Senior Powder Coating Engineer

Role details

Role description

You will lead the development and launch of a new powder-coating process for a production line dedicated to electric-vehicle battery cooling plates. You will oversee the full industrialization of the electrostatic powder coating process, from defining the manufacturing process and selecting the appropriate equipment to managing procurement and commissioning the system.

The production line must be ready for manufacturing within an aggressive 10–12-month timeline. You will develop the coating process parameters from scratch, including surface preparation, masking methods, electrostatic powder application, and oven curing. The goal is to establish a stable, repeatable process that consistently meets the coating quality, thickness, and electrical insulation requirements of high-volume production. Once the line is operational, you will take on the role of technical expert, monitoring process performance, troubleshooting production issues, improving yield, and driving continuous improvement.

Visa

No H-1B visa sponsorship available due to ITAR compliance: you must be a US citizen, Green Card holder, refugee, asylee, or other protected individual under US immigration law.

Work arrangement

on-site

Salary

$70k-$115k gross per year

Start

immediately

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, installation, and commissioning of a new automated electrostatic powder coating application line for high-volume manufacturing.
• Develop and optimize powder coating application process parameters, including chromate bath surface preparation, cost-effective masking techniques, electrostatic powder application, and oven-curing profiles.
• Define equipment specifications and manufacturing requirements to meet production throughput, specific coating thickness targets, and electrical isolation reliability.
• Manage capital equipment acquisition for the powder coating line and curing ovens, including Capital Expenditure Requests (CERs), vendor selection, procurement, and equipment acceptance.
• Establish process controls and validation methods to ensure consistent dielectric protection, specifically setting up and overseeing high-potential (HIPOT) electrical testing for powder coating.
• Coordinate with the Aluminum Brazing Engineers to ensure seamless process integration and part cleanliness during component handoffs between the brazing furnace and the powder coating line.
• Define manufacturing process controls, inspection requirements, and quality documentation required to bring the new powder coating line into production.
• Develop and document standard operating procedures and process parameters for production operators.
• Troubleshoot powder coating defects (overspray, debris, or voids), identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Monitor production performance and drive improvements in yield, scrap rates, cycle times, and equipment uptime.
• Qualify the coating process through production trials and verify that the line consistently meets product quality and throughput requirements.

Main requirements

• Hands-on experience with industrial powder coating systems, specifically electrostatic powder coating or e-coating processes.
• Practical understanding of powder coating principles, surface preparation techniques, masking, and oven curing operations.
• Understanding of pre-cleaning and chemical surface-preparation requirements (chromate baths or similar) for powder-coating applications.
• 3+ years of hands-on process development experience in a production setting.

Other requirements

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or similar.

Nice to have, but not mandatory

• Experience in defining and optimizing automated powder coating parameters.
• Experience optimizing powder coating oven curing profiles for high-volume production.
• Familiarity with powder coating quality validation, like high-potential (HIPOT) electrical testing and coating thickness measurements.
• Previous experience in the automotive, aerospace, or electric vehicle (EV) sectors.
• Experience overseeing large capital equipment purchases, managing vendors, and running equipment run-offs.
• Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Material Requirements Planning (MRP) software like Infor Syteline or similar.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance is available for out-of-state candidates.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Paid vacation
• Paid holidays
• Short-term disability insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Identity theft protection
• ARAG legal insurance