Surface Preparation Specialist – Manufacturing

Build what artists rely on

For over a century, AMACO has enabled makers and classrooms by advancing clay bodies, lead-free glazes, electric kilns, and potter’s wheels—and by helping set industry safety standards since 1936. Join a fourth-generation, family-owned team where continuous improvement and creativity meet rigorous quality and safety. In this role, your craftsmanship in prepping, deburring, and painting mechanical products directly supports the tools that help people create.

Your impact

• Own surface readiness: deburr parts before welding and prepare components for paint with precision.
• Set up and operate the paint booth/equipment to apply consistent, high-quality finishes.
• Keep operations smooth: perform operational checks and preventative maintenance on the booth and related systems.
• Jump in where needed: complete incidental painting tasks and assist with product assembly to meet deadlines.
• Promote safety and flow by operating material handling equipment and lifting up to 70 lbs safely.
  
  

Where you sit in the team

• Reports to: Mechanical Supervisor
• Day-to-day priorities may be assigned by the Crew Lead
  
  

Qualifications & capabilities

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; 1 year of experience preferred.
• Reading comprehension that translates Bills of Material (BOMs) and processing/work instructions into action.
• Proficient with material handling equipment; able to safely operate all tools required for assigned tasks.
• Clear communicator in writing and speech; comfortable presenting brief status updates to management.
• Fit-tested and willing to wear a respirator; comfortable working in hot environments.
  
  

Work schedule & travel

• Full-time, Monday–Friday; 40 hours weekly.
• Occasional evening and weekend work as production requires.
• No travel expected.
  
  

Physical requirements

• Extended standing; frequent walking and manual dexterity (finger/handle/feel); reaching with hands/arms.
• Occasional sitting; climbing/balancing; stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Frequently lift/move up to 25 lbs; heavy lifts up to 70 lbs as needed.
• Vision abilities: close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Hot environment exposure and respirator use for select tasks.
  
  

Preferred proficiencies

• Warehouse experience
• Mechanical assembly skills
• Experience in a manufacturing environment
  
  

What to expect as we grow

We iterate continuously. Responsibilities and activities may change at any time, with or without notice, to support safety, quality, customer care, teamwork, respect, and learning.

Accessibility & EEO

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities.

EEO Statement

AMACO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: AMACO is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at AMACO are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the location where we operate. AMACO will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.