Role Overview

The Senior Design Painter is responsible for executing advanced paint, surfacing, color development, and finish work for show cars and Design Studio development models. Working closely with the Lead Design Painter and cross-functional studio teams, this role transforms design intent into concours-level physical finishes with exceptional surface quality, color accuracy, gloss, depth, and consistency. The ideal candidate pairs expert hands-on craftsmanship with a highly refined eye for detail, strong color judgment, and the adaptability required to solve complex finish challenges in a fast-paced prototype environment.

Key Responsibilities

Paint, Surfacing & Finish Execution

• Execute complete paint and surfacing processes for show cars, concept vehicles, design properties, and studio development models.
• Perform advanced sanding, filling, blocking, priming, sealing, masking, paint application, clear coating, curing, wet sanding, polishing, and final detailing.
• Surface panels and properties to preserve intended body lines, highlights, crown, transitions, and reflection flow.
• Apply solid, metallic, pearl, translucent, multi-stage, custom, and special-effect finishes using techniques appropriate to each design property.
• Identify and correct surface imperfections, texture variation, contamination, edge conditions, color inconsistency, and other defects before final release.

Color Development & Quality Control

• Mix, tint, match, and refine custom colors to achieve targeted hues, effects, gloss levels, and visual depth.
• Produce and evaluate spray-out samples, comparing color appearance and flop under varied lighting and viewing conditions.
• Perform detailed inspections throughout preparation, application, and finishing to ensure quality and consistency.
• Assist the Lead Design Painter in developing, documenting, and improving paint formulas, application methods, and quality standards.
• Maintain careful records of approved formulas, variants, spray-out samples, and process details when required.

Design Studio Collaboration & Technical Support

• Collaborate with designers, modelers, engineers, fabricators, and project partners to understand finish requirements and support design-intent decisions.
• Provide practical recommendations on surface readiness, color behavior, materials, repair approaches, and finish feasibility.
• Troubleshoot complex paint and surfacing issues while protecting visual quality and program timing.
• Mentor and support less-experienced painters through hands-on guidance, constructive feedback, and demonstration of best practices.
• Work independently on technically demanding assignments while coordinating closely with the Lead Design Painter.

Equipment, Safety & Work Area

• Clean, maintain, and verify paint, sanding, polishing, mixing, and finishing equipment is ready for reliable use.
• Maintain a clean, organized, contamination-controlled work area and follow all applicable safety practices and material-handling requirements.
• Monitor material usage and communicate paint, consumable, tool, or equipment needs before they affect project execution.
• Support continuous improvement of studio paint processes, quality controls, and finishing capability.

Minimum Qualifications

• 7+ years of automotive painting experience, with demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality custom, luxury, show-car, or prototype finishes.
• Advanced proficiency in surface preparation, repair, primer systems, masking, paint application, clear coating, wet sanding, polishing, and final detailing.
• Strong surfacing capability with a clear understanding of body lines, highlights, transitions, and reflection quality.
• Proven skill in color mixing, tinting, matching, spray-out evaluation, and color correction.
• Strong eye for detail, color accuracy, gloss consistency, surface quality, and overall presentation.
• Excellent troubleshooting, organization, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments within tight prototype and Design Studio schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in an automotive Design Studio, concept and show-car shop, coachbuilding environment, or similar low-volume prototype setting.
• Experience with solid, metallic, pearl, translucent, multi-stage, and special-effect paint systems.
• Experience preparing high-visibility vehicles or properties for design reviews, photography, executive presentations, or auto shows.
• Experience mentoring junior painters and contributing to process development and quality improvement.

Success Measures

• Consistent delivery of concours-level surface preparation, paint application, and final finish quality.
• Accurate color matching and reliable execution of approved custom colors and effects.
• Strong preservation of design intent through body-line quality, reflections, gloss, depth, and visual consistency.
• Timely completion of complex paint assignments with minimal rework.
• Effective collaboration with the Lead Design Painter and cross-functional Design Studio partners.
• Safe, clean, disciplined, and organized work practices.