Lead Painter

Job Title: Lead Painter

Job Description

The Lead Painter operates high-pressure liquid painting equipment to apply high-quality finishes on structural steel components while guiding daily painting activities and ensuring work meets customer and quality specifications.

Responsibilities

• Operate a high-pressure pot liquid painting machine to apply primer, undercoating, and top coat finishes on structural steel frames.
• Read and interpret blueprints to understand painting requirements, part specifications, and quality standards.
• Mix paints accurately to match customer specifications, including color, finish, and application requirements.
• Perform quality inspections on finished painted parts to ensure proper coverage, adhesion, and appearance.
• Use a computer to access and follow work procedures, view blueprints, check due dates, and review special instructions for each job.
• Lead and coordinate daily painting activities, providing direction and support to team members as needed.
• Ensure safe and efficient operation of painting equipment and tools, including high-pressure systems and sandblasting equipment when required.
• Measure materials and components accurately using a tape measure to verify dimensions before and after painting.
• Learn and safely operate overhead lifting devices to move large steel frames and painted components within the work area.
• Apply industrial painting techniques to large structural products, maintaining consistent finish and meeting production schedules.
• Perform basic math calculations to mix paint quantities, verify measurements, and support production planning.
• Follow all safety procedures, including proper use of respirators and protective paint gear, and maintain a clean and organized painting station.

Essential Skills

• At least 6 months of experience with liquid painting in an industrial or similar environment.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints for painting requirements and quality standards.
• Experience performing quality inspections on painted parts or finished products.
• Prior leadership experience, with the ability to guide and support others in daily work activities.
• Proficiency in navigating and using a computer to view work procedures, blueprints, due dates, and special instructions.
• Ability to read and use a tape measure accurately for verifying dimensions and layouts.
• Comfort with learning and using overhead lifting devices to handle large components safely.
• Capability to perform basic math functions to support measurements, paint mixing, and production needs.
• Industrial painting skills, including liquid paint application and finishing techniques.
• Ability to work safely in a large manufacturing environment with overhead cranes and welding stations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with industrial painting on structural steel or large metal components.
• Experience in sandblasting or surface preparation for painting.
• Demonstrated management or team leadership skills in a production or industrial setting.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality finishes.
• Ability to follow written and digital work instructions and adapt to new procedures.
• Willingness to work different shifts as needed, including second shift or weekend shift.

Why Work Here?

You join a growing industrial operation that offers room for advancement and professional development in a skilled trade environment. The workplace values safety, quality, and teamwork, and provides opportunities to expand your experience with industrial equipment and processes while building leadership skills. Flexible shift options support different scheduling needs, and the role allows you to contribute directly to high-impact structural products.

Work Environment

The role is based on a large open factory or plant floor with multiple welding stations and large overhead cranes throughout the building. Lighting is dim in some areas due to welding operations, but the facility maintains good ventilation to support painting and other industrial processes. Each painting station is spacious to accommodate large structural steel products. You will use industrial painting equipment, including high-pressure liquid painting machines and overhead lifting devices. Protective paint gear, respirators, and appropriate work clothing are required while performing painting tasks. Available schedules include a first shift from 5:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, a second shift from 4:15 p.m. to 2:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and a weekend shift from Friday through Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., working 36 hours.

This is a Contract position based out of LAKE CRYSTAL, MN.

The pay range for this position is $19.00 - $26.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in LAKE CRYSTAL,MN.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 2, 2026.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

We know that finding work is hard, and finding meaningful work is harder. Aerotek connects 180,000+ light industrial and skilled trades workers with 14,000+ employers each year, helping our workers navigate an evolving labor market and find jobs that meet their goals, skills, and interests. Since 1983, we have provided a variety of career opportunities across North American industry – from short-term assignments at Fortune 500 companies where you can build your skills, to long-term opportunities where you can play a vital role in solving companies’ construction, manufacturing, and maintenance challenges. Our 1,500+ experienced recruiters across 250+ offices work relentlessly to put our workforce in a position to thrive. Let us rise to meet your challenges and put our people-are-everything spirit to the test as your career continues to grow.