Paint Shop Process Manager

At Lucid, we set out to introduce the most captivating, luxury electric vehicles that elevate the human experience and transcend the perceived limitations of space, performance, and intelligence. Vehicles that are intuitive, liberating, and designed for the future of mobility.

 

We plan to lead in this new era of luxury electric by returning to the fundamentals of great design – where every decision we make is in service of the individual and environment. Because when you are no longer bound by convention, you are free to define your own experience.

 

Come work alongside some of the most accomplished minds in the industry. Beyond providing competitive salaries, we’re providing a community for innovators who want to make an immediate and significant impact. If you are driven to create a better, more sustainable future, then this is the right place for you.

Paint Process Design & Engineering

• Lead the engineering of pretreatment, E-coat, primer, basecoat, and clearcoat systems
• Specify and buy off the design of paint booths, ovens, conveyors, and cleanroom environments
• Develop PFMEAs, control plans, and process validation procedures
• Optimize robotic presets and parameters, line speeds, flash-off timing, oven curing cycles, and robotic paths
• Follow up the process controls for all paint processes in collaboration with material suppliers, production and maintenance teams 
• Buy off the design mix rooms, dosing systems, and paint circulation loops

Equipment & Automation Integration

• Collaborate with OEMs for integration of robots, reciprocators, bells, and spray guns. 
• Oversee programming and path optimization for robotic paint application. 
• Ensure integration of PLC, SCADA, MES, and paint shop execution systems. 
• Specify and implement automation safety interlocks, vision systems, and error-proofing sensors with the creation of key performance equipment list with regards of by passes, error proofing and back up tools 
• Lead Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT). 

Quality Management & Defect Reduction 

• Establish and monitor KPIs: FTQ, dirt count, orange peel index, DOI, gloss level, and film build variation 
• Lead root cause analysis for paint defects (runs, sags, mottling, overspray, color mismatch, fish eyes, etc.) 
• Lead layered process audits (LPAs), standardized work instructions, and poka-yoke mechanisms
• Manage rework and touch-up processes and reduce repaint/rejection rates

Process Control & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain DOE (Design of Experiments) for paint parameters and environmental variables (humidity, temperature, airflow) 
• Utilize Six Sigma, and Lean tools to eliminate waste, variation, and inefficiency 
• Calibrate and manage data from temperature profiling systems, film thickness gauges, gloss meters, etc 
• Ensure stability of processes during new model launches and engineering changes

Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Compliance for new systems and materials

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations (VOC limits, air permits, wastewater discharge) 
• Manage hazardous material handling, storage (MSDS), and emergency response protocols

Project Management & Budget Control

• Lead capex planning, vendor selection, and project execution for new paint shop installations or upgrades and collaborate with manufacturing Engineering team. 
• Track project schedules, budgets, and milestones. 
• Develop cost-benefit analyses for process improvement investments 

Cross-functional Coordination

• Collaborate with Product Engineering to address workability of new vehicle models 
• Support the production team for throughput and availability improvements
• Interface with Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Logistics for holistic process integration
• Lead communication with paint suppliers and equipment vendors for trials, improvements, and warranties

You Bring: 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Chemical, Industrial, Mechanical or Materials Engineering 
• Certifications in Six Sigma (Green Belt/Black Belt), Lean Manufacturing, or PMP are preferred 
• 8+ years of experience in automotive paint shop engineering or management 
• Proven track record in managing waterborne/solvent borne basecoat-clearcoat systems 
• Experience with robotic painting, automation systems, and complex production environments 

Technical Skills: 

• Proficiency in PLC/SCADA systems 
• 3D layout tools (AutoCAD, CATIA, Siemens Process Simulate) 
• Data analysis tools (Minitab, JMP, Excel, Power BI)
• Familiar with ISO/TS 16949, IATF 16949, and ISO 14001

Soft Skills: 

• Strong leadership, team-building, and mentoring skills 
• High attention to detail and strong analytical/problem-solving mindset
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration ability 

Work Environment: 

• Exposure to paint chemicals, solvents, and high-temperature environments (with proper PPE) 
• Office and shop floor presence required (roughly 50/50 split)
• May require travel to suppliers, commissioning sites, and technical training centers
• KPIs and Performance Metrics: 
  • First-Time Quality (FTQ) above 95%
  • Global paint appearance A class 
  • Defect rate control
  • Paint consumption optimization (L/m²) 
  • Rework/repaint rate < target threshold 
  • Project delivery on time and within budget with zero lost working days or recordable incidents 

 

At Lucid, we don’t just welcome diversity - we celebrate it! Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, and any other characteristic protected under applicable State or Federal laws and regulations.

Additional Compensation and Benefits: Lucid offers a wide range of competitive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation, and 401k. The successful candidate may also be eligible to participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual incentive program, subject to the rules governing such programs.  (Cash or equity incentive awards, if any, will depend on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and company performance.)

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