Position Overview:

The Facility Engineer – Paint and Industrial Cleaning & Dirt Fighting is responsible for safeguarding Class A surface quality in the automotive painting process by leading contamination control, clean zone management, and all paint shop-related industrial cleaning operations. The role requires deep technical knowledge in paint defect prevention, strong leadership, and collaboration across quality, production, and maintenance functions to drive a dirt-free paint environment.

 

Key Responsibilities:

1.     Contamination Control & Dirt-Fighting Strategy

Develop and implement comprehensive dirt-fighting and contamination control strategies. Oversee airflow, filtration, and pressure balancing in paint booths, clean tunnels, and sealing areas. Use tools like light booths, surface analyzers, and MES/QMS systems to detect, analyze, and reduce paint defects. Manage body cleaning technologies (e.g., ostrich feather dusters, blow-off stations, tack-off mats). Maintain cleanroom entry systems including air showers and tacky zones.

2. Supervision of Cleaning Operations

Lead industrial cleaning technicians and manage external janitorial contractors. Coordinate cleaning of critical systems such as paint booths, ovens, pre-treatment tunnels, HVAC, and water treatment areas. Enforce strict cleaning cycles based on shift production or equipment usage thresholds. Supervise both dry and wet cleaning procedures, including de-sludging activities.

3. Equipment & Systems Oversight

Operate and monitor booth filtration systems, sludge removal, mist separators, and AHUs. Ensure performance and hygiene of dehumidification and climate control systems. Coordinate with maintenance for scheduling preventive actions on cleaning-related assets.

4. Quality & Compliance

Maintain adherence to OEM paint quality and Class A surface standards. Conduct particle counts, cleanliness audits, and blacklight inspections. Drive root cause investigations for all dirt-related defects and collaborate cross-functionally to implement solutions.

5. Safety & Environmental Compliance

Enforce strict compliance with EHS standards, especially related to chemical handling and VOC emissions. Ensure correct usage and availability of PPE among team members. Manage safe disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous cleaning waste in line with regulatory and sustainability requirements.

6. Continuous Improvement & Reporting

Apply Lean, TPM, and 5S principles to continuously improve cleaning procedures. Analyze defect trends and environmental data to eliminate recurring dirt sources. Track and report key metrics: dirt-related defect rates, cleaning efficiency, and unplanned downtimes. Supervise cleaning of ancillary items including paint shop body holders, skids, dollies, robot covers, and operator clothing.

 

Skills:

Contamination Control Expertise – Deep understanding of dirt-fighting strategies, airflow design, and clean zone operations in automotive paint environments. Paint Shop Process Knowledge – Strong technical background in paint booth systems, pre-treatment, oven zones, and related support systems. Root Cause Analysis – Proficient in using tools such as 5 Why, Fishbone, and Pareto to identify and eliminate dirt-related defects. Equipment Handling & Maintenance – Hands-on experience with filtration systems, sludge removal, mist collectors, and HVAC cleanliness. Leadership & Supervision – Ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage contractors, and enforce SOPs in high-cleanliness zones. EHS & Compliance Awareness – Strong knowledge of environmental and safety compliance regarding VOCs, chemical handling, and hazardous waste. Data-Driven Decision Making – Skilled in interpreting defect tracking data (MES/QMS), particle counts, and KPI trends for process improvement. Continuous Improvement – Application of Lean, 5S, and TPM methodologies to improve efficiency and reduce cleaning-related downtime. Audit Readiness – Experienced in preparing for and participating in ISO 14001 and IATF 16949 compliance audits. Effective Communication – Capable of coordinating effectively with production, quality, maintenance, and external contractors. Technical Reporting – Proficient in technical documentation, inspection reports, and performance dashboards.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Diploma or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, or Chemical Engineering.

Experience: 5–8 years in an automotive paint shop, with at least 3 years in a cleanliness or quality control supervisory role.