Full Time Powder Coating Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Stop spending your life on the I-5 and I-805. AP Precision Metals is seeking an experienced Powdercoat Lead who lives in Chula Vista, Eastlake, Otay Mesa, or nearby South County communities and wants a stable long-term manufacturing career close to home.

This is a hands-on leadership role inside a growing 25-year manufacturing company with modern equipment, long-term customers, and a strong production team.

AP Precision Metals, Inc. is San Diego’s leading commercial metal fabricator, specializing in simple to complex assemblies for many of Southern California’s largest OEMs. Founded in 1999, AP Precision has grown consistently for over 25 years through investment in advanced manufacturing equipment, operational stability, and employee development.

Our 40,000 sq. ft. South San Diego facility includes state-of-the-art laser cutting, forming, welding, powder coating, and assembly operations serving commercial, architectural, transportation, and defense-related industries.

We are seeking a reliable and organized Powdercoat Lead to oversee daily powder coating operations at our Otay Mesa facility. This role is responsible for maintaining production flow, monitoring coating quality, coordinating work priorities, and supporting the powder coating team to ensure parts move efficiently through finishing and into assembly or shipping.

This is a working lead position that combines:

• production leadership
• quality oversight
• scheduling coordination
• hands-on powder coating support

The ideal candidate has strong attention to detail, understands finishing quality standards, and takes pride in maintaining an organized and efficient department.

• Lead daily powder coating activities including hanging, masking, coating, curing, unloading, and inspection.
• Coordinate workflow to ensure jobs are completed on schedule and according to priority.
• Monitor coating consistency, coverage, cure quality, and finish appearance.
• Verify proper oven settings, cure times, and powder application procedures.
• Maintain organized staging areas and material flow throughout the department.

• Inspect finished parts for cosmetic quality and coating defects.
• Ensure proper masking and surface preparation procedures are followed.
• Assist in maintaining coating thickness and finish consistency standards.
• Work closely with Production and Quality teams to resolve coating or finishing issues quickly.

• Assist with training and supporting powder coat personnel.
• Promote safe work practices and maintain a clean work environment.
• Help maintain productivity, accountability, and department organization.
• Communicate production status and bottlenecks to management.

• Monitor powder coating equipment and report maintenance needs.
• Assist with booth cleaning, filter maintenance, and general equipment upkeep.
• Help maintain powder inventory and consumables.

• Full-time, in-person role at our South San Diego (Otay Mesa) manufacturing facility.
• Collaborative production environment with daily interaction between fabrication, welding, assembly, and engineering teams.

• Competitive compensation package
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• IRA retirement plan
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Stable long-term employment with a growing manufacturing company

• 3+ years of powder coating or industrial finishing experience required.
• Leadership or lead experience strongly preferred.
• Experience in sheet metal fabrication or manufacturing environments is a major plus.

• Understanding of powder coating application techniques and cure requirements.
• Familiarity with masking, hanging methods, and cosmetic quality inspection.
• Ability to read work orders and follow production schedules.

• Detail-oriented and quality-focused.
• Reliable, organized, and production-minded.
• Able to work effectively in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

• Ability to safely perform the essential functions of the position in a manufacturing environment, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to regularly lift, carry, and move materials and components weighing up to approximately 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds with assistance or appropriate equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the facility for extended periods during scheduled shifts.
• Ability to perform repetitive production-related tasks including hanging, masking, unloading, and inspection of metal parts.
• Ability to safely work around industrial equipment including powder coating booths, curing ovens, forklifts, and moving production materials.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and respirators where required.
• Ability to work in typical manufacturing and production environments, including varying temperatures and industrial noise levels.