Finishing Technician
McFarlane Aviation Products
Company: AV8 Position Description: Finishing Technician Location: Houston, TX Department: Operations Reports to: Finishing Lead/Production Manager About AV8 MRO AV8 MRO, a Victor Sierra Aviation company, is a leading FAA and EASA-certified aircraft component repair station specializing in the overhaul, repair, modification, testing, and exchange of aircraft landing gear systems and related components. We are committed to delivering exceptional quality, service, and operational excellence to customers around the world. Position Summary The Finishing Technician supports the overhaul, repair, and finish restoration of corporate/business jet landing gear components, including cadmium electroplating operations, in accordance with FAA regulations, OEM component maintenance manuals (CMMs), and repair station quality procedures. This role directly supports the corrosion protection and structural integrity of high-strength steel landing gear parts, where finishing quality and process control — particularly hydrogen embrittlement relief — are airworthiness-critical. Essential Duties and Responsibilities General Finishing Perform surface preparation on landing gear components including cleaning, masking, grit/media blasting, and chemical treatment per CMM instructions Apply primers, topcoats, and specialty coatings (epoxy, polyurethane) to landing gear struts, cylinders, and associated hardware Strip existing plating/coatings using approved chemical, mechanical, or media methods without damaging base metal or altering dimensional tolerances Mask threads, bores, bearing surfaces, and critical dimensions to precise tolerances prior to plating or coating Cadmium Plating Operations Operate cadmium electroplating tanks/lines, including cleaning, activation, plating, and rinse stages per CMM and process specifications Monitor and control plating parameters (current density, plating time, solution chemistry, temperature) to achieve specified plate thickness Perform required hydrogen embrittlement relief (bake-out) on high-strength steel components within specified post-plating time windows, and accurately document bake time/temperature/part serial data Conduct or coordinate plating thickness verification and adhesion testing per applicable specs (e.g., AMS, QQ-P-416, or OEM-specific standards) Maintain plating bath chemistry, perform titrations/analysis or coordinate with chemical control processes, and log solution maintenance Handle, store, and dispose of cadmium plating chemicals and rinse waters incompliance with EPA, state, and local hazardous waste regulations Inspection & Documentation Inspect landing gear surfaces for corrosion, pitting, cracks, or plating defects prior to release; document findings and non-conformances per RSM/QCM Complete all required work cards, plating logs, hydrogen embrittlement relief records, and material certifications with traceability to part serial number Read and interpret landing gear CMMs, OEM service bulletins, and engineering drawings for finish/plating specifications and dimensional callouts Compliance & Safety Use required PPE and respiratory protection (including supplied-air or PAPR as applicable) during plating, blasting, and coating operations Operate and maintain spray booths, plating tanks, blast cabinets, ventilation systems, and curing/bake ovens Maintain a clean, organized, FOD-free work area and follow proper chemical segregation/storage practices Required Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent Minimum 2+ years of experience in aircraft or automotive finishing, electroplating, or industrial metal finishing (landing gear experience strongly preferred) Working knowledge of surface preparation, plating processes, and coating application Understanding of, or willingness to be trained on, hydrogen embrittlement risks and relief procedures for high-strength steel Ability to read CMMs, engineering drawings, and OEM finish/plating specifica