Paint and Body Mechanic

Paint and Body Mechanic

Department: Police

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Annual Salary: $44,319.36

Per Mississippi State Statute 21-31-63: Any applicant for a position of any kind under civil service must be a citizen of the United States and an elector of the county in which he resides and must meet only such bona fide occupational residency requirements as may be determined by the civil service commission or the governing authority of the municipality.

Position Overview
The Paint and Body Mechanic is responsible for the skilled metal repair and painted finish of police and fire department vehicles.

Job assignments range from maintaining and servicing all paint and body work for Police and Fire Department vehicles and equipment. The Paint and Body Shop Technician is responsible for the performance of skilled tasks in the repairing of damaged body parts of vehicles including body line finishing, dent removal, door repair, metal bumper repair, metalwork, and touch up finishing. Assignments are received from a supervisor. Employees of this class are, however, expected to exercise independent judgement as to methodology of service on vehicles. Supervisor may review work to ensure service standards are acceptable.


Essential Job Functions
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, May include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take, based upon service standards.
• Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
• Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
• Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
• Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint spray guns and motorized sanders.
• Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders, oxygen/acetylene cutting torch and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
• Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
• File, grind, sand and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
• Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
• Repair or replace electric door window motors, window tracks, door locks or any component pertaining to electric door controls.
• Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
• Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
• Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
• Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure, and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
• Remove small pits and dimples in body metal using pick hammers and punches.
• Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
• Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
• Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
• Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
• Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
• Proficiency using polisher to remove imperfections in surface of vehicle.
• General knowledge in using computers for paint mixtures and amounts.


Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must posses required knowledge, skills, abilities and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Considerable knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trade.

• Knowledge of tools, materials, methods, and practices used in the automotive body repair and painting trade.
• Knowledge of paints, lacquers and enamels, paint removers, and other surface preparation and finishing materials and their properties and application.
• Ability to use and maintain the more common hand and power tools of the automotive body repair and painting trade.
• Ability to mix and match paints.
• Ability to diagnose structural defects in vehicle and equipment bodies and to repair such defects with reasonable proficiency.
• Ability to perform manual labor associated with major body repair work in related vehicles and equipment.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Skill in the use and care of tools, equipment and materials used in the maintenance and body repair of vehicles trucks, tractors and equipment.


Education and Experience
Graduation from high school or acceptable equivalent, or vocational school. Two years of experience in automotive paint and body repair; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Required Licenses or Certificates
Must possess a valid Mississippi driver’s license.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical requirements include occasional lifting/carrying of 50+ pounds; visual acuity, speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate equipment. Subject to sitting, standing, reaching, walking, twisting and kneeling to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are both indoors with a moderate to high noise level and a consistent, high stress level.