787 Aircraft Painter

PDS Defense, Inc.; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

DailyPay

affordable medical coverage plan

short-term disability insurance

direct deposit

select paid holidays

skills training

employee referral bonus

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. in Wichita, KS is seeking an experienced Aircraft Painter to support aerospace manufacturing.

You will apply primers and finish coatings on aircraft components with spray equipment, ensuring precision and compliance with engineering specs. The role requires 5+ years in aerospace or industrial painting, ability to read engineering drawings, strong color matching, excellent close-visual inspection, and adherence to safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in aircraft, aerospace, or industrial painting.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Strong color matching ability with attention to shades and brightness.
• Excellent hand-eye coordination and precision for small components.
• Experience with spray painting equipment, abrasives, solvents, and coatings.

Responsibilities

• Apply primers and finish coatings using spray equipment on aircraft components.
• Prepare surfaces through masking, sanding, cleaning, and racking operations.
• Mix paints to exact color specifications using manual or powered equipment.
• Interpret engineering blueprints, schematics, and planning documents.
• Perform alodine, primer, and topcoat applications per specifications.
• Conduct touch-ups, rework, and product modifications as required.
• Inspect in-process and completed work using precision measurement tools.
• Maintain daily logs, including air quality checks prior to paint operations.
• Perform routine maintenance on paint guns, sprayers, and related equipment.
• Safely handle and dispose of hazardous materials in compliance with regulations.
• Move materials within the shop to support workflow and production timelines.
• Train and assist team members to ensure continuous production flow.

Skills

Reading blueprints

Color matching

Detail orientation

Hand-eye coordination

Spray painting

Safety procedures

Tools

Spray guns

Coating equipment

Job description

Light Industrial/Manufacturing

787 Aircraft Painter Wichita, KS Posted: 5/21/2026

Job ID#: 218136

Job Category: Light Industrial/Manufacturing

Position Type: Associate - W2

Shift: 1

Positions Available: 5

Job Summary

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking an experienced Aircraft Painter to support aerospace manufacturing operations in Wichita, KS. This role is responsible for the spray application of aerospace coatings on a variety of substrates, ensuring precision, quality, and compliance with engineering and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply primers and finish coatings using spray equipment on aircraft components
• Prepare surfaces through masking, sanding, cleaning, and racking operations
• Mix paints to exact color specifications using manual or powered equipment
• Interpret engineering blueprints, schematics, and planning documents
• Perform alodine, primer, and topcoat applications per specifications
• Conduct touch-ups, rework, and product modifications as required
• Inspect in-process and completed work using precision measurement tools
• Maintain daily logs, including air quality checks prior to paint operations
• Perform routine maintenance on paint guns, sprayers, and related equipment
• Safely handle and dispose of hazardous materials in compliance with regulations
• Move materials within the shop to support workflow and production timelines
• Train and assist team members to ensure continuous production flow

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in aircraft, aerospace, or industrial painting
• Proven ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and specifications
• Strong color matching ability, including shades and brightness differentiation
• Excellent hand-eye coordination, precision, and attention to detail
• Ability to perform detailed work with small components and close visual inspection
• Experience with spray painting equipment, abrasives, solvents, and coating processes

Work Schedule

• Must be flexible and able to work any shift
• Position will likely be assigned to 2nd shift

Preferred Experience

• Aerospace or aviation painting experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of OSHA, BAC, and customer-specific requirements
• Experience handling hazardous materials and following strict safety protocols

Work Environment & Safety

• Required use of PPE: respirators, air hoods/masks, Tyvek suits, gloves, and safety eyewear
• Must follow all safety procedures and regulatory requirements

Additional Requirements

• Maintain required certifications, licenses, or permits
• Ability to troubleshoot issues and improve paint processes
• Support quality standards and continuous improvement initiatives

Benefits

• direct deposit
• free career counseling services
• 401(k)
• select paid holidays
• short-term disability insurance
• skills training
• employee referral bonus
• affordable medical coverage plan
• DailyPay (in some locations)

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance: No Clearance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• California Fair Chance Act
• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance
• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers
• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance