Home / Careers / Coatings Inspector I (AMPP CIP Level 1) / Knoxville, TN
Now hiring · Knoxville, TN 37929 · $30–$40 / hour
Coatings Inspector I (AMPP CIP Level 1) — Knoxville, TN
A Coatings Inspector I performs the basic inspection of protective coating work under the direction of a CIP Level 2 or 3 inspector: verifying surface preparation against SSPC/NACE standards, measuring ambient conditions and surface profile, checking wet and dry film thickness, and documenting every step of the coating application on tanks, structural steel, pipe, and concrete. AMPP (formerly NACE) Coating Inspector Program Level 1 is required.
This is a project-site position supporting programs in and around Knoxville, Tennessee, staffed through the Atlanta, GA regional hub on a project basis with travel as assigned.
The ground around Knoxville serves up karst-aware middle-state work, Memphis loess discipline, and metro concrete growth, backed by a full laboratory, with same-day results.
What you'll do
- Measure and record ambient conditions (temperature, humidity, dew point) before and during application
- Verify surface preparation to the specified SSPC/NACE cleanliness and profile standard
- Measure wet film and dry film thickness and check for holidays and defects
- Verify coating materials, batch numbers, mixing, and pot life against the manufacturer's data sheet
- Keep the daily coating inspection log and photograph each stage of the work
What we're looking for
- AMPP (NACE) CIP Level 1 certification, current
- 1+ years in industrial coatings application or inspection
- Comfortable working in tanks, on structures, and around blasting and spray operations
- Meticulous with instruments and records; honest about what the gauge reads
What a week in this job looks like
Coating work happens in a narrow window — the surface is clean, the profile is right, the dew point is far enough below the steel temperature — and your week is spent proving that window was open when the coating went on. Readings before the blast, readings after, readings between coats, and the log that ties them to the batch that was sprayed.
You work under a senior inspector who makes the calls on the marginal readings and signs the inspection report; your job is a complete and accurate record.
Certifications, training, and where this leads
Coatings Inspector I leads to Level 2 after the required experience and the CIP Level 2 course and exam, both sponsored by the company. Concrete coating inspection and linings work broaden the scope from there.
Pay, schedule, and travel
Pay runs $30 to $40 an hour depending on certifications held, verified experience, and the program you are assigned to. Coating schedules follow the weather and the outage calendar: early starts to catch the dew point window, night shifts on some industrial turnarounds, and extended days when a tank has to go back in service.
Texas positions are dispatched from the Sugar Land headquarters; project-site positions elsewhere are staffed on a project basis with travel and per diem as assigned, and the listing for your city says which one it is.
Safety, quality, and the standards we work under
Coatings inspection is performed to the project specification and the SSPC/NACE and AMPP standards it references, and reported under our documented AASHTO R18 quality system. Readings are reported as taken; a hold point is not released on a promise.
The safety side includes confined-space entry, respiratory protection around blasting and solvents, and work at height; the training is provided and the requirements are not optional.
How hiring works, and our commitment
Apply with your AMPP certification number and level, the coating systems and projects you have inspected, and your instrument experience. Expect a direct conversation with the people you would work for, references that get called, and a written offer consistent with this posting. The role requires a valid driver's license and the ability to be present on active jobsites, with pre-employment screening consistent with jobsite and client requirements.
We are an equal opportunity employer and consider every applicant without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
Apply for this position — upload your resume and we fill in the form
The work behind this job in Knoxville
Materials Testing in Knoxville · Geotechnical in Knoxville · Forensic in Knoxville
Other levels of this role in Knoxville
Coatings Inspector II (AMPP CIP Level 2)Coatings Inspector III (AMPP CIP Level 3)
Nearby openings
Coatings Inspector I — Nashville, TNCoatings Inspector I — Memphis, TNCoatings Inspector I — Chattanooga, TNCoatings Inspector I — Clarksville, TN
FAQ
Working in Knoxville — common questions
Is the Coatings Inspector I (AMPP CIP Level 1) position in Knoxville an office job or a field job?
Field. Coatings inspectors work where the coating is applied — inside tanks and vessels, on structural steel, on pipe in the yard or the ditch, and in fabrication and blasting shops — with report writing done on site.
Which hub covers Knoxville?
The Atlanta, GA regional hub, about 155 miles away. Work in Knoxville is staffed on a project basis through that hub.
Do I need to relocate to Knoxville?
Not necessarily. Project-site positions are staffed with travel and per diem as assigned; candidates already living near Knoxville are preferred when a project starts there.
What certifications does a Coatings Inspector I (AMPP CIP Level 1) in Knoxville need?
AMPP (formerly NACE) Coating Inspector Program Level 1 is required to start. The company sponsors the CIP Level 2 course and exam once you have the required inspection experience.
What tests will I run on Knoxville projects?
Fresh concrete testing at the truck — slump (ASTM C143), air content (ASTM C231), temperature (ASTM C1064), unit weight (ASTM C138), cylinder casting (ASTM C31) — and nuclear density on fill lifts (ASTM D6938) against the ASTM D698 or D1557 Proctor, plus aggregate and soil sampling for the laboratory.
What should I include in my application?
Years of experience, any certifications (ACI, NICET, ICC, nuclear gauge), and either a resume file or a short work history in the form. Applications without certifications are welcome for entry-level roles.