AIRCRAFT PAINTER JOB DESCRIPTION

A certificate no employer can waive. The FAA Airframe and Powerplant License defines who may legally sign an aircraft back into service, and the mechanic who holds it is the final authority on whether a piston single, turboprop, or business jet is airworthy. General aviation MRO operations, from Part 145 repair stations to Part 141 flight schools, are built around this credential and the technical judgment behind it. Inspecting airframe structures, troubleshooting powerplant anomalies, and certifying maintenance records are distinct from what an Avionics Technician or Aircraft Inspector owns; the A&P carries the hands-on execution and return-to-service authority across both airframe and engine systems simultaneously.

As the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic, you hold return-to-service authority across airframe and powerplant systems within a general aviation or Part 145 MRO environment, ensuring every aircraft you sign off meets applicable FAA regulations and manufacturer requirements. You work within a maintenance team that may include lead technicians, a Director of Maintenance, or a Maintenance Controller, with your output measured daily against aircraft availability, inspection deadlines, and the accuracy of the maintenance record you leave behind.

Career Impact: Holding a dual-rated FAA A&P certificate places you in a credential class that qualifies for lead technician and Director of Maintenance advancement without additional degree requirements.

Business Impact: Aircraft that miss their return-to-service window ground revenue for operators; your inspection and sign-off work is the direct mechanism that keeps fleets available and customers operational.

Growth Opportunity: MRO exposure across Part 145 repair stations and Part 141 flight schools builds the broad maintenance history that qualifies candidates for an Inspection Authorization and senior technical roles at larger MROs or OEM service centers.

• Inspect, troubleshoot, and repair airframe structures, powerplant components, and aircraft systems to return aircraft to an airworthy condition.
• Execute 100-hour, annual, and progressive inspections in accordance with FAR Part 43 and applicable airworthiness directives.
• Complete and certify maintenance records, logbook entries, and work orders to confirm aircraft are in a condition safe for flight.
• Perform removal, replacement, and repair of engines, flight control components, landing gear, and associated hardware using approved technical data.
• Validate avionics systems and electrical components against manufacturer specifications during scheduled and unscheduled maintenance events.
• Monitor and procure parts and materials for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, tracking costs and timelines to keep work within budgeted hours.
• Coordinate with lead technicians and department managers to align production schedules with daily aircraft availability requirements.
• Maintain hangar work areas, ground support equipment, and tooling in safe, organized condition at the close of each shift.

• Bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance technology or related field, or equivalent work experience.
• Two or more years of hands-on aircraft maintenance experience, with exposure to Part 145 repair station or Part 141 flight school operations.
• Current valid FAA Airframe and Powerplant certificate with no violations.
• Thorough working knowledge of FAA regulations, airworthiness directives, and manufacturer maintenance manuals, illustrated parts catalogs, and structural repair manuals.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret blueprints, ATA-coded technical data, work orders, and task cards.
• Proficiency in arithmetic and specification calculations required for torque values, rigging adjustments, and parts verification.

• Inspection Authorization (IA) certificate issued under FAR Part 65, or active progress toward it.
• Experience performing maintenance on turboprop or business jet aircraft types, including familiarity with applicable Part 135 or Part 91 operational specifications.
• Background working with Approved Aircraft Inspection Programs or aircraft reliability support programs at a repair station.
• Private or commercial pilot certificate, providing operational context for maintenance decisions.

• Return-to-service cycle time per inspection type, measured against the budgeted hours assigned to each work order.
• Maintenance record accuracy rate, tracked by the percentage of logbook entries accepted without correction by lead technicians or the Director of Maintenance.
• Airworthiness directive compliance rate, reflecting the proportion of open ADs closed within required compliance windows.
• Rework rate on completed work orders, measuring the frequency at which signed-off maintenance items require re-inspection or correction.
• Parts procurement accuracy is tracked as the ratio of correct first-order parts requests to total orders on scheduled maintenance events.
• Typical tools: aviation maintenance tracking software (commonly Flightdocs or CORRIDOR); precision instruments (commonly tensiometers, micrometers, timing lights).

• Base Salary Range: $55,000 to $80,000 per year, depending on experience and location
• Bonus: Annual or performance-based bonus of 3% to 6% of base salary, where offered
• Equity: Not typically offered at this level in general aviation MRO environments
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by operator size
• PTO: Two to three weeks annually, increasing with tenure; some operators offer additional shift flexibility
• Common Perks: Tool allowance or reimbursement, employer-paid FAA drug testing, uniform provisions, and paid training for type-specific certifications

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check and DOT/FAA pre-employment drug screening, as required for safety-sensitive aviation positions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation during any stage of the hiring process should notify the hiring team. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Aircraft Painter owns the full scope of surface preparation and protective coating application on military aircraft, including F/A-18 and F-35 platforms, at a Depot Level repair facility, assembling staging and scaffolding, mixing specialty materials, and treating corrosion to maintain aircraft airworthiness. Working within the Fleet maintenance environment and reporting to shop leadership, the Aircraft Painter directly supports mission readiness by ensuring all coatings meet military specifications and government facility security requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Assemble staging, scaffolds, and work stands necessary to operate the paint shop at full capacity.
• Prepare aircraft, engines, support equipment, and components for finishing using various chemicals, detergents, and solvents in conjunction with high-pressure steam and water.
• Apply chemical conversion coating to bare substrate, and sand and feather-edge existing coatings using various grits of abrasives.
• Apply protective and decorative coating and paint finishes to aircraft, engines, ground support equipment, and components.
• Paint insignias, lettering, and designs on aircraft and components.
• Apply decals, transfers, and stencils to identify and decorate aircraft, engines, ground support equipment, and components.
• Apply sophisticated coating materials, including waterbornes, elastomeric, and low volatile organic compound materials to aircraft, ground support equipment, and components.
• Apply radiation-reflecting coatings to cockpit and canopy enclosures.
• Mix primers, sealers, and topcoat material to the required viscosity for individual jobs or the entire paint shop.
• Treat corrosion and perform wet and dry tape tests.
• Mask and protect surfaces not to be finished using masking tape, discs, fixtures, plugs, and covers.
• Use and maintain conventional, electrostatic, and high volume low pressure (HVLP) paint equipment with a variety of materials, including lacquers, enamels, sealers, urethanes, waterbornes, epoxies, elastomerics, and ceramic coatings.
• Manufacture and maintain stencils, patterns, and layouts, and apply national and foreign insignias, special markings, and designs required by military specifications.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 4 years of aircraft painter experience.
• Military decal and painting experience required.
• Experience from a military fixed-wing community or a civilian heavy structure background is preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance required.

Reporting to the Lead or Manager, the Aircraft Painter delivers daily paint operations on corporate and commercial aircraft, executing surface preparation through final topcoat application across varying assignments. The paint shop depends on this role to maintain FAA-compliant finishing standards while working at a rapid, self-directed pace and interpreting detailed drawings and aviation maintenance documentation.

Core Functions

• Ensure masking is complete before paint application.
• Sand primer as necessary.
• Clean aircraft surfaces with thinner.
• Apply topcoat in three coats.
• Lay out the stripe scheme and mask for trim colors.
• Prep and scuff paint for trim paint application.
• Re-mask and detail aircraft after trim painting.
• Inspect completed paint or strip/sand job.

Qualifications & Experience

• High School Graduate or General Education Degree (GED) required.
• At least 3 years of current experience in stripping, sanding, priming, and painting corporate or commercial aircraft or equivalent.
• Basic computer skills required; experience in aviation maintenance software programs preferred.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work unsupervised and maintain a rapid pace.
• All work must be performed in accordance with applicable FAA regulations, the AMM, and SRM.
• Ability to read detailed drawings and understand renderings required.
• Ability to pass a pulmonary physical and respiratory fit test before employment.

Embedded within a maintenance and repair operation, the Aircraft Painter shapes every phase of surface preparation and finish coating on aircraft and components, from degreasing and sanding through mixed-material application and fuel tank servicing. Working closely with higher-grade mechanics and independently on assigned tasks, the Aircraft Painter ensures coatings adhere properly and meet surface protection requirements, directly supporting safe and airworthy aircraft returns.

Primary Duties

• Perform all preparatory work, including obtaining supplies and equipment, setting up ladders and scaffolds, and covering items with drop cloths and tape.
• Prepare surfaces by mechanical means, including scraping, wire brushing, masking, spackling, and sanding.
• Clean, degrease, and remove all oil and wax buildup from surfaces.
• Remove scale, dirt, and old paint from surfaces so that coating materials will adhere properly.
• Mask and cover portions of surfaces not to be painted.
• Mix, thin, blend, match, tint, and tone coating materials following specific oral and written directives and specifications.
• Apply coating materials such as primers, paints, varnishes, and shellacs using standard application techniques, ensuring that the coating finish meets surface protection requirements.
• Perform fluid flushing and air vacuum cleaning of aircraft fuel tanks.
• Remove fuel tank braces for access to hard-to-reach areas, and remove anti-leak sealant and polyurethane paint material from fuel tank inner surfaces.
• Paint insignia, letters, or numerals on aircraft surfaces using stencils.
• Assist higher-grade mechanics with the cleaning of aircraft parts using solvents and other cleaning solutions.

Skills & Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• 2 or more years of recent experience in paint preparation, painting, sanding, and scuffing.
• Knowledge of preparation and painting of aircraft, support equipment, and allied components.
• Knowledge of aircraft and the required forms associated with work requirements.
• Ability to work independently with good decision-making skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

Sitting at the intersection of surface science and military fleet maintenance, the Aircraft Painter at ZENETEX delivers protective coating applications for the Fleet Readiness Center Southeast team in Jacksonville, FL, determining optimal methods and ensuring surfaces meet all thickness, texture, and smoothness requirements. Operating across assignments with little or no supervision, this role advances aircraft availability and fleet readiness for federal agency customers by applying expert knowledge of tinting, blending, and coating techniques.

Duties

• Determine the best method for applying protective coatings.
• Ensure that surface coatings meet level and thickness requirements.
• Prepare surfaces using accepted methods and techniques, ensuring they meet smoothness, level, and shape requirements.
• Tint, tone, match, and blend coating materials, and add various agents to achieve the proper color, texture, consistency, and drying state.
• Apply coating materials using accepted methods and devices.
• Work with little or no supervision.

Requirements

• Aircraft painting experience preferred.
• Completion of Military Paint and Finish School preferred.
• Knowledge of surface preparation and coating methods and techniques, including those used for achieving special effects.
• Knowledge of application methods to ensure surfaces match, texture, decorative, thickness, and level requirements.
• Skilled in matching, tinting, toning, and blending coating materials and combining agents.
• Ability to read and apply directions relating to the mixture, use, and application of various coating materials, solvents, and pre-coating agents, including paint, varnish, epoxy, teflon, paint remover, alkali, and phosphate compounds, pickling mixtures, and anti-growth agents.

A key member of The Boeing Company's St. Louis manufacturing team, the Process Mechanic Aircraft Painter leads exterior finish coat application on completed aircraft and major assemblies, fabricating stencils, laying out insignias, and polishing finished surfaces to specification. Collaborating across planning and production functions, this role enables on-time delivery of flight-ready aircraft by ensuring all spray painting, striping, and sealer applications meet Boeing's aerospace quality standards.

Accountabilities

• Lay out and paint lettering, pictures, and backgrounds with or without aids.
• Fabricate stencils, mix paints, and lay out and apply stripes and insignias.
• Lay out, spray paint, and apply finish coats on exterior surfaces of completed aircraft and major assemblies.
• Blend and apply stripes and bands, and apply insignia and lettering using templates, stencils, and silk screens.
• Polish completed aircraft and major assemblies, and mix and apply paint, sealers, and fillers.

Experience & Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Technical degree preferred.
• 1 or more years of experience spray painting in an on-the-job or educational environment.
• Experience with aerospace or automotive spray painting.
• Experience with painting prep work, including sanding and masking.
• 5 years of minimum related experience required.

Sustained aircraft readiness at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems depends on the Aircraft Painter, who coats interiors, exteriors, and piece parts while executing surface preparation, including masking, stripping, and washing of aircraft sections in El Segundo, CA. Based within a team of qualified, diverse individuals and operating across production schedules, including varied shifts and overtime, this role ensures coating consistency and quality across defense manufacturing programs requiring an active DoD Secret Clearance.

Role Responsibilities

• Paint aircraft interior, exterior, and piece parts.
• Prepare for painting by masking, stripping, and washing aircraft sections and components.
• Blend and mix paints, inks, and coatings to the proper spraying consistency.
• Perform detailed work and touch-ups.
• Set up and coordinate processes for painting production parts.

Technical Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 6 years of painting experience required.
• Prior experience in painting and preparing surfaces or parts for paint is required.
• Active DoD Secret Clearance with a background investigation completed within the last five years required.
• Ability to pass a special medical/respiratory exam and be certified for half-face and full-face respirator use is required.
• Ability to perform repetitive physical activity, including bending, stooping, kneeling, lifting, and working overhead.
• Ability to work any shift or schedule and overtime as needed.

As the Aircraft Painter, this role executes sandblasting, spray and brush finishing, stenciling, and sealing across aircraft, assemblies, rotor blades, and ground equipment in conformance with shop orders and safety standards. The maintenance operation relies on this work to keep aircraft and components in airworthy condition through disciplined use of finishing materials, proper masking and dope application, and rigorous upkeep of automatic and hand paint-spraying equipment.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Apply insignia and lettering using stencils, templates, or freehand, and work with all finishing materials, including primer, lacquers, enamels, and synthetics, matching colors as required.
• Spray and brush paint primer and finish coats on aircraft, assemblies, parts, rotor blades, tools, and equipment, working to shop orders, specifications, and verbal instruction.
• Prepare parts for painting by cleaning and masking, apply sealing compound and stenciling, touch up painted surfaces, and apply dope and finish coats to fabric-covered parts.
• Maintain automatic and hand-painting equipment.
• Use all tools, materials, equipment, and measuring instruments in conformance with standards of safety, workmanship, and good housekeeping practice.

Position Requirements

• High school diploma or higher required.
• Minimum 1 year of experience reading and understanding blueprints.
• Minimum 1 year of experience in aircraft, automotive/body shop, or marine industry painting.
• Attendance at a vocational school is preferred.
• Ability to work the second shift, with initial training on the first shift.

Aircraft Painter leads painting processes and techniques as the designated lead person, overseeing painter training, communicating with planning to maintain paint and equipment stock, and operating sprayers to apply lacquers and epoxies per manufacturing guidelines at a production facility. The work directly supports manufacturing quality and traceability by ensuring all paints are mixed to spec, surfaces are properly prepared, and paperwork requirements are maintained by a bilingual, self-directed professional with a minimum of five years of experience.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Oversee painting processes and techniques, and act as the lead person, including training painters with less experience.
• Communicate with planning to maintain proper paint and equipment stock.
• Read manufacturing painting specifications, mixing requirements, ratios, and application processes.
• Prepare finishing surfaces by grinding, sanding, and polishing before the priming process.
• Ensure all paints are mixed per manufacturing guidelines and maintain proper paperwork for traceability requirements.
• Operate sprayer valves and nozzles to regulate width and pressure, and spray lacquers and epoxies as required.
• Maintain and care for spraying equipment.
• Follow all policies, including wearing personal protective equipment as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Certification in a related field is required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience required.
• Familiarity with painting of assembled aircraft parts with milspec leading-edge applications.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred.
• Punctual, reliable, and self-motivated with good judgment and personal and professional integrity.
• Strong communication skills and hands-on ability required.

The Aircraft Painter delivers protective coating and corrosion control services on contract aircraft, vehicles, equipment, and weapons systems components, applying paints and coatings via spray guns, brushes, rollers, and media blasting to customer specifications. Reporting within a maintenance environment and requiring a NACI Public Trust clearance, this role preserves the structural integrity and operational readiness of aircraft and related systems through thorough knowledge of technical publications and hands-on finishing expertise.

Job Functions

• Coat surfaces of contract units with primer, paint, lacquer, epoxy, resin, or other material using brushes, rollers, spray guns, and other devices.
• Remove old paint from aircraft, vehicles, equipment, and components using liquid paint remover and scraper, or plastic and sand media blasting techniques, and smooth surfaces with sandpaper and steel wool.
• Roughen aluminum surfaces with acid solution and steel wool to ensure paint adhesion, and paint insignia, letters, or numerals on aircraft surfaces using stencils.
• Mask and cover portions of surfaces not to be painted.
• Provide corrosion control methods to customer specifications.

Professional Experience

• 5 years of actual and recent aircraft or related weapons systems experience desired; 3 years required.
• Thorough knowledge of technical publications related to aircraft maintenance required.
• Normal color vision required.
• Medical examination required.
• Respirator qualification required.
• Valid driver's license required, with the ability to operate a government general-purpose vehicle.
• Ability to pass and maintain a NACI Public Trust background check required.

Embedded within a paint operations team, the Aircraft Painter produces base coats, topcoats, and clear coat finishes using HVLP and electrostatic paint systems, performing detailed masking and surface preparation while working independently across flexible shifts. Working closely with safety and compliance functions, this role advances airworthiness and regulatory adherence by meeting OSHA, EPA, and state and federal requirements through disciplined equipment maintenance and certified respirator use.

Scope of Work

• Apply paint using HVLP and electrostatic paint systems.
• Set up and maintain painting equipment.
• Prepare surfaces and perform detailed masking.
• Apply base coats, topcoats, and clear coats.
• Work independently with little to no supervision.

Background & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Painting experience in aircraft, boat, car, or house painting required.
• Knowledge of HVLP gravity guns and pressure pots required.
• Basic computer knowledge required.
• Ability to work flexible hours and different shifts as required.
• Ability to wear a respirator and pass routine medical testing required.
• Ability to work from heights and wear safety gear is required.
• Adherence to all regulatory requirements, including OSHA, EPA, and state and federal regulations required.

Reporting to engineering and manufacturing leadership, the Aircraft Painter executes finish coating, paint scheme layout, and specialized paint assignments on aircraft parts and assemblies while identifying nonconforming components and collaborating with engineering to improve manufacturing processes. The manufacturing team relies on the Aircraft Painter to maintain painting equipment, uphold quality standards, and drive process improvements that reduce nonconformance across aircraft, automotive, and marine finishing environments.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Prepare, paint, and apply finish coatings to aircraft, parts, and assemblies.
• Lay out paint schemes and designs.
• Perform specialized paint assignments.
• Identify nonconforming detail parts, assemblies, and processes, and work with engineering to improve manufacturing processes.
• Utilize and maintain painting equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicable educational or certification credentials from an accredited institution, or equivalent experience, required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience painting aircraft.
• Minimum 3 years of experience identifying nonconforming detail parts, assemblies, and processes.
• Minimum 1 year of experience working with engineering to improve manufacturing processes.
• Minimum 1 year of experience finishing and painting in the aircraft, automotive, or marine industry.
• Trained and physically capable of wearing a respirator.