Laborer

Darling Ingredients; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Darling Ingredients is seeking a Utility Worker / Finish Painter to support the fabrication, refurbishment, and finishing of used cooking oil storage tanks. The role involves surface preparation, coating application, and maintaining a safe, efficient shop environment.

Responsibilities include tank surface prep, applying coatings, inspecting finishes, and assisting fabrication ops. OSHA safety, PPE, and physical labor are required; high school diploma or equivalent is expected.

Qualifications

• Experience in industrial or commercial painting.
• Highly organized with time management.
• Ability to perform physical labor (lift up to 50 lbs) and stand for long periods.

Responsibilities

• Prepare tank surfaces for coating, including cleaning, degreasing, sanding, and blasting.
• Apply coatings, primers, and finishes using spray equipment, rollers, or brushes per specs.
• Inspect finished surfaces for coverage and defects; perform touch-ups as needed.
• Follow coating thickness, cure times, and environmental requirements.
• Load and unload materials and finished products; assist with tank movement.
• Follow safety requirements (OSHA, PPE) and maintain clean, organized workspaces.
• Communicate quality or scheduling issues to supervision.

Skills

Industrial painting

Organized

Physical stamina

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift operation

Overhead crane

Job description

Job Description

The Utility Worker / Finish Painter supports the fabrication, refurbishment, and finishing of used cooking oil storage tanks. This role is responsible for surface preparation, final coating application, general shop support, and maintaining a clean, safe, and efficient work environment. The position requires attention to detail, adherence to safety standards, and the ability to perform a variety of hands‑on manufacturing tasks as assigned.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

• Prepare tank surfaces for coating, including cleaning, degreasing, sanding, grinding, masking, and blasting as required
• Apply industrial coatings, primers, and finish paints using spray equipment, rollers, or brushes per specifications
• Inspect finished surfaces for quality, coverage, and defects; perform touch‑ups as needed
• Follow coating thickness, cure time, and environmental requirements
• Assist with tank movement, staging, and positioning using forklifts, pallet jacks, or cranes (if certified)
• Support fabrication and assembly operations as needed (drilling, grinding, deburring, cleaning, bolting)
• Perform basic maintenance and cleaning of tools, paint equipment, and work areas
• Load and unload materials and finished products
• Follow all OSHA, company, and customer safety requirements
• Properly handle flammable materials, solvents, and coatings
• Use required PPE including respirators, gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing
• Maintain clean and organized workspaces to reduce hazards
• Follow work instructions, drawings, and paint specifications
• Complete basic production and quality check documentation when required
• Communicate issues related to quality, safety, or scheduling to supervision

Qualifications

• Highly organized; superior time management skills.
• Experience with industrial or commercial painting
• Forklift or overhead crane experience (or willingness to be trained)
• Ability to perform physical labor, lifting up to 50 lbs and standing for extended periods
• Basic knowledge of surface prep methods and coating systems preferred
• Education/Experience Requirements
• High school diploma or equivalent

About Us

We’re one of the world’s leading practitioners of circularity, transforming materials from the animal agriculture and food industries into valuable ingredients. Ingredients that nourish people, feed animals and crops, and fuel the world with renewable energy.

About The Team

Darling Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, age, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military service, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state and local law. Know Your Rights: If you would like more information, please click on the link and paste into your browser: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster of this job.