Vehicle Technician

The Vehicle Technician position at Nikola Motor Company in Coolidge, AZ, involves the missioning, modification, and repair of electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles. The role requires collaboration with engineering teams, conducting component and system-level testing, and ensuring vehicle readiness for testing milestones. Candidates should have a degree in Applied Science or Automotive Technologies and at least 4 years of relevant experience. Frequent travel to test locations is required.
About the position

The Vehicle Technician position at Nikola in Coolidge, Arizona, is a critical role focused on the missioning, modification, and repair of electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles. The ideal candidate will possess a deep passion for understanding vehicle systems, their potential failures, and the necessary repairs and modifications required for a diverse range of vehicles. This position is situated within the Vehicle Engineering garage, where the technician will engage in various tasks that ensure the vehicles are ready for testing and meet the high standards set by the engineering teams. In this role, the technician will be involved in all aspects of component and system-level testing, ensuring that vehicles are prepared to meet testing milestones in a timely manner. The technician will follow detailed instructions and guidance to address complex or unique problems as outlined by the engineering teams. Collaboration is key, as the technician will work closely with Validation Engineers to ensure that high-level architecture proposals function within acceptable parameters. Additionally, the technician will support prototype test setups and work with Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Engineering teams to ensure that relevant subsystems are implemented according to the required specifications, interfaces, and interactions necessary for achieving specific vehicle functions. The technician will also collaborate with design, integration, engineering, and validation teams to implement tests that validate the functions, interfaces, and interactions of the systems. Identifying areas of concern and working with teams to rectify any bugs will be a significant part of the job. The role requires frequent travel to various test locations and the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional group setting, providing essential technical assistance to support Research and Development Engineers.

Responsibilities
• Be involved with all aspects of component and system-level testing
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• Ensure vehicle readiness to aid the timely delivery of testing milestones
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• Follow instructions and guidance on complex or unique problems as laid out by engineering teams
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• Collaborate with Validation Engineers to ensure the high-level architecture proposals work within acceptable parameters
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• Support prototype test setups
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• Work with FCEV Engineering teams to ensure the relevant subsystems are implemented with appropriate requirements, interfaces, and interactions to achieve specific vehicle functions
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• Collaborate with the design, integration, engineering, and validation teams to implement tests that will validate the functions, interfaces, and interactions of the system, identify areas of concern, and work with teams to rectify any bugs
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• Travel frequently to multiple different test locations and captured test fleets

Requirements
• College or Associate's degree in Applied Science and/or Automotive Technologies, or relevant ASE certifications and/or experience
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• Minimum 4 years of experience in shop and automotive environments, preferably working with complex electro-mechanical systems
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• Experience with electric vehicle architecture and a strong understanding of High Voltage Battery Systems, Low Voltage Systems, Powertrain Systems, Structures, Chassis/Suspension, and Braking Systems
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• Physical stamina to stand, kneel, bend, push, pull, reach, grip, lift
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• Ability to work independently
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• Ability to deliver succinct written and verbal communication and make timely decisions
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• Motivation and ability to manage multiple assignments concurrently with limited supervision
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• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional group setting, including essential technical assistance to support R&D Engineers
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• Hands-on technical experience debugging complex mechanical and/or electrical systems
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• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, including internationally

Nice-to-haves
• Strong foundation of electrified concepts (e-systems)
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• Experience working on high-voltage systems
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• Experience working on hydrogen fuel cell systems
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• Experience with JIRA, JAMA, and CATIA

Benefits