About AkzoNobel Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.
For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com
© 2026 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved. About the Role
We are looking for a safety-focused, adaptable, and detail-oriented RSU Operator to join our Rapid Service Unit at our Waukegan aerospace coatings manufacturing facility. The RSU operates in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment, primarily supporting Make-to-Order (MTO) production with a targeted three-day turnaround for Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) orders, from order entry to delivery at GXO's facility. As an RSU Operator, you will perform a variety of manufacturing activities, including batchmaking, batch adjustments, filling, spraying, material handling, and equipment cleaning. This position requires flexibility, technical aptitude, and the ability to transition between production processes while maintaining high standards for safety, quality, productivity, service, and cost.
Rewards & Benefits
- Pay: $25.00 per hour
- Shift Differential: $1.00 for 2nd Shift
- Benefits available Day 1 of employment, including:
- Medical insurance with HSA
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with 6% company match
- Annual bonus
- Generous vacation, sick, and holiday pay
- Progression (pay-for-skill) pay plans
- Short- and Long-Term Disability
- Paid Parental Leave after one year
- Career growth and development opportunities
- Active Diversity & Inclusion Networks
- Employee referral bonus
- Employee appreciation days
Key Responsibilities
Health, Safety & Quality
- Follow all site safety procedures, Life Saving Rules (LSR), Process Safety Fundamentals (PSF), and PPE requirements.
- Identify and report safety and quality concerns, near misses, spills, contamination, and material discrepancies.
- Maintain clean, organized work areas and equipment in accordance with 5S standards and contamination-prevention procedures.
- Participate in safety observations, root cause investigations, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Equipment & Machinery
- Safely operate, clean, and maintain production equipment, including Dalmec, drum dumpers, DEDOS, Dromont (ADU), High-Speed Dispersers (HSD), mixers, shakers, tank washers, and RX-20 spraying equipment.
- Operate authorized material-handling equipment, including walkies and stackies.
- Follow required equipment inspections, LOTOTO procedures, and perform routine first-line maintenance and troubleshooting.
Batchmaking & Filling
- Read and interpret batch tickets, adjustment sheets, production schedules, and manufacturing instructions.
- Accurately weigh, measure, dose, mix, and adjust raw materials to meet product specifications.
- Collect and submit samples to Quality Control and/or Shading for testing and approval.
- Fill approved batches into designated containers, ensuring accurate labeling, secure closures, and product integrity.
Spraying Operations
- Perform automated RX-20 and manual spray-outs according to established inspection plans and product specifications.
- Maintain spraying materials, supplies, and equipment; calibrate spray guns and properly prepare, label, and process test panels.
Production Support & Inventory
- Monitor inventory levels, including ADU, DEDOS, and KANBAN materials, to prevent production interruptions.
- Prioritize production activities to support schedule adherence, customer turnaround requirements, and On-Time In-Full (OTIF) performance.
- Handle and dispose of hazardous waste according to established procedures and maintain proper housekeeping.
- Work cross-functionally across batchmaking, filling, adjustments, and spraying; support other production departments as needed.
- Train coworkers on mastered tasks and contribute to continuous improvement activitie
Decision Making & Independent Judgment
The RSU Operator is expected to exercise independent judgment within established operating procedures and safety requirements, including:
- Identifying and locating appropriate production vessels when an assigned tank is incorrect.
- Adjusting mixing RPMs to improve mixing effectiveness.
- Troubleshooting HSD equipment when a mixer does not start, including checking emergency stops, grounding/bonding cables, and level switches.
- Performing first-line maintenance and routine equipment upkeep to minimize downtime.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma.
- Prior experience in manufacturing, including paint manufacturing and/or batch processes.
- Ability to accurately measure and weigh materials.
- Ability to multitask, balance priorities, and maintain production efficiency.
- Ability to read, speak, comprehend, and follow written safety instructions and guidelines in English.
- Ability to work across multiple production functions, including filling, batchmaking, adjustments, and spraying.
- Ability to read production schedules and prioritize workloads.
- Ability to work in a high-pressure manufacturing environment while minimizing errors.
- Ability to read and accurately apply product labels.
- Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages.
Physical Work Environment Requirements
This position works in an industrial aerospace coatings manufacturing environment involving chemical materials, production machinery, and material-handling equipment.
The role requires the ability to:
- Stand and walk for extended periods throughout the work shift.
- Frequently bend, reach, climb stairs, and perform physical manufacturing activities.
- Lift and handle 5-gallon containers weighing up to 55 lbs. and pigment bags weighing up to 60 lbs.
- Safely maneuver drums weighing up to 900 lbs. using appropriate equipment and procedures.
- Perform tasks requiring near vision, attention to detail, and steady hand movements.
- Work in hot, cold, and varying environmental conditions.
- Work safely around chemicals, solvents, production equipment, and moving machinery.
- Wear required personal protective equipment, including steel-toed footwear and other task-specific protection.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for a versatile, safety-minded manufacturing professional who enjoys hands-on work and thrives in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly. Successful RSU Operators are adaptable, dependable, and comfortable learning multiple manufacturing processes rather than specializing in only one area. They understand the importance of precision, quality, teamwork, and meeting customer delivery commitments. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. You should be comfortable following detailed manufacturing instructions, operating specialized production equipment, and supporting coworkers wherever your skills are needed. Flexibility, cross-functional capability, and the ability to maintain quality while working efficiently are critical to success in this position.
Grow with Us
As an RSU Operator, you'll have the opportunity to develop a broad range of technical manufacturing skills across aerospace coatings production. Unlike positions focused on a single manufacturing process, this role provides exposure to batchmaking, automated dosing, mixing, filling, spraying, quality processes, equipment cleaning, and first-line maintenance. Through cross-training, our pay-for-skill progression programs, and continuous improvement initiatives, employees can expand their technical capabilities and pursue future opportunities within Production, Quality, and other areas of our manufacturing organization. This is an opportunity to become a highly versatile manufacturing professional while contributing directly to the success of our aerospace customers.
At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.