Description

Works as contact between paint manufacturer field organizations and labs, ensuring product quality. Conducts field audits for new products, training for existing products, and technical audits for lab operations. Troubleshoots problems concerning product performance issues.

 

Personal Characteristics and Skills

Requires good reading, math, science, and computer skills. Must enjoy working with technical products, chemistry, and statistical reports. Must have good writing, communication, and presentation skills. Must be self-motivated and comfortable working in an unstructured environment.

 

Job Outlook

With more vehicles and more miles driven every year, collision losses are inevitable and their repair requires specialized equipment, tools, and materials. With a large variety of current materials and continual development of new materials, quality control of those products is critical to customer satisfaction. This specialized position will always be in-demand.

 

Pre-Employment Education and Experience

High school education required with post-secondary degree recommended. In-depth understanding of refinish products and related application techniques, equipment, and processes is essential. Minimum 5 years of related technical experience are required, especially paint lab experience.

 

Earnings

This is a highly specialized position, requiring extensive experience and knowledge, and starting salaries from $60,000 to $70,000 are common.

 

Career Path

This position usually follows from repair shop painter experience and subsequent paint material sales, service, or training positions. There can be opportunities for advancement to management positions. This experience could also lead toward ownership of a distributorship, positions with vehicle manufacturers, or educational institutions.

 

Continuing Education

Internal company and manufacturer education programs for advancement or to meet state and local licensing requirements. Continuing technical education is available through specialized chemistry or physics programs at local colleges.

 

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