Finish Shop Lead

Purpose The Finish Shop Lead provides dedicated frontline leadership within the Finish Shop, directing the daily application of coatings and finishes to aircraft cabinetry and interior components for custom V/VVIP aircraft. The role coordinates daily finishing operations, provides quality oversight of finish work, and improves efficiency within the finishing process, while personally performing advanced spray application and finish work.

This position reports to the Finish Shop Supervisor and serves as the primary point of coordination between the finish shop crew, supervision, and adjacent production departments to support productivity, quality, employee development, and the on-time, airworthy re-delivery of aircraft. Essential Job Functions Finish Shop Leadership & Coordination

• Assign, schedule, and coordinate daily finishing tasks among finish shop personnel based on work orders, production plans, and re-delivery milestones.
• Plan and sequence finish work, booth time, and cure cycles to minimize bottlenecks, idle time, and rework.
• Conduct pre-shift safety briefings and shift handoffs, communicating task status, cure schedules, open items, and known hazards to incoming personnel.
• Provide hands-on technical direction, coaching, and on-the-job training in surface preparation, spray technique, color matching, and defect correction.
• Provide input to the Finish Shop Supervisor on crew performance, training needs, and staffing; promptly escalate personnel, safety, and quality concerns. Finishing & Coating Application
• Perform advanced spray application of primers, sealers, stains, basecoats, and topcoats to aircraft cabinetry, veneers, and composite or honeycomb interior components in accordance with engineering specifications, finish schedules, and customer-approved samples.
• Perform and oversee surface preparation, including sanding, filling, grain filling, and masking, to achieve the specified finish quality.
• Mix, reduce, and catalyze coating materials in accordance with manufacturer technical data sheets, observing pot life, flash, and cure requirements.
• Perform color matching and verify color, sheen, and gloss against customer-approved samples and engineering-supplied data.
• Perform final finish work, including wet sanding, rubbing out, buffing, and polishing, to meet V/VVIP finish standards. Quality, Compliance & Documentation
• Inspect finish work at defined stages; investigate finish defects such as orange peel, runs, solvent pop, fisheyes, blushing, and adhesion failure, determine the cause, and direct correction.
• Participate in quality audits and lead root cause corrective action (RCCA) on recurring finish defects in coordination with Quality.
• Perform documentation procedures and sign-offs in accordance with the Repair Station Quality Manual (RSQM) and respective task requirements; review crew documentation for accuracy and completeness before submission to Quality.
• Perform and verify proper tagging of finished components, parts, and panels, and ensure appropriate handling and storage to protect finished surfaces (including racks by aircraft).
• Enforce safety, hazardous material, and spray-finishing practices, including required PPE and respiratory protection, booth operation, and chemical handling and storage in accordance with Safety Data Sheets; maintain good housekeeping across the Finish Shop. Materials, Equipment & Continuous Improvement
• Monitor coating and consumable inventory; initiate material orders and manage shelf life, batch tracking, and first-in, first-out (FIFO) rotation.
• Ensure spray guns, pumps, booths, filters, and other finishing equipment are properly cleaned, maintained, and returned to proper storage after use.
• Identify and implement process improvements that reduce rework, material waste, and cycle time.
• Maintain close and frequent communication with the Finish Shop Supervisor, Production Control, the Cabinet Shop, and Quality, reporting progress and any roadblocks that could impact re-delivery; deal with customers in a cordial, respectful, and professional manner.
• Take part in any required training as determined by the company, which may include advanced coating technologies, leadership skills, problem-solving and root cause corrective action methodologies, continuous improvement, and customer quality requirements.

Requirements

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• 5+ years of experience in spray application and surface finishing of high-end wood, veneer, or composite products, such as custom V/VIP aircraft furnishings, yacht interiors, or architectural millwork.
• Working knowledge of complete coating systems and paint chemistry fundamentals.
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturer technical data sheets.
• Demonstrated ability to direct, train, and coordinate the work of others in a production shop environment.
• Able to read, understand, and apply technical data, engineering drawings, Safety Data Sheets, and regulatory documentation in English, and to communicate clearly with crew members, coworkers, and supervisors, including during safety briefings, crew coordination, and shift handoffs, to perform the essential functions of the position safely.
• Able to wear required PPE, including respiratory protection, and to complete the respirator medical evaluation and fit testing required under 29 C.F.R. § 1910.134.
• Must report for assignment with a personal set of standard trade-specific tools. Preferred
• 5+ years of experience finishing V/VVIP aircraft cabinetry and interior components.
• Prior lead or supervisory experience in a finishing, completions, or MRO environment.
• Experience with quality audits, root cause corrective action, or continuous improvement methods such as Lean or 5S. Supervisory Responsibilities
• This position does not have formal direct reports or hiring and firing authority. The Finish Shop Lead directs and coordinates the daily work of finish shop personnel, provides on-the-job training and coaching, and provides input to the Finish Shop Supervisor on performance and development. Knowledge, Skills, and Other Attributes
• Complete coating system knowledge, from surface preparation through primers, sealers, stains, basecoats, and topcoats.
• Paint chemistry fundamentals, including mix ratios, catalysts, reducers, pot life, flash, and cure.
• Advanced spray application and color matching skills.
• Skill in finish defect investigation and correction.
• Ability to interpret technical specifications and engineer-supplied data.
• Production planning and workflow coordination.
• Material ordering and inventory control.
• Understanding of quality standards and audit practices.
• Team leadership, with the ability to coach and develop others.
• Process improvement and structured problem-solving, including root cause analysis.
• High attention to detail and commitment to finish quality. Working Conditions
• Work is performed primarily in the Finish Shop and paint/spray booths, with periodic work in the Cabinet Shop, aircraft hangars, and on or around aircraft.
• Involves regular exposure to coatings, catalysts, solvents, adhesives, sanding dust, and fumes; required PPE, including respiratory protection, must be worn.
• Requires the ability to distinguish variations in color, shade, and gloss to perform color matching and finish inspection.
• Considered MEDIUM work with frequent lifting up to 20 lbs and occasional lifting up to 50 lbs; involves prolonged standing and repetitive arm and hand motion during spraying and sanding; may require climbing ladders and using lifts.
• Travel not typically required; may occur on occasion for offsite support, AOG support, or training.
• May require flexible shifts, overtime, weekends, or holidays based on project demand. Safety-Sensitive Position As part of the hiring process, applicants who receive an offer of employment will be asked to submit to a screening test to detect the presence of drugs (marijuana, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, phencyclidine/PCP). Offers of employment are conditioned on a negative result. If you are asked to submit to a drug test and you refuse to be tested, or you do not pass, Citadel Aviation, LLC. will revoke any offer of employment. All drug tests will be conducted in accordance with applicable federal and state law. If you are a qualified individual and have a disability for which you need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job to which you are applying, you are entitled to one under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Equal Employment Opportunity Citadel Aviation, LLC. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. About Citadel Aviation Citadel Aviation has grown from a startup vision into a global leader in V/VVIP aircraft completions, maintenance, modifications, and luxury interiors. Located in Lake Charles, Dallas, and serving customers onsite where they're at, our teams deliver work on some of the most sophisticated narrow and wide body aircraft in the world. We have significantly expanded project volume since 2019, and that growth was built by people who take pride in doing the work right. Whatever your role, Citadel is a place to bring what you know and build what comes next.