It’s your career, give it wings!
Who we are and where we are going:
Ascent Aviation Services is one of the largest aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul, storage and reclamation operations in the world. Our strength comes from our talented and professional employees who excel through teamwork and enthusiasm. Ascent Aviation Services continues to grow and are continually looking for motivated and career minded aviation professionals who will support our vision and goals.
We are currently seeking a Paint Shop Lead to oversee and perform key functions in the painting and stripping of aircraft and equipment. In this leadership role, you’ll guide a team while ensuring all work complies with technical data, FAA regulations, and Ascent Aviation policies. You’ll coordinate closely with your supervisor and the Production Control Booth Coordinator to communicate progress and maintain workflow. Responsibilities include surface preparation, painting, and maintenance tasks requiring knowledge of aircraft finishing techniques. Guided by our core values of respect, safety, quality, and results, you’ll help uphold the highest standards that keep our operations running smoothly and securely.
As a 24/7 operation, we have openings across all shifts, including days, evenings, weekends, and 12-hour schedules. Candidates must be flexible and willing to work any shift based on operational needs. Preference is given to those available between 2:30 PM and 7:00 AM, including overnights and weekends. Some schedules may qualify for shift differential. Overtime—both scheduled and unscheduled, including holidays—may also be required.
DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensures that all work performed complies with applicable technical data, FAA regulations and Ascent Aviation policies and procedures.
- Works closely with immediate supervisor as well as Production Control Booth Coordinator to keep them informed on actual work progress in areas of responsibility.
- Performs and assigned maintenance work including painting surfaces of aircraft and applying knowledge of surface preparation and painting techniques.
- Cleans, sands, applies chemical solutions to prepare and condition surfaces prior to painting.
- Mixes and thins paint or other coating to specified color and consistency according to standard formulas or color charts, using spatula or mixing equipment and viscometer.
- Masks and covers surfaces not to be painted.
- Sprays specified amount of thickness of primer, protective, decorative, or finish coatings, such as paint, lacquer, sealer, or enamel onto prepared surfaces using spray equipment.
- Lays out and paints insignias, symbols, designs, or other spanings on aircraft according to blueprints or specifications, using stencils patterns, measuring instruments, brushes, or spray equipment.
- Regulates controls on equipment to cure and dry paint or other coatings.
- Sets up portable ventilators, exhaust units, ladders, and scaffolding prior painting.
- Operates lifting and moving devices to move materials and equipment and access areas to be painted.
- Make recommendations to management to improve productivity, increase efficiencies, or cut costs.
- Performs orientation and on the job training for employees. Ensures that training is documents in employee training records.
- Enforces company policies and safety regulations and the proper use of equipment and ensures that quality standards are met.
- Tracks time spent on each work order and ensures the time is logged on time cards correctly.
- Coordinates activities of workers including assigning work duties for maximum utilization of manpower and analyzing and resolving work problems.
- Estimates non-routine Job Cards during checks.
YOU WILL GET MORE THAN JUST COMPENSTATION:
- 401K with Company Match
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
- PTO - Eligible for 3 Weeks in your First Year, in Addition to 7 Paid Company Holidays
- Company-Provided Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
- Development and Career Growth Opportunities
REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:
- 3-5 years of aircraft painting or coating application experience, including surface prep, masking, priming, and finish work.
- Strong understanding of painting tools, spray equipment, and finishing techniques.
- Ability to lead, mentor, and guide team members while maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and guide team members while maintaining a positive and productive work environment.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret technical data, work instructions, drawings, and blueprints.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- High level of attention to detail, ensuring quality workmanship and compliance with all safety and regulatory requirements.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively with a team.
- Effective communication skills for coordinating with supervisors, team members, and Production Control.
- Basic computer proficiency for tracking labor, logging time, and documenting work.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum of 3-5 years of hands-on painting experience, surface preparation, coating application, or related finishing work.
- Experience in a maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) or aviation environment strongly preferred,
- Proven ability to follow written and verbal instructions, technical publications, and safety procedures.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods of time
- Frequent bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, kneeling, balancing, and reaching above shoulder level
- Occasional crawling, climbing, lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 50 lbs. unassisted
- Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity
- Corrected vision and hearing to normal range OPERATED:
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- The work location includes the Aircraft Maintenance Hangar and the Flightline.
- Potential hazards include exposure to materials identified on the Safety Data Sheets, sudden changes in temperature, high intensity noise levels, electrical charges and radar waves, and working around moving machinery.
- Equipment operated includes goggles, safety glasses, face shields, ear protection, apron, gloves, safety harness, and breathing equipment.
OTHER DUTIES:
- May be required to work at both Marana, AZ and Tucson, AZ locations as business needs dictate.
- Additional duties may be assigned at the discretion of department management.
SMS REQUIREMENTS:
- Employees are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with company policies and government regulations. These rules are written in the interest of preserving the lives and the resources entrusted to each employee, and when the rules are violated, the risk of a mishap is usually increased.
- Employees shall participate in safety education programs and train to recognize hazards on the job and how to report them promptly. As a condition of employment, each member of Ascent Aviation agrees to report errors, incidents, and accidents honestly.
- An employee who observes an unsafe action or condition should bring it to the attention of supervisors and managers. Certain conditions may allow the employee to easily correct or condition a situation.
Ascent Aviation Services is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment. We provide equal employment opportunities and are committed to making reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job.
If you require any accommodation during the application or interview process, please let us know. EEO/AA/F/M/VET/DIS
