Powder Coating Quality Assurance Technician

LOCATION: Waukesha, WI

REPORTS TO: Manager, Quality & Continuous Improvement

HOURS: 10am – 8pm, Monday - Thursday

POSITION TYPE:

Full-time, non-exempt

You arrive for your 10am start, grab the day’s work orders, and head to the line where coated parts are queued. With film gauge in hand, you verify powder thickness, check color consistency, and scan for defects. A batch of incoming fabrications rolls in—calipers, micrometers, and a profile gauge help you confirm critical dimensions. You log readings, update control charts, and flag a paint variation. After lunch, you run weld inspections, verify tool calibration, and collaborate with production to root-cause a deviation. By late afternoon, you’re reviewing non-conformances, helping packaging ensure the right tags and markings, and confirming that finished goods are protected for transport. Before clocking out, you close the loop in the ERP and prep tomorrow’s inspection priorities.

• Inspect raw materials, outsourced components, in-process fabrications, and finished goods to verify conformance to specifications and customer requirements.
• Interpret blueprints, routing sheets, work orders, and engineering specs to understand standards, tolerances, and acceptance criteria.
• Evaluate finished products for powder paint quality and thickness, weld integrity, dimensions, fit, and overall appearance.
• Calibrate and verify inspection tools and gauges per company procedures and document results.
• Collect, analyze, and record test data to confirm compliance or highlight trends and deviations.
• Initiate and process non-conformance reports when incorrect or out-of-spec material is received.
• Confirm finished goods are properly packaged, labeled, tagged, and loaded to prevent damage in transit.
• Analyze inspection outcomes and partner with production to resolve quality issues and eliminate recurrence.

• Technical diploma or Associate degree in quality engineering/assurance/control, or a blend of equivalent education and experience.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing experience with hands-on quality and/or inspection responsibility across raw materials, parts, in-process, and finished goods.
• Strongly preferred: knowledge of welding practices and powder coat processes (prior paint experience is a plus).
• Proficient using micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, paint film gauges, squares, tape measures, profile gauges, and other precision measurement tools.
• Certified Weld Inspector (CWI) credential is a plus.
• Skilled at prioritizing multiple tasks and managing time in a fast-moving environment.
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office and ERP platforms (e.g., Epicor).
• Exceptional attention to detail with clear written and verbal communication.
• Physical capability to regularly lift/move up to 50 lbs. when turning parts; color vision; ability to adjust focus; and comfort with twisting, turning, grasping, reaching, pulling, and extended periods of standing.

Wildeck, headquartered in Waukesha, Wisconsin, is a subsidiary of Holden Industries and a 100% employee-owned company. We are the nation’s largest manufacturer of industrial steel work platforms (mezzanines), vertical lifts (VRCs), rideable material lifts (RML), safety guarding products, industrial ladders, crossovers, and more—delivering top-quality solutions to the distribution industry for nearly 50 years.

We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package: three medical plan options, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, identity protection, paid parental leave, an employee assistance program, continuing education, generous paid time off, and nine paid holidays. Retirement programs include an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and a 401(k). ESOP contributions are made annually by the company based on profitability—our employee-owners directly impact results and share in the rewards.

• Quality Inspection Experience
• Continuous Improvement
• 5 Why (Root Cause Analysis Method)
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Tape Measure Reading
• Blueprint Reading