Coatings Engineer

NASL is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Coatings Engineer to join our Engineering team. This mid-level role is central to advancing our finishing and painting operations from optimizing existing processes and troubleshooting coating defects to evaluating new equipment technologies that improve throughput quality and sustainability. The ideal candidate brings hands-on coatings expertise a continuous improvement mindset and the ability to collaborate across production quality and maintenance teams.

Key Responsibilities

Process Engineering & Optimization

Develop evaluate and optimize liquid UV and vacuum coating processes including application methods cure parameters and surface preparation techniques.

Investigate and resolve coating defects (adhesion failures orange peel fisheyes runs color inconsistencies) using structured root cause analysis.

Define and document coating process standards work instructions and control plans to ensure repeatable high-quality output.

Conduct and analyze coating trials for new substrates materials or customer specifications.

Equipment Improvement & Capital Projects

Identify opportunities for spray booth application equipment and curing oven upgrades that improve efficiency reduce waste and enhance finish quality.

Lead or support capital improvement projects from concept through commissioning including specification development vendor evaluation installation oversight and validation.

Collaborate with maintenance to establish preventive maintenance programs for finishing equipment and ensure equipment reliability.

Evaluate and implement emerging coating technologies including UV cure vacuum coating electrostatic and robotic application systems for potential adoption and integration into operations.

Quality & Compliance

Partner with the Quality team to define inspection criteria acceptance standards and testing protocols for coated products.

Support VOC compliance environmental reporting and adherence to applicable regulatory standards (EPA OSHA etc.).

Maintain SDS management and ensure safe handling storage and disposal of coatings materials.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

Work cross-functionally with all business segments including Production Quality Maintenance Supply Chain Product and Sales teams to implement process improvements and support new product launches.

Apply lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to drive waste reduction and process efficiency in finishing operations.

Provide technical training and guidance to production operators on coating application best practices.

Education

Bachelors degree in engineering management or related field or equivalent experience.

Continuing education or coursework in surface finishing coatings science or lean manufacturing is highly valued.

Experience & Skills

37 years of professional experience in coatings engineering surface finishing or a closely related manufacturing role.

Demonstrated hands-on experience with liquid paint systems (solvent-borne waterborne) UV coatings and/or vacuum coating processes.

Working knowledge of spray application equipment cure ovens surface preparation methods and film thickness measurement.

Familiarity with coating adhesion testing gloss and color matching (spectrophotometry).

Experience managing or contributing to capital equipment projects in a manufacturing environment.

Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings process flow diagrams and equipment specifications.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to document technical findings clearly and present to cross-functional teams.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using data-driven approaches to resolve process issues are a plus.

Work Environment

This position requires frequent presence on the manufacturing floor in a finishing/painting environment. Candidates must be comfortable working around coating materials solvents and associated personal protective equipment (PPE). Some lifting may be required. Occasional travel may be needed.