Paint Associate Level 1

Valmont Industries, Inc. • Valley, NE

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Paint Associate Level 1 is an individual contributor in Valmont’s Paint Department. The role prepares products before painting, ensures finished products meet visual quality standards, and packages products for shipment. The employee performs blasting, cleaning, repair, inspection, attachment installation, and packaging tasks while safely maintaining and operating paint, blasting, rigging, and packaging equipment. The position works with other employees, helps train employees in packaging, blasting, and hanging techniques, and is accountable for producing safe, high-quality work that ships complete and on time. The position reports to the shop’s Production Manager.

Requirements

• Ability to calculate simple mathematics and interpret shop drawings.
• Basic working knowledge of computer programs such as Microsoft Outlook or similar email software.
• Ability to recognize and solve practical problems or issues.
• Ability to work in a team environment with a diverse group of people.
• Ability to pay attention to detail and follow work instructions.
• Ability to meet production, safety, and quality standards in a fast-paced working environment.
• Ability to lift an average of 20 to 40 pounds 40% of the time and lift 50-pound containers 5–10 times per shift.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment and work in a non-temperature-controlled environment and outdoors.
• Ability to spend the full shift standing, walking, sitting, bending, squatting, balancing, stooping, kneeling, and lifting.
• Ability to operate forklifts, overhead cranes, power tools, packaging equipment, lowerators, and blasting equipment.

Nice To Haves

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• One year of previous experience in a painting or manufacturing position.
• Experience operating overhead cranes and forklifts.
• Experience using dry mill thickness gauges, wet film thickness gauges, and micrometers.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• High awareness of safety.
• Passion, integrity, and a drive to excel and deliver exceptional results.

Responsibilities

• Hang and unhang light poles, arms, bases, and small components.
• Blast products using a blasting cabinet and ensure they have a sufficient blast profile.
• Blow shot and dust off parts, repair damaged galvanizing, and remove oil and other contaminants.
• Perform final visual quality checks of poles and determine whether finished coated poles and small parts meet standard specifications.
• Install post-finish attachments and package poles and arms for shipment.
• Perform basic maintenance on blasting, rigging, and packaging equipment.
• Rack and unrack parts; brush off, fill, sand, and clean parts for painting.
• Prepare the paint booth and clean and set up the paint application system.
• Maintain and safely operate painting, blasting, rigging, and packaging equipment.
• Wear required personal protective equipment and follow facility safety regulations.
• Maintain a safe and productive work environment and help meet customer, safety, quality, and production needs.
• Work with other employees to complete jobs and help train employees in proper packaging, blasting, and hanging techniques.

Benefits

• Healthcare, including medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, including maternity leave.
• Work Life Support.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year.
• Voluntary programs such as tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, and mortgage services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED