Paint Technician

Overview

The successful candidate will complete various stages of the painting process for rail vehicles, including surface preparation, priming, painting, finishing, and final touch-up. This role requires precision and attention to detail to ensure high-quality surface finishes that meet industry and company standards. Duties may also include working in a prep blast booth.

Functional Description

• Clean, sand, degrease, and mask surfaces for proper paint adhesion.
• Operate blasting equipment to remove rust and contaminants.

• Apply primers and surface sealers using spray equipment to protect materials.
• Perform gel coat applications for durability and aesthetic finish.
• Mix and apply basecoats, clearcoats, and topcoats using high-pressure spray guns.
• Ensure uniform paint application, maintaining correct thickness, coverage, and curing times.
• Perform caulking applications to seal joints and prevent moisture infiltration.
• Execute passivation spraying processes to protect metal surfaces from corrosion.
• Use high-precision techniques for final paint application to meet technical specifications.
• Conduct detailed inspections to identify and correct paint imperfections.
• Perform wet sanding, buffing, and polishing to refine finishes.
• Execute touch-ups and patching while ensuring color and texture consistency.
• Apply various paint types and coatings for effective repairs.

Education Required

• High school diploma or graduation from a certified technical school.

Qualifications/Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in body work and paint experience (informal training) or professional automotive training
• In the event of not having the specific training, demonstrate experience and basic knowledge of bodywork fundamentals.
• Experience working with basecoats and clearcoats.
• Experience wet sanding and buffing.
• Experience applying body filler.
• Knowledge or experience working with fiberglass a plus
• Interpreting blue prints.
• For touch-ups and retouching, it is necessary to have knowledge of the paints used to carry out patching small touch ups, sealing.
• Handling high pressure machines.
• Strong focus and attention to detail.
• Experience in manufacturing environment.  Understanding oral and written Spanish highly desirable
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Initial Training

• Quality system
• Occupational Hazards Prevention System
• Environmental Systems
• Railway Safety Management System
• Human Resources Policies

Safety Requirements

• Shall report all injuries/illnesses to their supervisor that occur at work, the day of the incident
• Shall report any unsafe conditions that are identified in their respective work area to their supervisor
• Shall comply with all CAF USA safety policies, procedures, and requirements that are communicated to them, including Job Safety Analysis (JSA) procedures
• Shall wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is communicated and supplied to them
• Shall keep their respective work area clean and orderly at all times
• Shall attend all CAF USA required training as soon as possible before the start of their assigned work
• Shall NOT operate any CAF USA equipment (forklifts, cranes, scissor lifts) until certified to do so