Senior Painter (Airport)

Job Description:

Senior Painter (Airport)

Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at [email protected] .

About the Department

The City of San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley, is one of the nation's best managed cities and one of the top 10 cities in which to live, work, and do business. Moreover, San José is the center of cultural, government and economic activity for the region. The employees of the City of San José have embraced the following values: Integrity, Innovation, Excellence, Collaboration, Respect and Celebration. The City's Airport Department is seeking an individual whose values align with the values of the City's employees.

Fueled by a culture of innovation, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the Bay Area's easiest and most dependable Airport due to its medium size, simple layout, temperate climate and location. SJC is located just minutes from downtown San José-the Bay Area’s largest city and the Capital of Silicon Valley. SJC is a self-supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San José. In 2023, SJC welcomed more than 12 million passengers and was rated the Best Midsize Airport in the U.S. by Wall Street Journal. SJC currently offers nonstop service to more than 40 domestic and international destinations. The Airport’s two fixed-base operators, as well as several corporate aviation tenants, serve the business aviation needs of Silicon Valley; corporate and general aviation traffic represents more than a quarter of aircraft operations at SJC. In 2024, SJC celebrated 75 years of connecting the Bay Area with the world. For more information and to connect with SJC on social media, visit www.flysanjosé.com.

Position Duties

San Jose Mineta International Airport is seeking to fill a vacant Senior Painter position within the Facilities and Engineering Division. Under the direction of the Airfield Maintenance Supervisor, this position requires advanced journey-level painting expertise to maintain, preserve, and improve Airport facilities and infrastructure in both landside and airside environments.

The Senior Painter performs highly skilled painting and coating work on a wide variety of Airport assets and surfaces, while also assisting with supervision and providing day-to-day leadership within the Paint Shop. This role supports operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and aesthetic standards throughout the Airport.

In addition to performing journey-level painting duties, the Senior Painter assists with oversight of daily operations, work scheduling, inventory control, material procurement coordination, and overall Paint Shop workflow management.

Core responsibilities include surface preparation and finishing; minor drywall repair including taping, mudding, patching, and texturing; color matching and finish restoration; pavement markings; and airfield paint application. The position requires experience operating grinding equipment, walk-behind and ride-on high-volume paint applicators, striping machines, and specialized airfield marking equipment.

Typical duties may include, but are not limited to:

Journey-Level Painting Responsibilities

• Airfield preparation and painting of runway, taxiway, apron, and safety area markings in compliance with FAA Part 139 standards

• Layout and striping of airfield markings using approved measurements and tolerances

• Maintenance and repainting of gate positions on the ramp

• Interior and exterior painting of terminal buildings, concourses, offices, mechanical rooms, equipment rooms, and hold rooms

• Application of specialty coatings including epoxy, elastomeric, waterproofing, fire-resistant, and anti-slip finishes

• Preparation and coating of structural steel, bollards, guardrails, fencing, doors, frames, and miscellaneous metal

• Graffiti abatement and surface restoration

• Surface preparation including sanding, grinding, scraping, pressure washing, chemical stripping, and priming

• Identification and correction of coating failures including peeling, blistering, corrosion, and moisture intrusion

• Use and maintenance of ladders, lifts, scaffolding, and fall protection systems in accordance with safety standards

• Estimation of materials, labor, and project timelines

• Documentation of completed work within work order systems

Leadership & Operational Support

• Assist the Supervisor with coordinating daily assignments and balancing workload priorities

• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to painters and maintenance staff

• Support training efforts in proper application techniques, safety procedures, and regulatory requirements

• Monitor and maintain inventory levels of paints, coatings, tools, and equipment

• Ensure proper storage, labeling, and handling of hazardous materials in compliance with environmental and safety regulations

• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and teamwork within the Paint Shop

Communication & Coordination

• Schedule and communicate project status utilizing both written and verbal communication skills

• Coordinate with Operations, Airfield, Properties, Engineering, and external contractors to ensure minimal operational disruption

• Provide clear estimates, timelines, and scope clarification to internal clients and stakeholders

• Maintain accurate documentation of inspections, materials used, and completed tasks

• Participate in safety meetings, planning sessions, and interdepartmental coordination meetings as required

The final candidate’s qualifications and experience shall determine the actual salary.
Senior Painter salary range: $95,992.00 - $116,521.60

Competencies:
The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills and displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills - Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skill.

Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.

Flexibility - Makes effective decisions and achieves desired results in the midst of major changes in responsibilities, work processes, timeframes, performance expectations, organizational culture, or work environment

Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.

Multi-Tasking - Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position(s).

Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.
Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Completion of high school, General Educational Development (G.E.D.) Certificate, or California Proficiency Certificate.

Experience

Two (2) years experience as a journey-level painter.

Acceptable Substitution

None.

Required Licensing (such as driver’s license, certifications, etc.)

California Driver's License.

Employment Eligibility
Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application. Candidates are required to satisfactorily complete and pass a fingerprint based Criminal History Records Check prior to being considered for a position in this class at the Airport. This Airport position requires a background check and a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check. The candidate must be fingerprinted and qualify under all applicable TSA and Airport regulations.

Other Qualifications

Selection Process
The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. You must answer all questions to be considered or your application may be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews. The application deadline is 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Kit Kwan at [email protected].

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email [email protected] and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: 3/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$95,992.00 - $116,521.60 Annually