Aerospace Painter - level 2

Lockheed Martin; Littleton (CO); On-site; USD 47,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

Flexible work arrangements

401(k) match

Job summary

Lockheed Martin Space is seeking an Aerospace Painter to prepare, coat, and finish aerospace structures and components for durability, corrosion resistance, and visual appearance. The role combines hands-on surface preparation with precise primer and coating application, complying with strict quality, safety, and documentation standards.

The candidate will inspect surfaces, apply multiple coating layers, perform thickness checks, and document data in the MES.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of spray gun experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must be able to work 4:30am - 2:00pm shift.

Responsibilities

• Inspect parts and verify surface‑preparation specifications; perform cleaning and sanding to required roughness.
• Apply primers, base‑coat, top‑coat using spray guns, dip tanks, rollers, brushes, or robotic applicators per instructions.
• Conduct in‑process inspections: verify coating thickness and adhesion tests; document results in MES.

Skills

Spray gun experience

Reading engineering drawings

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Air‑assist spray guns

HVLP

Robotic paint systems

Thickness gauges

Dry‑film meters

Job description

Standard Job Description

At Lockheed Martin Space, we aim to harness the full potential of space to cultivate innovation, reduce costs, and push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. We’re creating future-ready solutions, focusing on resiliency and urgency through our 21st Century Security® vision. We’re erasing boundaries and forming partnerships across industries and around the world. We’re advancing spacecraft and the workforce to fuel the next generation. And we’re reimagining how space can connect us, ensuring security and prosperity.

Join us in shaping a new era in space and find a career that's built for you! The Aerospace Painter is responsible for preparing, coating, and finishing aerospace structures and components—including tooling, satellite panels, and spacecraft hardware—to meet stringent aerospace durability, corrosion‑resistance, thermal‑control, and visual‑appearance standards. The role blends hands‑on surface‑preparation techniques with precise application of primers, specialty paints, and protective coatings, while adhering to rigorous quality, safety, and documentation requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspect incoming parts and verify surface‑preparation specifications; perform cleaning, solvent wiping, sanding, abrasive blasting, or chemical strip‑off to achieve required surface roughness.
• Apply primers, base‑coat, top‑coat, and specialty coatings (e.g., anti‑static, conductive, thermal‑control) using spray guns, dip tanks, rollers, brushes, or robotic applicators in accordance with approved work instructions and coating data sheets.
• Conduct in‑process inspections: verify coating thickness with ultrasonic or magnetic gauges, perform adhesion and cure tests, and document results in the quality system.
• Maintain and calibrate painting equipment, monitor environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, airflow), and ensure proper ventilation and PPE use.
• Record material lot numbers, application parameters, and inspection data in the manufacturing execution system (MES) to ensure full traceability.
• Participate in root‑cause investigations for non‑conformances, implement corrective actions, and contribute to continuous‑improvement initiatives (kaizen, lean).
• Follow all safety, hazardous‑material, and environmental regulations (OSHA, EPA, NFPA) and comply with clean‑room or controlled‑environment protocols where required.

Basic Qualifications

• 1+ years of spray gun experience
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be able to work 4:30am -2:00pm shift

Desired Skills

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, surface‑finish specifications, and coating data sheets.
• Proficiency with coating application tools (air‑assist spray guns, HVLP, robotic paint systems) and inspection instruments (thickness gauges, dry‑film meters).
• Experience with aerospace standards (MIL‑STD‑XX, NASA‑STD‑XXXX) and environmental control (ISO14644‑1).

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $47100.00 - $87500.00

At Lockheed Martin, we know mission success starts with taking care of our people. Our Total Rewards program is designed to attract top talent, support your well-being, and help you grow—both professionally and personally.

The salary range for this position is as listed on the requisition. Please note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/ training, key skills as well as market(work location) and business considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits offered:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10), 401(k) match, Paid time off, Holidays, Parental Leave, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, Education Assistance, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability.
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be offered depending on the position. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and can vary from year to year and are tied to a range of performance metrics.
• For (Washington state applicants only) Non-represented full-time employees: accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be used for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.