Paint Technician

Summary

Headquartered in sunny Los Angeles, GrayMatter Robotics is a well-capitalized AI robotics startup serving the manufacturing industry. We empower shop floor workers with our smart robots that assist with tedious and ergonomically challenging tasks, specifically in automated surface finishing. Our proprietary GMR-AI™ software is integrated with state-of-the-art industrial robots, sensors, and tools to create application-specific turnkey solutions for customers through a Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS) model.

We help manufacturers improve the quality of life for their workforce while increasing production capacity, and reducing scrap, repair, and rework costs. As a Paint Technician on our Government Projects team, you will play a hands-on, critical role in developing next-generation robotic painting capabilities for aerospace and defense applications. This is not a typical production paint role—you’ll work closely with robotics engineers to invent new processes, tune spray parameters, evaluate coating performance, and help bring a brand-new robotic painting platform to life. If you thrive in high-mix, low-volume environments and enjoy solving problems on the fly, this role may be perfect for you.

Responsibilities

• Work directly on the shop floor alongside a robotic paint system.
  

• Partner with robot programmers and robotics engineers to develop, tune, and validate robotic painting processes for government and aerospace coatings.
  

• Set up and configure spray equipment (e.g., Graco, Nordson): select nozzles, determine pressures, adjust spray patterns, and optimize settings for specific MIL-spec coatings.
  

• Configure spray booths, fixturing, and part handling for delicate or complex aerospace components.
  

• Prepare and fixture parts for consistent positioning and repeatable spray paths.
  

• Perform manual spray operations as needed for baseline comparisons or process development.
  

• Evaluate coating appearance, coverage, adhesion, and curing quality; verify that all results meet applicable MIL-spec requirements.
  

• Support curing processes including air-dry, epoxy, and other aerospace/defense coating systems.
  

• Document processes, quality assessments, equipment configurations, and deviations.
  

• Collaborate cross-functionally with robotics engineers, project engineers, and project managers in a fast-moving R&D environment.
  

• Participate in continuous improvement and contribute to the invention of new automated painting strategies.
  

• Travel up to 10% for customer demos, installations, and on-site evaluations.

Export Control Requirements

In order to comply with the export regulations of the United States Government, it is required that the applicant must fall under one of the following categories: (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (i.e. current green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional painting experience in aerospace, defense, or other MIL-spec-driven environments.
  

• Deep understanding of MIL-spec paint requirements, coating behavior, film thickness, and curing processes.
  

• Strong hands-on knowledge of spray equipment setup and tuning (Graco, Nordson, or similar).
  

• Experience handling and fixturing delicate aerospace parts for precision spray applications.
  

• Ability to adjust to changing priorities and operate effectively in a high-mix, low-volume R&D environment.
  

• Problem-solving mindset; comfortable experimenting, troubleshooting, and iterating quickly.
  

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  

• Technical school certificate, trade program completion, or equivalent hands-on training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an early-stage or fast-paced environment.
  

• Familiarity with robotic painting systems or automated surface finishing (not required but a strong plus).
  

• Background in process development, validation, or experimental coating trials.

GrayMatter Robotics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage and embrace applicants of all backgrounds to apply! GrayMatter Robotics is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities. If you believe you require accommodations during the recruiting process, please contact [email protected] to submit your request.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Compensation for this position includes the base salary range of $30 - $35/hr USD plus equity. We also provide comprehensive benefits and perks which include but are not limited to unlimited PTO, 401(k) plan + employer match, regular offsite events, a discretionary fund for enhancing productivity and so much more! The range listed on job postings reflect the minimum and maximum new hire salary in Los Angeles, CA.