Product Development Specialist – Automotive Painting and Surface Finishing

Job Purpose

We are seeking an experienced and proactive Product Development Specialist – Automotive Painting & Surface Finishing to support the development, validation, and industrialisation of paint and surface treatment processes for NAFFCO fire trucks, ambulances, and specialized vehicles.

The role will act as a key interface between Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Suppliers to define surface finishing requirements, execute development trials, and ensure that paint systems meet NAFFCO standards for aesthetics, corrosion protection, durability, safety, and manufacturability.

1. Process Development & Industrialisation

• Develop, define, and document complete paint and surface finishing process specifications for vehicles and components.

• Cover end-to-end processes including surface preparation, pretreatment (cleaning, phosphating, conversion coating, e-coat), primer, basecoat, clearcoat, and curing cycles.

• Establish process parameters, material specifications, and inspection standards for production readiness.

2. Prototype & Development Trials

• Lead paint trials in laboratory, pilot, and pre-production environments.

• Plan and execute process validation studies, including parameter optimization and performance benchmarking.

• Analyse results and define optimized process windows for production implementation.

3. Surface Engineering & Corrosion Protection

• Define and control surface preparation and pretreatment systems to ensure adhesion, corrosion resistance, and long-term durability.

• Ensure compatibility of coating systems with substrates, welding/joining methods, and assembly processes.

4. Design & Engineering Collaboration

• Work closely with Design Engineering, Materials Engineering, and Manufacturing teams during product development stages.

• Participate in design reviews and DFMEA activities to identify risks related to surface finishing and propose mitigation actions.

• Define acceptance criteria for paintable designs and manufacturability.

5. Quality & Testing

• Develop and implement inspection and test methods for:

  • Film thickness

  • Adhesion (cross-cut, pull-off)

  • Gloss and color matching

  • Durability (salt spray, humidity, stone chip, abrasion)

• Define quality standards and ensure alignment with NAFFCO vehicle requirements.

6. Documentation & Standardization

• Prepare and maintain process control plans, work instructions, inspection test plans (ITPs), and training documentation.

• Standardize paint processes across product lines to ensure consistency and repeatability.

7. Non-Conformance & Problem Solving

• Investigate paint defects, process failures, and field complaints.

• Lead structured root cause analysis (8D / CAPA) and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Verify effectiveness of implemented solutions.

8. Supplier Development & Material Approval

• Support supplier evaluation, audits, and qualification of paint and coating systems.

• Review supplier technical data, process capability, and compliance with NAFFCO specifications.

• Approve materials based on validation and performance testing.

9. Continuous Improvement

• Drive cost optimization initiatives related to paint consumption, cycle time, and rework reduction.

• Support environmental improvements including VOC reduction, waste minimization, and safer chemical handling practices.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of surface finishing processes and technologies.

10. Production Transition Support

• Support pilot builds, pre-production runs, and industrial ramp-up activities.

• Ensure smooth transition of developed processes into full-scale manufacturing.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3–6 years of experience in automotive painting, surface finishing, or coatings process development within OEM or Tier-1 suppliers.

• Hands-on knowledge of:

  • E-coat / electrodeposition

  • Primer / basecoat / clearcoat systems

  • Powder coating (advantageous)

  • Surface pretreatment and corrosion protection systems

• Experience in paint testing and validation methods including:

  • Adhesion testing

  • Gloss and color measurement

  • Film thickness measurement

  • Environmental durability testing (salt spray, humidity, abrasion)

• Strong experience in quality tools:

  • 8D problem solving

  • Root cause analysis

  • FMEA / DFMEA

• Ability to prepare technical reports, process documentation, and training materials.

• Strong communication skills with ability to work across engineering, production, and suppliers.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with PLM / ERP systems is an advantage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline.

• Certification or training in coatings technology, corrosion engineering, or surface science is preferred.

Minimum Requirement

Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in automotive paint or surface finishing development with proven hands-on exposure to:

• Paint trials and process optimization

• Surface testing and validation

• Cross-functional collaboration for industrialization of coating systems