, material records, inspection documentation, and required manufacturing paperwork accurately and in accordance with established procedures.

Follow all PPE, respiratory-protection, chemical-handling, environmental, hazardous-material, safety, and quality requirements.

At more advanced levels, support setup, troubleshooting, process adherence, and training of less-experienced painters.

High School Diploma or GED.

Relevant industrial, aerospace, automotive, defense, manufacturing, or comparable paint/coating experience appropriate to the assigned level.

Experience with surface preparation, masking, mixing, and spray application of primers, paints, or protective…