Automotive Painter

Amentum; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Amentum in San Diego, CA is seeking a qualified Automotive Painter to apply coatings to contract units in accordance with customer specifications and corrosion control requirements.

The role involves surface preparation, masking, spray painting, and finishing, with emphasis on safety, quality, and ability to pass required tests.

Candidates must have a high school diploma, 3 years of painting experience on equipment, and a valid driver's license, along with the ability to obtain security clearance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 3 years of painting/depainting experience on contract unit equipment.
• Must have a current driver's license.
• Must pass color vision test.
• Must pass PFT and respirator fit test.
• Must speak/read/write English.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain security clearance.
• Must meet physical requirements including lifting up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Coats surfaces of contract units with primer, paint, lacquer, epoxy, resin or other material using brushes, rollers, spray guns and other devices.
• Removes old paint using liquid paint remover and scraper or plastic/sand media blasting techniques.
• Smoothes surface with sandpaper and steel wool; roughens aluminum surfaces for adhesion per customer specs.
• Masks and covers portions of surfaces not to be painted and applies insignia or numerals with stencils.
• Perform all other position related duties as assigned or requested.

Skills

Paint application

Surface preparation

Masking

Color vision

Safety compliance

English proficiency

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Amentum is seeking a qualified Painter, Automotive for our San Diego, California location.

Paint or remove paint from contract units in accordance with customer specifications. Understands and applies various corrosion control methods and technologies. Position reports to Supervisor.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Coats surfaces of contract units with primer, paint, lacquer, epoxy, resin or other material, using brushes, rollers, spray guns and other devices.
• Removes old paint using liquid paint remover and scraper or plastic/sand media blasting techniques.
• Smoothes surface with sandpaper and steel wool. Roughens aluminum surfaces with acid solution and steel wool to ensure that paint adheres to surface and provides corrosion control methods to customer specifications.
• Masks and covers portions of surfaces not to be painted. Paints insignia, letters or numerals on vehicle surface, using stencils.

Perform all other position related duties as assigned or requested.

Minimum Position Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Must have a high school diploma or general education degree (GED).
• Must have three (3) years of recent experience in the maintenance, overhaul and painting/depainting of contract unit equipment.
• Must have a current driver's license.
• Must be able to pass and maintain a Normal Color Vision test.
• Must be able to pass and maintain a PFT and Respirator Fit test.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English.
• Must have demonstrated knowledge and use of special tools/equipment required to perform assigned tasks.
• Must be able to meet physical requirements associated with and/or pass and maintain any medical examination requirements related to performing daily assigned tasks.
• Pre-employment drug screening is required.
• Security Clearance Required. Must be able to obtain and maintain an Active U.S. Government Clearance.
• The ability to obtain and maintain a government issued Common Access Card (CAC).
• Must be able to obtain and maintain facility credential/authorization. Note: U.S. Citizenship is required for facility credentials/authorization at this work location.
• Required to clear preliminary Government security background check prior to employment beginning.
• Be proficient with computer programs such as Microsoft Office applications.
• Must be able to meet and maintain all base access security requirements.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal communication skills.
• Hazardous materials knowledge/training.
• Knowledge and demonstrated use of Continuous Process Improvement.
• Time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to stand for a prolonged period of time performing repetitive tasks.
• Basic mechanical awareness.
• Formal degree/certificate in painting applications.
• OSHA / EHS knowledge and related certificates.
• Strong knowledge regarding Safety management and Safety protocols.

Work Environment, Physical Demands, and Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or fee; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts and extreme heat. The employee is regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud, or may include unsafe conditions, questioning nonstandard operations or environmental factors that may involve unmitigated hazards, and providing feedback to supervisors and managers on all safety issues. Position may require the ability to pass and maintain a Security Clearance. Position may require travel.

Other Responsibilities:

Safety - Amentum enforces a safety culture whereby all employees have the responsibility for continuously developing and maintaining a safe work environment. As appropriate, each employee is responsible for completing all training requirements and fulfilling all self-aid/buddy aid responsibilities, participating in emergency response tasks and serving on safety committees and teams.

Quality - Quality is the foundation for the management of our business and the keystone to our goal of customer satisfaction. It is our policy to consistently provide services that meet customer expectations. Accordingly, each employee must conform to the Amentum Quality Policy and carry out job activities in compliance with applicable Amentum Quality System documents and customer contracts. Each employee must read and understand his/her Quality Management and Customer Satisfaction responsibilities.

Procedure Compliance - Each employee must read, understand and implement the general and specific operational, safety, quality and environmental requirements of all plans, procedures and policies pertaining to his/her job.

Salary and Other Compensation:

The hourly rate for this position is $29.56 per hour. Plus $7.75 per hour, up to 40 hours per week, for Health & Welfare.

Benefits:

The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, 5.54 hours of paid time off biweekly, and 11 paid holidays annually.

Compensation Details:

$27.07

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good‑faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
• Educational reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Tax-saving options
• Disability and life insurance
• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

09/25/2026 - 11/30/2026

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.