Industrial Coatings Technician — Surface Prep & Finish

American Art Clay Company; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

American Art Clay Company in Indianapolis, IN is seeking a dedicated Paint Booth Operator to support finishing operations. You will set up and run the booth, prep parts, and ensure finish quality.

Daily tasks include deburr before welding, follow BOMs, perform maintenance, and operate material-handling equipment. You must lift up to 70 lbs, wear a respirator, and work in a hot environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1+ year relevant experience preferred.
• Willingness to lift up to 70 lbs and work in hot environments.
• Must be able to wear a respirator.
• Strong reading comprehension to interpret BOMs and work instructions.
• Ability to present updates to management.

Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and maintain paint booth and finishing equipment.
• Prepare parts for paint; deburr components prior to welding.
• Perform incidental painting; complete occasional product assembly.
• Follow BOMs and instructions precisely.
• Operate material-handling equipment safely.
• Lift materials up to 70 lbs.

Skills

Reading BOMs & work instructions

Presenting updates to management

Clear written & verbal communication

Wear a respirator

Work in hot environments

Lift up to 70 lbs

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Paint booth

Material-handling equipment

Light mechanical assembly

Job description

Founded in 1919 by Ted O. Philpott, American Art Clay Company (AMACO) pioneered the commercial production of ceramic and non-ceramic clays, lead-free glazes, electric kilns, and potter’s wheels. As a founding member of the Arts and Creative Materials Institute (1936), AMACO helped establish the safety standards for children’s art materials. A century later, this fourth-generation, family-owned company continues to craft ceramic supplies to the highest standards of quality and safety—driven by the belief that making art supports individual well-being and enriches communities.

Your Day-to-Day

You report to the Mechanical Supervisor and may receive tasking from the Crew Lead. You begin by reviewing Bills of Material (BOMs) and processing/work instructions, staging parts for finish, and confirming the paint plan. You deburr components prior to welding, prep surfaces, and ready the booth. Once set, you apply coatings to mechanical products, monitoring settings and finish quality. Throughout the shift, you perform operational and preventive maintenance on the booth and related equipment, safely operate material-handling gear, and document results. Some days include light mechanical assembly, and on any day you may lift up to 70 lbs., wear a respirator, and work in a hot environment.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent, high-quality finishes that meet AMACO’s standards for safety and appearance.
• Thorough surface prep, including deburring before welding and part prep prior to paint.
• Reliable equipment performance through diligent operational and preventive maintenance.
• Clear communication, including comfort presenting updates to management when needed.

Core Responsibilities

• Set up, operate, and maintain paint booth and finishing equipment.
• Prepare parts for paint; deburr components prior to welding.
• Perform incidental painting as assigned; complete occasional product assembly.
• Follow BOMs and processing/work instructions precisely.
• Operate material-handling equipment safely and effectively.
• Lift materials up to 70 lbs.

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong reading comprehension; ability to interpret BOMs and work instructions.
• Comfort presenting information to management.
• Clear written and verbal communication.
• Ability to wear a respirator; able to work in hot environments.
• Capacity to lift heavy materials up to 70 lbs.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

Expect extended periods of standing and exposure to heat. While performing the duties of this job, you will regularly talk or hear; frequently stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms; and occasionally sit, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. You will frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Schedule & Travel

• Full-time, Monday–Friday, 40+ hours per week.
• Occasional evenings and weekends as required by workload.
• No travel expected.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• 1+ year relevant experience preferred.

Preferred Proficiencies

• Warehouse experience
• Mechanical assembly skills
• Background in a manufacturing environment

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

EEO Statement

AMACO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: AMACO is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at AMACO are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the location where we operate. AMACO will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

Note

This description outlines primary duties but isn’t exhaustive; responsibilities and activities may evolve at any time with or without notice.