Paint Development Engineer

Role Summary

The Coatings Process Development Engineer is responsible for the planning, development, and execution of projects in pursuit of advanced coatings solutions for the exterior of the vehicle. The Coatings Process Development Engineer’s responsibilities are described as follows:

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for operation and oversight of the coatings development line located at the Exteriors Auburn Hills Innovation Center
• Ensures routine upkeep, cleaning and preventative maintenance of the coatings development line is planned and executed
• Demonstrates expertise in the mixing of automotive paint and coatings
• Ability to program paint robots for path planning and brush files, experience with the programming of Fanuc robots a plus
• Experience with automotive coatings spray systems and applicators, experience with Sames Kremlin a plus
• Experience with high and low bake automotive paint processes
• Experience with solvent and waterborne automotive paints and processing and knowledge of coatings chemistry
• Demonstrates knowledge of OEM specifications and approval processes for paints and coatings
• Experience with running electrostatic paint lines
• Knowledge of paint appearance evaluation criteria including color measurement, gloss and DOI
• Experience with coatings measurement equipment including wavescan and spectrometers
• Experience with proper coatings film build and adhesion measurement evaluation
• Collaborates with operations to identify potential paint line efficiency improvements
• Job involves high degree of multi-tasking since employee will have to handle multiple projects and requests concurrently

Essential Duties & Responsibilities Continued

• In addition to having strong technical skills, position requires good people skills since the employee will have to regularly interact with numerous groups within Magna Exteriors and the Supplier base.
• Execute assigned R&D / Innovation projects following Innovation Development Process
• Create and test prototypes
• Writes reports and creates presentations as required
• Researches new materials and technology
• Familiar with and able to understand our customer’s advanced development strategies and processes.
• Report all accidents/incidents and unsafe conditions/behavior
• Responsible to ensure all equipment work instructions and procedures are created and maintained including equipment training matrix
• Perform and ensure all job functions are performed in a safe and healthful manner, abiding by all health, safety and environmental rules and regulations, promoting safety in the workplace
• Active participant in Environmental Health & Safety team with direct ownership of coatings development line input and management
• Ensure Health & Safety and Quality corrective actions are adequate and effective
• Maintain work area in accordance with the principles of 5S, lead and assist with the 5S program
• Ensure work area is kept neat and organized
• Perform other duties as required

The above is intended to describe the general content of and the requirements for the performance of this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability and/or physical demands required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education - Bachelor’s degree in Engineering preferred or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  Five years work related experience may be substituted in lieu of degree.  Work experience combined with current schooling towards degree will be considered.

Experience/Skills/Special Knowledge - 5+ years of experience in automotive finishing and robotic experience preferred.

• Previous automotive finishing and robotic experience preferred.
• Experience with industrial control, computer technology and programming is an asset.

Physical Demands/Work Environment -

• Average mobility to move around a manufacturing environment
• May be required to stand and/or walk in excess of 6-8 hours
• May be required to lift, push and/or pull 35 pounds
• Able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer.

Qualifications Continued

Experience / knowledge in the following areas would be preferred:

• Coating of Thermoplastic Materials
• Paint-Polymer Interface
• Paint-Adhesive Interface
• Paint Supply Base
• Electrostatic Paint Lines
• High / Low Bake Coatings
• Paint Mixing
• Coatings Spray Systems including Applicators
• Solvent and Waterborne Paints
• Hard Coats
• Paint Line Cleaning and Maintenance
• Coatings Specifications and Testing
• Robot Programming
• Coatings Chemistry / Formulation
• EH&S

Awareness. Unity. Empowerment.

At Magna, we believe that a diverse workforce is critical to our success. That’s why we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire on the basis of experience and qualifications, and in consideration of job requirements, regardless of, in particular, color, ancestry, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability or gender identity. Magna takes the privacy of your personal information seriously. We discourage you from sending applications via email to comply with GDPR requirements and your local Data Privacy Law.