Powder Coating Technical Specialist

Decision Associates; North Weissport (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

401(k)

Short- and long-term disability

Life insurance

Job summary

F3 Metalworx is seeking a seasoned Powder Coating Technical Specialist to lead on the shop floor, drive Lean/Six Sigma improvements, and optimize three powder lines. You will diagnose coating defects, implement process improvements, and mentor teams to raise quality, throughput, and consistency across high-mix production.

The role reports directly to the VP of Operations and offers visibility across the department.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of hands-on powder coating experience on multiple substrates.
• Experience with multiple powder chemistries and finishes; Teflon knowledge preferred.
• Strong Lean/Six Sigma knowledge and process mapping.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve coating defects with technical precision.
• Experience with automated application equipment (Nordson) preferred.
• Ability to train, coach, and mentor floor teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Teams).
• Job shop or high-mix production background is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority on the powder coating floor, spending the majority of your time directly on the line.
• Evaluate existing processes and implement new ones to improve quality, efficiency, and flow across three powder lines, four ovens, and a batch booth.
• Apply Lean/Six Sigma techniques to identify and eliminate bottlenecks and waste.
• Diagnose and resolve coating defects, drawing on deep technical knowledge of chemical composition, oven time/temperature/speed, and application parameters.
• Oversee the operation, cleaning, and maintenance of the automated application equipment, including Nordson powder coating systems.
• Support both standard powder coating and specialty Teflon coating processes.
• Partner closely with the Quality team to reduce customer escapes and drive toward zero-defect performance.
• Coach, train, and mentor the team, building buy-in for new processes across the floor.
• Use data and KPIs to monitor line performance and report gaps to leadership.

Skills

Powder coating

Lean/Six Sigma

Process optimization

Quality control

Data analytics

Mentoring

Coaching

MS Office

Tools

Nordson equipment

MIE Trak

MS Office Suite

Job description

About F3 Metalworx

F3 Metalworx, a leading sheet metal fabrication company, based in Erie, PA, is a single, one-stop resource for customers across industrial fabrication and powder coating markets. From wash and pretreatment through electrostatic powder and Teflon application, their finishing operations serve customers in a variety of industries. As F3 Metalworx continues to grow, they are investing in the technical expertise needed to build a best-in-class powder coating operation across their North East and Erie, PA locations.

The Opportunity

On behalf of our client, F3 Metalworx, Decision Associates is seeking a hands-on Powder Coating Technical Specialist to bring deep technical expertise to our powder coating operation. This role is central to our growth strategy, heavily focused on implementing a process-driven operation built on Lean principles. You'll spend the majority of your time on the floor, evaluating and optimizing our lines, diagnosing coating defects, and building the processes, training, and mentoring that raise the bar for quality, consistency, and throughput. This is a highly visible, technically demanding role reporting directly to the VP of Operations, with real opportunity to shape the future of the department.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical authority on the powder coating floor, spending the majority of your time directly on the line
• Evaluate existing processes and implement new ones to improve quality, efficiency, and flow across three powder lines, four ovens, and a batch booth
• Apply Lean/Six Sigma techniques to identify and eliminate bottlenecks and waste
• Diagnose and resolve coating defects, drawing on deep technical knowledge of chemical composition, oven time/temperature/speed, and application parameters
• Oversee the operation, cleaning, and maintenance of the automated application equipment, including Nordson powder coating systems
• Support both standard powder coating and specialty Teflon coating processes
• Partner closely with the Quality team to reduce customer escapes and drive toward zero-defect performance
• Coach, train, and mentor the team, building buy-in for new processes across the floor
• Use data and KPIs to monitor line performance and report gaps to leadership

• 10+ years of hands-on, career-track powder coating experience
• Experience across multiple substrates (steel, galvanized, aluminum, stainless) and pretreatment chemistries
• Experience across multiple powder chemistries and specialty finishes; Teflon coating knowledge preferred
• Strong working knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma methods, including process mapping
• Comfortable diagnosing and resolving coating defects with minimal reliance on formal testing
• Experience with automated application equipment (e.g., Nordson) strongly preferred
• Job shop or high-mix production background preferred
• Strong communicator who is comfortable training, coaching, and mentoring others
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office/365 (Outlook, Excel, Teams); MIE Trak experience a plus

• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance

F3 Metalworx, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.