Surface Treatment Technician

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace; Newcastle City Council; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous paid parental leave

5 weeks annual leave

Training and career development

Job summary

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace is seeking an experienced Surface Treatment Technician to take end-to-end ownership of surface treatment and paint shop operations supporting the production of Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) systems. This hands-on role requires delivering high-quality workmanship, safety, and continuous improvement.

You will perform surface preparation, coating application, curing, inspection, and ensure processes align with engineering specs and quality

Qualifications

• Must have a relevant trade qualification or proven surface treatment experience.
• Minimum 3 years in a similar surface treatment role.
• Experience applying specialised surface coatings.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and work instructions.
• Attention to detail and strong quality mindset.

Responsibilities

• Perform surface preparation, masking, coating application, curing, and inspection.
• Act as technical authority for paint and coating processes.
• Prepare components and equipment for coating, including cleaning and pre-treatment.
• Ensure coating processes meet specs and quality requirements.
• Coordinate daily paint shop activities to support production.
• Maintain paint shop equipment and manage material storage.
• Complete production documentation for traceability.
• Collaborate with Production, Planning, Engineering and Quality.

Skills

Surface treatment experience

Hand tools

Engineering drawings interpretation

Quality focus

Education

Trade qualification

Certificate III in Surface Preparation

Job description

Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace – Newcastle NSW

At KONGSBERG, our people are united by our commitment to being Determined, Innovative, Collaborative and Reliable— values that guide how we work, how we solve problems and how we support our customers across the globe.

At KONGSBERG Australia, we are proud to be building sovereign capability right here in Australia. Join us to be part of part of a something meaningful, playing an essential role in delivering mission‑critical projects and advanced defence systems in close collaboration with our global colleagues and local industry partners.
Join our team at the Kongsberg Missile Facility (KMF) in Newcastle, a state-of-the-…
What makes KMF unique:

• Australia’s first purpose‑built missile manufacturing facility.
• Hands‑on involvement in end‑to‑end production, from assembly to testing.
• Opportunities to work closely with global Kongsberg teams and advanced technology partners.

At KONGSBERG, our people are united by our commitment to being Determined, Innovative, Collaborative and Reliable— values that guide how we work, how we solve problems and how we support our customers across the globe.

At KONGSBERG Australia, we are proud to be building sovereign capability right here in Australia. Join us to be part of part of a something meaningful, playing an essential role in delivering mission‑critical projects and advanced defence systems in close collaboration with our global colleagues and local industry partners.
Join our team at the Kongsberg Missile Facility (KMF) in Newcastle, a state-of-the-…
What makes KMF unique:

• Australia’s first purpose‑built missile manufacturing facility.
• Hands‑on involvement in end‑to‑end production, from assembly to testing.
• Opportunities to work closely with global Kongsberg teams and advanced technology partners.

About the role:

KONGSBERG Australia is seeking an experienced and motivatedSurface Treatment Technicianto take end-to-end ownership of surface treatment and paint shop operations supporting the production ofNaval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM)systems.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who takes pride in high‑quality workmanship, technical accuracy, safety, and continuous improvement. You will be responsible for ensuring components and assemblies meet stringent engineering, quality and production requirements.

Your day-to-day work will include:

• Performing surface preparation, masking, coating application, curing, inspection and finishing activities for NSM and JSM components and assemblies.
• Acting as the technical authority for paint and coating application processes.
• Preparing components and equipment for coating, including cleaning, pre‑treatment, sanding and masking.
• Ensuring coating processes are completed in accordance with approved work instructions, engineering specifications, technical data and quality requirements.
• Conducting inspections to verify coating quality and surface finish against defined specifications and standards.
• Coordinating daily paint shop activities to support production schedules, delivery milestones and customer requirements.
• Supporting quality audits and ensuring corrective actions are effectively implemented.
• Identifying, reporting and assisting with the resolution of non‑conformances, defects and manufacturing issues.
• Taking ownership of the maintenance and serviceability of painting and surface treatment equipment, including spray guns, curing systems, test equipment and tooling.
• Managing the paint mixing room, including material storage, stock control, shelf‑life monitoring, hazardous substance management and housekeeping.
• Completing accurate production documentation and data entry to ensure full traceability and compliance.
• Supporting assembly and production activities when required.
• Working collaboratively with Production, Planning, Engineering and Quality to maintain efficient and reliable production.

What you'll Bring:

• Relevant trade qualification and/or surface treatment experience where precision is critical.
• Minimum 3 years experience in a similar role.
• Experience applying specialised surface coatings.
• Competent with basic hand tools and minor assembly.
• Knowledge of painting/coating PPE requirements.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, work instructions and specifications.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality

Desirable:

• Certificate III in Surface Preparation & Coating Application.
• AMPP/CIP Level 1 certification.
• Experience withLO and RAM coatings.
• Knowledge of ESD and IPC requirements.
• CurrentNV1 security clearance.

Flexible start dates | November 2026 – January 2027

Our goal is to have the full team onboard by January 2027, however, we may accommodate earlier start dates as required. Don’t have an NV1 security clearance yet? That’s okay, we still encourage you to apply. Clearance requirements and onboarding timeframes will be discussed during the recruitment process.

International Training in Norway

As part of the role, successful candidates will be required to travel to Norway for mandatory specialised training. This is a unique opportunity to train alongside KONGSBERG’s international teams and gain first‑hand experience with our global manufacturing processes and standards.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Must be able to access information controlled under the US International Traffic of Arms Regulations (ITAR)
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an Australian security clearance.

Why Join Us:

We are committed to being an employer of choice. Our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) offers industry‑leading benefits including:

• Generous paid parental leave (26 weeks primary carer / 4 weeks secondary carer)
• 5 weeks annual leave and additional leave options.
• Above-superannuation guarantee employer contribution.
• Access to the WhereFit program, providing exclusive discounts on health, fitness, wellbeing, and lifestyle services.
• Ongoing professional development, training, and career pathways.

Close date

11th October 2026