Structural Steel Painter

Qualico Steel Company; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401K

Vision

Competitive salary

Job summary

Qualico Steel Company seeks a structurally-minded Painter to lead coating operations with a focus on single to multi-coat epoxy/urethane/zinc systems. You will drive spray workflows, ensure strict safety protocols, and coordinate with blast and loading teams to meet shipping schedules.

The role requires 2–5 years in a production setting, strong coating knowledge, and the ability to read shop drawings while maintaining high quality through QC inspections and process compliance.

Qualifications

• Experience & Environment: 2-5 years’ experience in a production environment, with the ability to understand workflows and meet shipping schedules.
• Technical Application: Strong background in industrial coatings and the ability to interpret shop drawings and specifications.
• Quality Standards: Strong understanding of surface prep and application requirements to ensure the team produces passing work for our dedicated QC inspector(s).
• Equipment Aptitude: Operational knowledge of airless spray pumps and blast equipment, with the mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot basic issues.
• Safety & Compliance: Uncompromising commitment to shop safety, PPE enforcement, and environmental regulations.
• Communication: Ability to effectively coordinate with Production Management, Fabrication, Blast, Quality Control, and Loading teams to maintain shop flow and reach weekly goals.

Responsibilities

• Safety Culture: Champion a “Safety First” environment by strictly enforcing PPE usage, along with all other safety protocols and procedures.
• Environmental Compliance: Ensure all mixing and cleaning procedures comply with environmental regulations and shop standards.
• Team Development: Support the training and mentor of other painters on best practices for efficiency and material savings, minimizing waste and rework.
• Orchestrate Shop Flow: Support the staging and sequencing of materials into the paint bay to maximize spray time and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Cross-Department Coordination: Work hand-in-hand with the Blast Foreman to ensure surface prep meets standards prior to hand-off, and coordinate with the Load Foreman to align cure times with shipping schedules.
• Resource Planning: Be able to adhear to daily work assignments based on the shipping list and paint system complexity.
• Application: Provide the correct application of various industrial systems (from single coat to complex multi-coat Epoxy/Urethane/Zinc systems), strictly verifying mix ratios, induction times, and pot life compliance.
• Defect Prevention: Partner with Quality Control to inspect Wet Film Thickness (WFT) during application and Dry Film Thickness (DFT) post-cure to catch defects (runs, sags, holidays) early.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the proper use, cleaning, and basic maintenance of airless spray pumps, guns, and lines to prevent equipment-related downtime.

Skills

Industrial coatings

Shop drawings interpretation

Quality inspection

Safety compliance

Team coordination

Tools

Airless spray pumps

Blast equipment

Job description

Qualico Steel is seeking a results-driven Structural Steel Painter to work in our coating operations. We strive for excellence in both single and multi-coat spray applications, ensuring every part meets our quality standards before it leaves the bay. You will help drive production schedules while ensuring that safety is the number one priority daily as we strictly enforce all safety protocols and environmental compliance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Safety Culture: Champion a “Safety First” environment by strictly enforcing PPE usage, along with all other safety protocols and procedures.
• Environmental Compliance: Ensure all mixing and cleaning procedures comply with environmental regulations and shop standards.
• Team Development: Support the training and mentor of other painters on best practices for efficiency and material savings, minimizing waste and rework.
• Orchestrate Shop Flow: Support the staging and sequencing of materials into the paint bay to maximize spray time and eliminate bottlenecks.
• Cross-Department Coordination: Work hand-in-hand with the Blast Foreman to ensure surface prep meets standards prior to hand-off, and coordinate with the Load Foreman to align cure times with shipping schedules.
• Resource Planning: Be able to adhear to daily work assignments based on the shipping list and paint system complexity.
• Application: Provide the correct application of various industrial systems (from single coat to complex multi-coat Epoxy/Urethane/Zinc systems), strictly verifying mix ratios, induction times, and pot life compliance.
• Defect Prevention: Partner with Quality Control to inspect Wet Film Thickness (WFT) during application and Dry Film Thickness (DFT) post-cure to catch defects (runs, sags, holidays) early.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the proper use, cleaning, and basic maintenance of airless spray pumps, guns, and lines to prevent equipment-related downtime.

Required Skills and Experience:

Experience & Environment: 2-5 years’ experience in a production environment, with the ability to understand workflows and meet shipping schedules.

• Technical Application: Strong background in industrial coatings and the ability to interpret shop drawings and specifications.
• Quality Standards: Strong understanding of surface prep and application requirements to ensure the team produces passing work for our dedicated QC inspector(s).
• Equipment Aptitude: Operational knowledge of airless spray pumps and blast equipment, with the mechanical aptitude to troubleshoot basic issues.
• Safety & Compliance: Uncompromising commitment to shop safety, PPE enforcement, and environmental regulations.
• Communication: Ability to effectively coordinate with Production Management, Fabrication, Blast, Quality Control, and Loading teams to maintain shop flow and reach weekly goals.

Physical Requirements:

Mobility: Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, climb ladders/stairs, and work at heights (occasionally as required).

• Lifting: Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 lbs.
• Environment: Capable of working in hot, cold, dusty, and fume-heavy environments while wearing proper PPE.
• Dexterity & Vision: Manual dexterity to operate spray guns and equipment; sufficient vision to visually inspect coatings and identify defects.
• Schedule: Ability to work overtime, extended shifts, and weekends as production schedules require.

Company Benefits:

Qualico Steel Company offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance benefits, vision, 401K, and etc.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and no do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.