Aircraft Painter

Overview

This role is at Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, supporting Spirit’s Commercial Business Units (“Spirit Commercial”). Spirit Commercial designs and builds commercial aerostructures, including for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, one of Boeing’s three business units and the premier manufacturer of commercial jetliners for decades. Spirit Commercial’s core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components, with a focus on innovative composite and aluminum manufacturing solutions.

Responsibilities

Location: Wichita, KS

Position Responsibilities: 

Responsible for the spray application of multiple aerospace paints on a variety of substrates and on simple to complex product configurations, including the set up and application of primers and finish coat. Supporting responsibilities include masking, racking, turning, and sanding operations as well as equipment maintenance and paint mixing operations.

Key Accountabilities

• Able to read engineering blueprints, schematics and drawings.
• Can match or detect differences among colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Able to remain steady while moving an arm or while holding arm and hand in position.
• See details at close range.
• Make precise movements of the fingers to grasp, manipulate or assemble small objects.
• Able to quickly move hand, hand with arm or two hands to grasp, manipulate or assemble objects.

Tasks

• Mix paints to match color specifications or original colors, using spatulas or power mixing equipment to stir or thin paints.
• Select and apply paint according to engineering planning documents.
• Dispose of trash, scrap and hazardous waste in an appropriate manner.
• Remove grease, dirt, paint, or rust from surfaces using abrasives, solvents, and brushes or washing tanks to prepare to apply paint.
• Spray or brush prepared surfaces with specified amounts of alodine, primers or finish coatings per engineering planning.
• Mix ingredients to create specific finishes.
• Trim excess material.
• Use any equipment (e.g., computers or hand, power and air tools) needed to complete paint assignments.
• Perform any pickup, rework and incorporation of changes to the product as required.
• Work from prints, sketches, specifications and written/verbal instruction.
• Maintain required certifications, qualifications, licenses or permits.
• Utilize precision measuring equipment (e.g. isoscopes and scales) to perform self-inspection of in-process and finished work.
• Perform routine minor maintenance on sprayers, paint guns, etc. as part of the daily work duties.
• Move product within the manufacturing work area of the shop, including across aisles, using assigned equipment and complete transactions necessary to move product to the next operation.

Level A 

Employee is able to perform the critical functions of the paint technician such as:

• Locate application areas per the engineering planning documents to apply the final application of paints to the completed assembly or section per the work instructions and planning.
• Complete inspection to ensure parts meet engineering standards.
• Apply top coat/final application per the engineering planning requirements.
• Apply DYNOL per engineering planning requirements.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• Able to read engineering blueprints, schematics and drawings.
• Can match or detect differences among colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Able to remain steady while moving an arm or while holding arm and hand in position.
• See details at close range.
• Make precise movements of the fingers to grasp, manipulate or assemble small objects.
• Able to quickly move hand, hand with armor two hands to grasp, manipulate or assemble objects.
• Minimum of 2 year(s) of experience pertaining to the skills identified.
• All applicants must be willing and able to work any shift, including alternative work weeks.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Understanding of conventional high volume/low pressure (HVLP) paint spray equipment in pressure, gravity and siphon-fed variants, as well as conventional and airless identification pots, pumps and guns.
• Aircraft or auto body painting experience.
• Painting prep to include sanding and masking.
• Three (3) years minimum related experience or equivalent technical certificate.

Union:

This is a union-represented position.

Drug Free Workplace:

We are a Drug Free Workplace where post offer applicants and employees are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies.

Pay & Benefits:

We strive to deliver a Total Rewards package that will attract, engage and retain the top talent.  Elements of the Total Rewards package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. 

We also provide eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. 

The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. 

Pay:  $23.66/hour, with potential to earn up to $39.32/hour in accordance with the terms of the relevant collective bargaining agreement.

Kansas Tax Credit: Join Spirit AeroSystems’ Kansas team and you may be eligible for a $5,000 state of Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years. Click here for more information on the tax credit.