Role purpose
The Masking Technician is responsible for preparing, masking, demasking, and handling customer parts in accordance with drawings, specifications, work instructions, and production requirements.
This is a hands-on production role that requires strong attention to detail, good manual dexterity, accurate interpretation of masking requirements, and careful handling of high-value customer parts.
The Masking Technician is expected to complete work accurately and efficiently, maintain required production documentation, and promptly identify and escalate unclear requirements or quality concerns.
What you will do
12 areas of responsibility. Open any to read the duties.
01 MASKING & DEMASKING 8 duties
- Perform masking and demasking of customer parts according to approved instructions.
- Apply masking tapes, plugs, caps, lacquers, waxes, fixtures, and other approved masking materials.
- Protect no-plate areas, threads, bores, sealing surfaces, critical dimensions, and other required features.
- Ensure masking boundaries and protected areas match customer drawings and work instructions.
- Prepare surfaces properly before applying masking materials.
- Remove masking after processing without damaging plated surfaces or customer parts.
- Clean residual masking material as required.
- Support simple and complex masking jobs based on training and experience.
02 DRAWING & WORK INSTRUCTION INTERPRETATION 6 duties
- Review routers, drawings, sketches, specifications, photographs, and work instructions before beginning work.
- Identify the areas that require masking, plating, or protection.
- Follow dimensional callouts and masking boundaries accurately.
- Ask for clarification when requirements are unclear or conflicting.
- Do not make unauthorized assumptions or changes to masking requirements.
- Follow established masking methods for repeat work.
03 MASKING INSPECTION 7 duties
- Inspect masking before parts move to plating or other processing.
- Verify coverage, location, adhesion, dimensions, and workmanship.
- Confirm critical areas are properly protected.
- Check for lifted tape, gaps, incomplete lacquer coverage, damaged plugs, or other masking defects.
- Perform routine visual or dimensional checks where trained and authorized.
- Correct masking issues before the job advances.
- Escalate questionable requirements or suspected nonconforming conditions to the Team Leader, Floor Supervisor, or Quality department.
04 PRODUCTION DOCUMENTATION & ERP PROCESSING 8 duties
- Complete required production documentation accurately and on time.
- Record masking operations in the ERP system as work is completed.
- Ensure job status, quantities, and completed process steps reflect actual production activity.
- Complete required paper or electronic routers, travellers, and work records.
- Maintain traceability of parts and job documentation.
- Report missing, incorrect, or unclear documentation promptly.
- Do not advance jobs in the ERP until required masking activities are complete.
- Treat ERP processing and documentation as part of completing the job.
05 PART HANDLING & PROTECTION 6 duties
- Handle customer parts carefully to prevent dents, scratches, contamination, or other damage.
- Maintain proper identification of parts throughout the masking process.
- Prevent mixing of parts between jobs or customers.
- Use approved carts, trays, racks, and protective materials.
- Protect finished surfaces during demasking and handling.
- Immediately report accidental damage or suspected part damage.
06 PRODUCTION FLOW & PRODUCTIVITY 7 duties
- Work according to priorities assigned by the Team Leader or Floor Supervisor.
- Maintain a productive pace without sacrificing masking quality.
- Complete assigned jobs within reasonable production timelines.
- Notify leadership when a job is taking longer than expected or cannot proceed.
- Move completed work promptly to the next production stage.
- Support urgent, high-value, or priority customer work as directed.
- Assist other masking technicians when workload requires.
07 MASKING MATERIALS & TOOLING 7 duties
- Properly use and store masking materials.
- Use tapes, plugs, caps, lacquers, cutting tools, templates, and fixtures correctly.
- Inspect reusable masking tooling before use.
- Report damaged or unsuitable tooling.
- Minimize unnecessary waste of masking materials.
- Notify the Team Leader when frequently used materials are running low.
- Support use of masking templates, fixtures, and 3D-printed tooling where applicable.
08 QUALITY & WORKMANSHIP 7 duties
- Maintain consistent masking quality.
- Follow approved masking methods and customer requirements.
- Help prevent plating defects caused by poor or incomplete masking.
- Immediately report mistakes rather than attempting to conceal or work around them.
- Support containment of questionable parts.
- Cooperate with Quality during investigations.
- Apply lessons learned from previous masking-related defects or rework.
09 SAFETY 6 duties
- Follow all PPE and workplace safety requirements.
- Handle knives, solvents, lacquers, chemicals, heat sources, and other materials safely.
- Use ventilation and approved chemical-handling practices where required.
- Report spills, unsafe conditions, injuries, or equipment concerns immediately.
- Maintain safe use of cutting tools and masking equipment.
- Follow applicable WHMIS and chemical safety requirements.
10 HOUSEKEEPING & ORGANIZATION 6 duties
- Maintain clean and organized masking workstations.
- Keep masking materials properly labelled and stored.
- Return tools, templates, fixtures, and supplies to designated locations.
- Dispose of used masking materials according to company procedures.
- Keep work surfaces free from contamination and unnecessary clutter.
- Support general shop organization and housekeeping expectations.
11 TRAINING & SKILL DEVELOPMENT 6 duties
- Complete required training for masking processes and materials.
- Learn to interpret customer drawings and masking instructions.
- Develop proficiency with different masking methods and materials.
- Accept coaching and feedback from Team Leaders and supervisors.
- Apply improved masking methods when introduced.
- Support training of newer employees when sufficiently experienced.
12 COMMUNICATION, INITIATIVE & ACCOUNTABILITY 8 duties
- Arrive ready to work and maintain reliable attendance and punctuality.
- Follow assigned priorities and instructions.
- Ask questions when job requirements are unclear.
- Communicate problems promptly.
- Take ownership of assigned work through completion.
- Follow through on responsibilities without repeated reminders.
- Maintain professional communication with coworkers and supervisors.
- Escalate issues that exceed the technician’s authority or experience.
Key performance expectations
The Masking Technician is expected to:
- Complete masking accurately and consistently.
- Follow drawings, work instructions, and approved masking methods.
- Prevent masking-related defects and rework.
- Complete required inspections before work advances.
- Maintain accurate ERP and production documentation.
- Meet reasonable productivity expectations.
- Handle customer parts carefully.
- Maintain good safety practices.
- Keep masking areas clean and organized.
- Minimize unnecessary masking material waste.
- Identify and escalate unclear requirements or quality concerns.
- Continue developing masking skills and efficiency.