Coatings Engineer

Northamericanlam; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading coatings technology firm in Madison, Wisconsin is seeking a motivated Coatings Engineer to advance their finishing and painting operations. The candidate should possess hands-on coatings expertise and a continuous improvement mindset. Responsibilities include developing coating processes, troubleshooting defects, and collaborating across teams. A bachelor's degree in engineering and 3–7 years of relevant experience are required. The position involves a mix of office and manufacturing floor work, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years of professional experience in coatings engineering or related manufacturing role.
• Demonstrated experience with liquid paint systems and vacuum coating processes.
• Ability to document technical findings clearly.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize coating processes including application methods and cure parameters.
• Investigate and resolve coating defects using root cause analysis.
• Collaborate with maintenance to ensure equipment reliability.

Skills

Hands-on coatings expertise

Process optimization

Problem-solving skills

Lean manufacturing

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, management or related field

Continuing education in coatings science

Tools

Spray application equipment

Cure ovens

Spectrophotometry

Job description

Description

NASL is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Coatings Engineer to join our Engineering team. This mid-level role is central to advancing our finishing and painting operations — from optimizing existing processes and troubleshooting coating defects to evaluating new equipment technologies that improve throughput, quality, and sustainability. The ideal candidate brings hands‑on coatings expertise, a continuous improvement mindset, and the ability to collaborate across production, quality, and maintenance teams.

Key Responsibilities

Process Engineering & Optimization

• Develop, evaluate, and optimize liquid, UV, and vacuum coating processes including application methods, cure parameters, and surface preparation techniques.
• Investigate and resolve coating defects (adhesion failures, orange peel, fisheyes, runs, color inconsistencies) using structured root cause analysis.
• Define and document coating process standards, work instructions, and control plans to ensure repeatable, high-quality output.
• Conduct and analyze coating trials for new substrates, materials, or customer specifications.

Equipment Improvement & Capital Projects

• Identify opportunities for spray booth, application equipment, and curing oven upgrades that improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance finish quality.
• Lead or support capital improvement projects from concept through commissioning, including specification development, vendor evaluation, installation oversight, and validation.
• Collaborate with maintenance to establish preventive maintenance programs for finishing equipment and ensure equipment reliability.
• Evaluate and implement emerging coating technologies including UV cure, vacuum coating, electrostatic, and robotic application systems for potential adoption and integration into operations.

Quality & Compliance

• Partner with the Quality team to define inspection criteria, acceptance standards, and testing protocols for coated products.
• Support VOC compliance, environmental reporting, and adherence to applicable regulatory standards (EPA, OSHA, etc.).
• Maintain SDS management and ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal of coatings materials.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work cross‑functionally with all business segments including Production, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Product, and Sales teams to implement process improvements and support new product launches.
• Apply lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to drive waste reduction and process efficiency in finishing operations.
• Provide technical training and guidance to production operators on coating application best practices.

Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, management or related field or equivalent experience.
• Continuing education or coursework in surface finishing, coatings science, or lean manufacturing is highly valued.

Experience & Skills

• 3–7 years of professional experience in coatings engineering, surface finishing, or a closely related manufacturing role.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience with liquid paint systems (solvent‑borne, waterborne), UV coatings, and/or vacuum coating processes.
• Working knowledge of spray application equipment, cure ovens, surface preparation methods , and film thickness measurement.
• Familiarity with coating adhesion testing, gloss, and color matching (spectrophotometry).
• Experience managing or contributing to capital equipment projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, process flow diagrams, and equipment specifications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to document technical findings clearly and present to cross‑functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with experience using data‑driven approaches to resolve process issues are a plus.

Work Environment

This position requires frequent presence on the manufacturing floor in a finishing/painting environment. Candidates must be comfortable working around coating materials, solvents, and associated personal protective equipment (PPE). Some lifting may be required. Occasional travel may be needed.