Painting and Finishing Technician

About Us

For 25 years, Cricket Forge has created the highest quality artistic metalwork out of our Durham, NC workshop. We are widely recognized for our line of high-quality garden furnishings and sculpture sold across the United States. As a team of professional artists, we also provide full-service design, cutting, fabrication, finishing, and installation services for private clients, architects, and other artists.  

Position Summary:

Cricket Forge is looking for a Painting and Finishing Technician. In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring products are painted and finished to proper specifications, and meet established standards. This is a position for an individual who has experience and comfort with detailed spray-applied and hand-painting techniques, and is eager to learn more about other finishing and painting methods. Working in a tight-knit team of fellow artists, the position offers the opportunity to learn and participate in all production phases and processes. 

Day to day, you will work most closely with teammates handling fabrication, finishing, and shipping/receiving. Frequently, the team will come together to complete a task (examples: team-lifting, re-orienting heavy products during various production stages, moving materials, machine maintenance, brainstorming, process improvement, etc), and you will participate. Types of products, and in some cases the production methods of products, will change seasonally at Cricket Forge, often driven by the artistic instincts and input of the team. The right candidate will bring a balance of diligence and dedication to detail with a sense of curiosity and passion for collaboration.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Overall point person for painting and finishing, responsible for ensuring a quality finished product.
• Diligent management and upkeep, including cleaning of Painting and Finishing supply, equipment, and work area.
• Quality control, inspecting products for defects, ensuring product conforms to standards.
• Lift finished product onto dollies to move to the appropriate area.
• Team support, help as needed and where capable with other production processes, including, but not limited to: 
  • Shipping prep, product crating, and inspection. 
  • Operate machinery including but not limited to:
    • CNC plasma cutter, CNC waterjet, Bandsaw, Plate roller, Bender, Ironworker, Drum Sander, Hydraulic press, Gas forge, Press brake.
  • Weld, rivet, or bolt components together
  • Receiving supplies, materials, and maintaining inventory
  • Light assembly
• Collaborate and coordinate with team members from supervisors, to fabrication, to blasting & coating, and shipping, ensuring smooth production flow and correct prioritization and product completion.
• Thorough communication in support of production processes, and eagerness to suggest and make improvements where possible.
• Review daily schedule requirements to determine priorities.
• Participate in occasional onsite or field work.

Position Requirements:

• Demonstrable experience with painting and finishing, comfort with hand-painting techniques.
• Strong personal safety practices as well as mindfulness toward the safety of the whole team.
• Strong organization skills in regards to work space, equipment, and storage.
• Understanding of to safe storage solutions for flammable or hazardous materials.
• Creative mind with ability to suggest improvement, and solve problems and puzzles as they arise.
• Excellent attention to detail, ability to identify even slight defects in parts prior to painting.
• Ability to set up and operate equipment to coat, paint, or patina a variety of products, including various metals, plastic, and wood.
• Proficiency and/or ability to learn new specialty painting/finishing techniques (examples: spraying two-part acrylic epoxy, airbrushing, color-shift paint application, between-coat sanding, spot-sanding, dry-brushing, making and taping, airbrushing, faux-finishing, buffing, etc).
• Motivated to meet daily production schedule goals. Must exhibit a professional demeanor, creative problem-solving, strong work ethic, and have an excellent attendance record.

Other Qualifications (NOT REQUIRED, but helpful):

• Familiarity or comfort with Metal Fabrication or experience in a metal industry-related position. 
• Proficiency at welding mild steel (95% of our projects use MIG process). 
• Proficiency at forklift operation preferred (training can be provided).
• Intermediate computer skills (Windows OS) necessary, and operation of various software (instruction can be provided).
• Mathematical skills: Understanding of fundamental math concepts such as fractions, ratios, and proportions to find practical solutions. Ability to read measurements correctly is critical.

Work Environment

This position is based in a warehouse and manufacturing setting. While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to have the following capabilities. In accordance with the ADA, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, when practicable.

• Physical demands: Standing for long periods of time, sitting, and walking. Two hands will be used to manipulate and/or touch objects, equipment, or controls. Candidate will be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling up to 75 pounds is also a frequent requirement.
• Language skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret information, which is written in the English language. Ability to write, speak, and listen in a professional manner.
• Visual abilities: Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth vision, and ability to adjust focus.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time (32 hour week) position that will start at a rate commensurate with experience. 

Schedule:

• 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. (lunch 12:30 – 1:30pm)
• Monday - Thursday 
• Fridays may be offered or requested, depending on workload. 

Location:

• Durham, NC 27705