Career Area:

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

"Updated: 09/23/2026

Role Definition

The Paint Maintenance Manager is responsible for leading all maintenance, reliability, robotics, automation, and utility activities within the paint shop. The role ensures maximum equipment availability, optimal paint quality, environmental compliance, and safe operations across pretreatment, e-coat, powder coating, liquid paint, and curing processes. The position requires extensive experience with robotic paint application systems and automated paint shop technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance & Reliability Leadership

• Lead all mechanical, electrical, robotics, controls, and utility maintenance activities in the paint shop.

• Develop and implement preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs.

• Establish maintenance KPIs and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

• Ensure paint shop equipment availability exceeds business targets.

• Minimize downtime through proactive maintenance planning and root cause elimination.

• Robotics & Automation Management

• Lead maintenance and troubleshooting of robotic paint systems including:

• ABB Paint Robots

• KUKA Paint Robots

• Ensure reliable operation of:

• Robot applicators and atomizers

• Robot controllers and teach pendants

• Paint dosing and color change systems

• Vision systems and process monitoring equipment

• Servo motors, drives, and robotic axes

• Manage robot programming backup, restoration, and software upgrades.

• Coordinate robot calibration, TCP validation, and path optimization.

• Support robotic cycle-time improvements and paint transfer efficiency projects.

• Paint Shop Equipment Maintenance

• Responsible for maintenance of:

• Pretreatment systems

• Phosphating systems

• E-Coat systems

• Powder coating equipment

• Paint circulation systems

• Spray booths

• Paint kitchen systems

• Ovens and curing equipment

• Conveyors and skids

• Lift systems and hoists

• Air handling units (AHU)

• Exhaust and filtration systems

• Pumps, valves, piping systems

• Compressed air systems

• Water treatment plants (WTP)

• Effluent treatment plants (ETP)

• Fire protection systems

• Controls & Electrical Systems

• Maintain PLC, SCADA, and HMI systems.

• Troubleshoot automated paint process controls.

• Ensure integrity of industrial networks and communication systems.

• Support Industry 4.0 initiatives and smart manufacturing projects.

• Manage system backups and cybersecurity compliance for automation equipment.

• Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Implement TPM and Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM).

• Conduct Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA).

• Utilize predictive maintenance technologies:

• Vibration Analysis

• Thermography

• Ultrasound Inspection

• Oil Analysis

• Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

• Lead maintenance cost reduction initiatives.

• Safety, Environmental & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all EHS regulations.

• Maintain safe operation of paint systems involving flammable materials.

• Implement Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures.

• Ensure compliance with VOC emission standards and environmental regulations.

• Conduct safety audits, risk assessments, and hazard analyses.

• Support ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 compliance requirements.

• Capital Projects & Plant Expansion

• Lead installation and commissioning of paint robots and automation systems.

• Support greenfield and brownfield paint shop projects.

• Manage equipment upgrades and modernization programs.

• Coordinate with OEMs, integrators, suppliers, and contractors.

• Ensure maintainability requirements are incorporated into new equipment specifications.

• Budget & Asset Management

• Prepare and manage annual maintenance budgets.

• Control maintenance costs while maintaining reliability targets.

• Optimize spare parts inventory, including critical robot spare components.

• Manage vendor contracts and service agreements.

• Develop long-term asset replacement strategies.

• Team Leadership & Development

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of:

• Mechanical Engineers

• Electrical Engineers

• Automation Engineers

• Robotics Engineers

• Supervisors and Technicians

• Develop technical training programs focused on robotics and automation.

• Build succession plans and technical competency matrices.

• Drive a high-performance, accountable maintenance culture.

• ________________________________________

• Educational Qualifications

• Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.

• Preferred

Certifications in:

• TPM

• Reliability Engineering

• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

• Project Management

• ABB or KUKA Robot Programming & Maintenance

• ________________________________________

• Experience

• Required

• 5-15 years of maintenance experience in automotive, off-highway, engine, genset, or industrial manufacturing.

• Minimum 5 years in a maintenance leadership role.

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience with robotic paint application systems.

• Preferred

• Experience in automotive OEM paint shops.

• Greenfield facility setup and commissioning experience.

• Experience with Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing systems.

• Exposure to automated paint lines with 20+ robots.

• ________________________________________

• Technical Skills

• Robot Programming & Maintenance (ABB, KUKA)

• Paint Process Technology

• PLC (Siemens,)

• SCADA & HMI Systems

• Servo Drives & Motion Control

• Industrial Networks

• Electrical Distribution Systems

• Predictive Maintenance Technologies

• Reliability Engineering

• Lean Manufacturing & TPM

• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

• FMEA & Problem Solving

• TPM & Lean Manufacturing

• Predictive Maintenance Technologies

Posting Dates:

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply

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