Automotive Service Manager

Overview

The Automotive Service Manager leads a skilled, multidisciplinary technician team responsible for preparing vehicles for automotive crash safety testing in Calspan’s state-of-the-art crash test facility. This customer-facing role operates in a fast-paced environment where priorities, schedules, technical direction, and customer requirements change frequently, requiring strong leadership, coordination, and clear communication.

The Manager ensures vehicles are ready for testing in accordance with customer requirements. With customers frequently onsite, this position serves as a key operational contact while coordinating closely with technicians, engineering, test operations, and other departments to support on-time execution and customer delight.

Responsibilities

Team Leadership

• Lead, supervise, and develop a team of (20) technicians

• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

• Establish daily and weekly priorities based on the overall automotive testing schedule and customer requirements.

• Train, coach, and mentor employees to develop technical capabilities and promote cross-functional knowledge.

• Assign personnel and resources to vehicle preparation activities based on workload, technician qualifications, and project priorities.

• Monitor individual and team performance, productivity, quality, and adherence to established procedures.

• Identify staffing, training, tooling, and equipment needs and communicate requirements to leadership.

Production

• Oversee preparation of test vehicles, including inspection, disassembly, modifications, component installation/removal, and other work required to prepare vehicles for testing.

• Ensure vehicles are prepared in accordance with test specifications, customer instructions, engineering requirements, and internal procedures.

• Verify that required parts, components, tooling, and materials are available prior to beginning vehicle preparation.

• Coordinate troubleshooting and resolution of issues, questions or clarifications that could delay or affect testing.

• Schedule and coordinate technicians across various specialties to ensure vehicles are sequenced and completed in efficient manner

• Ensure proper documentation of vehicle condition, modifications, and preparation activities.

Scheduling & Workflow Management

• Develop and manage daily work priorities with Lead technicians to ensure vehicles are test-ready when required.

• Monitor vehicle status throughout the preparation process and proactively identify schedule risks.

• Ensure preparation activities are completed in timely manner within teams to minimize downtime, rework, and test delays.

• Communicate status, constraints, and schedule changes to appropriate internal stakeholders.

Quality & Compliance

• Establish and maintain quality control processes for vehicle preparation activities.

• Investigate preparation errors, deficiencies, or repeat issues and implement corrective actions.

• Promote disciplined work practices and continuous improvement.

Safety

• Maintain a strong safety culture and ensure employees follow all company safety policies and procedures.

• Conduct or support job hazard assessments and implement appropriate controls.

• Address unsafe conditions and behaviors promptly.

• Ensure technicians receive appropriate safety and technical training.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve vehicle preparation safety, processes, workflow, and staff utilization.

• Develop and implement standardized processes and best practices across vehicle preparation activities.

• Promote cross-training and flexibility among team members to improve resource utilization.

• Participate in process improvement and capital projects related to vehicle preparation operations.

Qualifications

Qualifications

Required

• Associate degree, technical degree, or equivalent combination of education and relevant automotive, mechanical, or technical experience.

• Preferred 5+ years of experience in automotive industry or experience managing multidisciplinary technical teams.

• Understanding of automotive systems, vehicle construction, and mechanical repair/assembly.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple activities in a deadline-driven environment.

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to read and interpret technical documents, wiring diagrams, drawings, procedures, and work instructions.

• Proficiency with standard computer applications and the ability to learn company-specific systems.

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to work in vehicle preparation and automotive test environment.

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and work around vehicles and equipment for extended periods.

• Ability to occasionally lift and move automotive components, tools, and equipment.

• Ability to work in environments where noise, vehicle exhaust, shop conditions, and temperature variations may be present.

• Ability to work flexible hours or extended hours as required to support customer testing schedules.

Why join Calspan?

Be Calspan Culture

At Calspan, we promote an environment that empowers employees and encourages innovation. Our management team enables a strong sense of teamwork with each endeavor, where successes are shared and lessons are learned. The company’s talent brand, “Be Calspan”, incorporates our company values to Be Inclusive, Accountable, and Innovative and our commitment to drive every individual to - Be Developed, Be Balanced, Be Connected, Be Community and Be Recognized. Our culture promotes a positive atmosphere and competitive can-do method of action.

Great Benefits = Happy, Committed Employees

Retaining great talent is as important as finding it, so at Calspan, we take our employee value proposition of Be Calspan quite seriously. To us, that means offering competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, recognition programs and promotional opportunities. Our benefits include: Health Insurance, Health Savings Accounts, Flexible Spending Accounts, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance/Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Short-Term/Long-Term Disability, 401(k), Hospital Coverage, Accident Coverage, Life Insurance Policy, Paid-Time Off, Company-paid Holidays, Bereavement Leave, Jury Duty, Military Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Educational Assistance Reimbursement , and Pet Insurance.

Calspan is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Calspan supports safe and drug free workplace through pre-employment background checks and drug testing.

The salary range provided is a general guideline. Actual pay will depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and other applicable qualifications. Calspan is committed to pay transparency in compliance with applicable state and local laws.

All candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Salary Range (min)

USD $93,000.00/Yr.

Salary Range (max)

USD $115,000.00/Yr.

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Job LocationsUS-NY-Buffalo

Job ID 2026-2640

Category Operations