Sr. Design Painter
Lucid Motors · Newark, CA ·
- Seniority
- Senior
- Category
- Design
- Experience
- 7+ years
A senior craftsperson at Lucid Motors executes concours-level paint, surfacing, and custom color finishes for show cars and design studio prototype vehicles — sanding, spraying, clear coating, polishing, and color matching in collaboration with the Design Studio team.
About Lucid
At Lucid, we are creating exceptional mobility experiences through innovation to drive the world forward. Built on Lucid’s proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award-winning vehicles bring our “Compromise Nothing™” approach to the global automotive market. That means refusing to choose between performance and sustainability, design and engineering, ambition and integrity. In Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity, we have designed and built vehicles that have redefined their segments, combining exceptional range, performance, design, and expansive space in a single experience.
We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production happening in-house across our global offices and manufacturing facilities. Our teams come from industries around the world, united by a shared commitment to excellence. By refusing to settle, you can help redefine what’s possible and shape the future of mobility.
Role Overview
The Senior Design Painter is responsible for executing advanced paint, surfacing, color development, and finish work for show cars and Design Studio development models. Working closely with the Lead Design Painter and cross-functional studio teams, this role transforms design intent into concours-level physical finishes with exceptional surface quality, color accuracy, gloss, depth, and consistency. The ideal candidate pairs expert hands-on craftsmanship with a highly refined eye for detail, strong color judgment, and the adaptability required to solve complex finish challenges in a fast-paced prototype environment.
Key Responsibilities
Paint, Surfacing & Finish Execution
- Execute complete paint and surfacing processes for show cars, concept vehicles, design properties, and studio development models.
- Perform advanced sanding, filling, blocking, priming, sealing, masking, paint application, clear coating, curing, wet sanding, polishing, and final detailing.
- Surface panels and properties to preserve intended body lines, highlights, crown, transitions, and reflection flow.
- Apply solid, metallic, pearl, translucent, multi-stage, custom, and special-effect finishes using techniques appropriate to each design property.
- Identify and correct surface imperfections, texture variation, contamination, edge conditions, color inconsistency, and other defects before final release.
Color Development & Quality Control
- Mix, tint, match, and refine custom colors to achieve targeted hues, effects, gloss levels, and visual depth.
- Produce and evaluate spray-out samples, comparing color appearance and flop under varied lighting and viewing conditions.
- Perform detailed inspections throughout preparation, application, and finishing to ensure quality and consistency.
- Assist the Lead Design Painter in developing, documenting, and improving paint formulas, application methods, and quality standards.
- Maintain careful records of approved formulas, variants, spray-out samples, and process details when required.
Design Studio Collaboration & Technical Support
- Collaborate with designers, modelers, engineers, fabricators, and project partners to understand finish requirements and support design-intent decisions.
- Provide practical recommendations on surface readiness, color behavior, materials, repair approaches, and finish feasibility.
- Troubleshoot complex paint and surfacing issues while protecting visual quality and program timing.
- Mentor and support less-experienced painters through hands-on guidance, constructive feedback, and demonstration of best practices.
- Work independently on technically demanding assignments while coordinating closely with the Lead Design Painter.
Equipment, Safety & Work Area
- Clean, maintain, and verify paint, sanding, polishing, mixing, and finishing equipment is ready for reliable use.
- Maintain a clean, organized, contamination-controlled work area and follow all applicable safety practices and material-handling requirements.
- Monitor material usage and communicate paint, consumable, tool, or equipment needs before they affect project execution.
- Support continuous improvement of studio paint processes, quality controls, and finishing capability.
Minimum Qualifications
- 7+ years of automotive painting experience, with demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality custom, luxury, show-car, or prototype finishes.
- Advanced proficiency in surface preparation, repair, primer systems, masking, paint application, clear coating, wet sanding, polishing, and final detailing.
- Strong surfacing capability with a clear understanding of body lines, highlights, transitions, and reflection quality.
- Proven skill in color mixing, tinting, matching, spray-out evaluation, and color correction.
- Strong eye for detail, color accuracy, gloss consistency, surface quality, and overall presentation.
- Excellent troubleshooting, organization, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple assignments within tight prototype and Design Studio schedules.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in an automotive Design Studio, concept and show-car shop, coachbuilding environment, or similar low-volume prototype setting.
- Experience with solid, metallic, pearl, translucent, multi-stage, and special-effect paint systems.
- Experience preparing high-visibility vehicles or properties for design reviews, photography, executive presentations, or auto shows.
- Experience mentoring junior painters and contributing to process development and quality improvement.
Success Measures
- Consistent delivery of concours-level surface preparation, paint application, and final finish quality.
- Accurate color matching and reliable execution of approved custom colors and effects.
- Strong preservation of design intent through body-line quality, reflections, gloss, depth, and visual consistency.
- Timely completion of complex paint assignments with minimal rework.
- Effective collaboration with the Lead Design Painter and cross-functional Design Studio partners.
- Safe, clean, disciplined, and organized work practices.
Compensation & Benefits: Lucid offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance; life and disability coverage; paid time off; paid holidays, paid sick leave; and a 401(k) retirement plan. Hourly/non-exempt employees accrue up to 120 hours paid time off, and salaried/exempt employee accrue up to 160 hours paid time off. Eligible employees may also participate in Lucid’s equity program and/or a discretionary annual cash incentive program. Incentive and equity awards, if applicable, are determined based on individual performance, role scope, market considerations, and overall company results, in accordance with the terms of the applicable plans.
Equal Opportunity: At Lucid, we believe diversity strengthens everything we build. Lucid Motors is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing an inclusive workplace for all. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal laws and regulations.
Accessibility: Lucid Motors is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need any accommodation to participate in the application process, please contact us at TA-Operations <@> lucidmotors.com. This email address is designated solely for accommodation requests and is not monitored for job applications or resume submissions. To be considered for employment, all applications must be submitted through the Lucid Motors Careers website.
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To all recruitment agencies: Lucid Motors does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Lucid Motors. Lucid Motors is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.