Product Development Specialist – Automotive Painting & Surface Finishing

Job Purpose

Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, and Suppliers

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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