Pre-Treat Operator — Coatings Prep & QA Technician

IFA Powertrain Polska; Summerville (SC); On-site; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

IFA North America is seeking a PreTreat Operator to manage the preparation of fabrication parts for industrial coating and painting. The role ensures maximum paint adhesion by controlling chemical parameters, inspecting surfaces, and maintaining wash systems in a large-scale facility.

You will monitor degreasers, rinse tanks, and phosphating baths, perform routine tests, and document logs while following safety rules and environmental regulations.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years in industrial painting, powder coating, or chemical pre-treatment preferred; willing to train strong mechanical aptitude.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Technical knowledge of multi-stage industrial wash systems and strict safety/environmental guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and adjust pre-treatment tanks (degreaser, rinsing, phosphating) before coating.
• Perform bath control tests (pH, titration, log chemical levels).
• Ensure parts are free of grease, dirt, oil, scale, and rust before spray coating.
• Set up/operate conveyor lines, spray nozzles, and drying equipment.
• Visually inspect parts for surface defects and document quality metrics.
• Clean, troubleshoot, and perform preventive maintenance on wash stages and equipment.
• Handle, mix, and dispose of hazardous chemicals per OSHA and SDS guidelines.

Skills

Multi-stage wash systems

Titration & pH testing

Quality inspection tools

Detail-oriented

Documentation

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Elcometers

Infrared cameras

Titration kits

pH meters

Job description

IFA North America is seeking a PreTreat Operator to manage the preparation of fabrication parts for industrial coating and painting. The role ensures maximum paint adhesion by controlling chemical parameters, inspecting surfaces, and maintaining wash systems in a large-scale facility.

You will monitor degreasers, rinse tanks, and phosphating baths, perform routine tests, and document logs while following safety rules and environmental regulations.