Aerospace Paint Technician — Flight Hardware

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; California; On-site; USD 76,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Flexible schedule

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Engineering Development Technician (Paint) to support the MTL coating operations. You will perform surface preparation, paint application, and coating verification for critical flight hardware, while coordinating with QA to ensure adhesion, thickness, and contamination control.

You’ll read engineering drawings, mix coatings, monitor environmental conditions, and maintain full documentation.

Qualifications

• High School diploma with 6 years aerospace coating experience or an Associate’s with 1 year related experience.
• Knowledge of thermal coating properties and material behavior.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and follow written instructions.
• Familiar with surface prep, masking, paint mixing, application, curing, and contamination control.
• Experience with paint guns, filters, hoses, and general equipment maintenance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word.

Responsibilities

• Perform surface preparation, masking, and abrading.
• Mix paints and primers to precise ratios.
• Apply thermal coatings using spraying, swabbing, or rolling.
• Operate paint booth systems and monitor cure cycles.
• Coordinate with QA to inspect coating quality and thickness.
• Provide labor estimates and communicate schedule or cost impacts.
• Read dimensions from drawings and CAD models.
• Maintain documentation and track consumables and materials.

Skills

Aerospace coating experience

Read engineering drawings

Verbal and written communication

Paint gun maintenance

Surface prep and masking

Curing processes

Microsoft Office

Education

High School diploma + aerospace experience

Associate’s degree in related field

Tools

CAD

Paint equipment

Job description

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California seeks an Engineering Development Technician (Paint) to support the MTL coating operations. You will perform surface preparation, paint application, and coating verification for critical flight hardware, while coordinating with QA to ensure adhesion, thickness, and contamination control.

You’ll read engineering drawings, mix coatings, monitor environmental conditions, and maintain full documentation.