Senior Engineer, Paint shop

Job Summary

plastic automotive components

Key Responsibilities

1. Process Development & Optimization

• Develop and refine painting processes for plastic substrates (PP, ABS, PC–ABS, PU, etc.).
• Define and validate paint parameters: viscosity, spray pattern, film thickness, flash-off, curing cycles.
• Support NPI (New Product Introduction) and color development.

2. Material & Surface Preparation

• Determine correct surface cleaning, flame treatment, plasma treatment, or primer application.
• Validate adhesion promoters and solvent wipe procedures.
• Ensure proper surface roughness and pre-treatment for various plastic parts.

3. Paint Application & Technology

• Select and evaluate plastic paint systems (acrylic, polyurethane, water-based, basecoat–clearcoat systems).
• Oversee robot-assisted and manual spray painting operations.
• Troubleshoot defects such as orange peel, fisheye, pinholes, poor adhesion, color mismatch, and dust contamination.

4. Quality Control & Testing

• Conduct adhesion tests (cross-hatch, peel), gloss measurement, color matching, and film thickness inspections.
• Ensure compliance with OEM specifications (Ford, Toyota, Tesla, etc.).
• Monitor paint booth conditions: humidity, temperature, airflow, and contamination.

5. Documentation & Standards

• Maintain process documents: SOPs, work instructions, quality checklists.
• Ensure adherence to industry safety, environmental, and VOC emission standards.
• Support audits and certification requirements (ISO 9001, IATF 16949).

6. Cross-functional Collaboration

• Work with Design, Quality, Supplier Development, and Production teams.
• Coordinate with paint suppliers for material approvals and trials.
• Train operators and technicians in paint handling and defect prevention.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Diploma/BE/B.Tech in Mechanical, Chemical, Polymer Engineering, Paint Technology, or related discipline.

Experience

• 15+ years of hands-on experience in

  automotive plastic painting

  or

  automotive paint shop operations

  .
• Experience with robotic painting systems (ABB, Fanuc, Dürr) is an advantage.

Technical Skills

Strong knowledge of:

• Plastic substrates and surface treatment
• Automotive-grade paint chemistry
• Paint defect analysis and corrective actions
• Environmental and safety regulations
• Proficient in using measurement tools (DFT gauges, gloss meters, spectrophotometers).

Soft Skills

• Problem-solving abilities
• Attention to detail, color accuracy
• Strong documentation and communication skills
• Ability to work in fast-paced production environments

Preferred Certifications

• NACE, SSPC, or paint technology certifications
• Training in automotive paint shop operations
• Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing (optional)