Senior Engineer, Paint shop

Job SummaryThe Plastic Paint Expert is responsible for developing, optimizing, and overseeing painting processes for plastic automotive components such as bumpers, trims, dashboards, mirror housings, and interior panels. The role ensures high-quality paint finish, strong adhesion, color consistency, and defect-free production while meeting OEM standards and environmental regulations.Key Responsibilities1. 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 QualificationsEducation- 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 SkillsStrong 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 environmentsPreferred Certifications- NACE, SSPC, or paint technology certifications - Training in automotive paint shop operations - Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing (optional)

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