Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Color Development & Matching
- Prepare and tint coating samples using established formulations and standardized procedures.
- Develop and adjust color matches to meet customer color standards using visual evaluation and instrumental color measurement.
- Assist in creating new color formulations and modifying existing formulas to improve accuracy, manufacturability, and consistency.
- Evaluate color under multiple lighting conditions and substrates to ensure acceptable color performance.
- Support rapid turnaround of customer color requests while balancing accuracy, quality, and production requirements.
Color Measurement & Quality
- Operate and maintain spectrophotometers, color matching software, and other color measurement equipment.
- Perform color evaluations using CIE Lab*, Delta E (ΔE), gloss, and other color quality metrics.
- Verify color consistency between laboratory standards, production batches, and customer submissions.
- Prepare color drawdowns, spray panels, and standard retain samples for evaluation and approval.
- Develop color formulations that are not only visually accurate but also practical and repeatable in manufacturing.
Safety & Compliance
- Safely handle paints, pigments, solvents, and other laboratory chemicals in accordance with OSHA regulations and company safety procedures.
- Properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators and other safety equipment as required.
- Participate in safety training and maintain a clean, organized laboratory environment.
Data Management & Documentation
- Document color formulations, adjustments, test results, and customer approvals with a high level of accuracy.
- Maintain color databases and laboratory records to ensure traceability and repeatability.
- Assist with organizing color standards, retain panels, and customer reference materials.
Laboratory Operations
- Calibrate and maintain color measurement equipment and laboratory instruments according to established procedures.
- Maintain inventories of pigments, colorants, panels, and laboratory supplies.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance color matching efficiency, laboratory organization, and workflow.
Collaboration & Communication
- Work closely with R&D chemists, Quality, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and Sales to support customer color requests.
- Assist in troubleshooting production color issues and recommending appropriate formulation adjustments.
- Communicate project status and color development progress to internal stakeholders.
Technical Proficiency
- Demonstrate proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) for documentation and communication.
- Learn and apply basic color science principles, including color perception, pigmentation, color spaces, and color measurement techniques.
- Develop proficiency using spectrophotometers, color formulation software (such as Datacolor or X-Rite), and laboratory information systems.---
Qualifications / Skills
Education
- Associate degree in Chemistry, Color Science, Graphic Arts, Materials Science, Industrial Technology, or a related technical field preferred.
- High school diploma or equivalent with relevant laboratory, manufacturing, or paint industry experience will also be considered.
Experience
- 0–2 years of experience in a laboratory, paint manufacturing, quality control, or related technical environment preferred.
- Basic understanding of color matching, color measurement, or paint/coatings is desirable but not required.
- Experience using spectrophotometers or color matching software is a plus; training will be provided.
Desired Skills
- Strong attention to detail and excellent visual color discrimination.
- Demonstrate both technical precision and an artistic eye for color, with the ability to recognize subtle hue, value, and chroma differences.
- Interest in color science and coatings technology.
- Good problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple color projects simultaneously.
- Demonstrates curiosity and a desire to learn new products, technologies, and color science principles.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to lift and handle materials up to 50 pounds.
- Comfortable working in a laboratory environment with exposure to paints, pigments, solvents, and industrial chemicals.
- Ability to distinguish subtle color differences and perform detailed visual color evaluations under controlled lighting conditions.
Ideal Candidate
This position is well suited for someone early in their career who has an interest in color, coatings, or chemistry. We are looking for an individual with strong attention to detail, an aptitude for learning color science, and a passion for solving customer color challenges. Prior coatings experience is beneficial but not required—we are willing to train the right candidate on our color development processes and systems.
This role offers the opportunity to develop expertise in industrial coatings, color science, formulation, and customer-focused product development while working alongside experienced chemists and color specialists.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Chemical Lab: 2 years (Required)
- Paint: 1 year (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Niles, MI 49120 (Required)
Work Location: In person
