Automotive Body Technician

TechStar Group; Georgetown (KY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

TechStar Group is seeking an experienced engineer to lead projects for new paint materials and color trials. The role involves coordinating cross-functional teams across body and bumper paint areas, driving lab work, and ensuring on-line testing aligns with production goals.

You will report to the Materials Manager and focus on implementing new materials, colors, and technologies while managing environmental impact and process controls in a multi-division environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related experience.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel for analysis and PowerPoint for reporting).

Responsibilities

• Manage area project schedules for new material trials and color trials, plus cost reduction and material performance improvements.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Paint application knowledge

Team leadership

Data analysis

Color/appearance evaluation

Lab testing coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Chemical/Materials engineering background

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Duration: 12 Months Contract with possible extension

Interview Process: One interview round 60 minutes via Microsoft Teams.

Overtime: ~20%

Travel: ~30% (Mexico and Canada)

Basic Requirement:

• Role focused on Paint application and production implementation.
• New paint material introductions for automotive production.
• Transition of materials from lab development to mass production.
• Must have Hands-on experience in a paint shop or automotive manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of paint application processes, especially topcoat.
• Project management experience (materials or manufacturing related).
• Exposure to production launch, scale-up, or change management.
• Steel‑toe boots are required.

Nice to have:

• Automotive experience (any function—production, materials, process, suppliers)
• Background in Chemical Engineering or Materials Engineering.
• Pure laboratory or R&D roles without production or manufacturing exposure would not work.

What we’re looking for:

• Client's Paint Department is looking for a passionate and highly motivated Engineer.
• The primary responsibility of this role is to manage area project schedules for new material trials, new model paint trials, cost reduction and material performance improvements.
• Reporting to the Materials Manager, the person in this role will support the Paint department's objective to independently manage the development and implementation of new materials, new colors, and new technologies for both the Body Paint and Bumper Paint Departments.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead planning, evaluations and implementations for new colors and new materials in the Body Paint and Bumper Paint shops.
• Lead lab workability and on-line testing for new materials.
• Establish necessary process controls and parameters (RJ) for new materials/technologies in cross-functional environment.
• Lead materials related problem-solving efforts across multiple divisions as necessary.
• Lead CPU impact for new materials.
• Assess the environmental impact of new materials/technologies.

Qualifications/ What you bring (Must Haves):

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering Field or related experience.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel for analysis and PowerPoint for reporting and presentations).
• Ability to work in cross-functional teams.
• 3+ years Project management working across multiple functions.
• 2+ years in color and appearance evaluations.
• 1+ years in paint design.

Bonus if you have (Preferred):

• Bachelor's Degree (or higher) in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Engineering or Material Science.
• Experience in automotive manufacturing in paint production engineering.
• Experience in paint application evaluation.
• Experience in paint lab doing workability evaluations.