Great Techs Deserve a Great Shop. You probably already have a job. Good technicians usually do. But if you're an experienced automotive technician who's productive, takes pride in fixing cars correctly, and has ever wondered what it would be like to work somewhere that actually invests in the people turning the wrenches... Come see what we've built. VL Auto Repair is looking for another experienced Automotive Technician to join our team in Appleton, Wisconsin. We're an all-makes-and-models independent repair facility with a strong European focus , and we're looking for someone who can come in, own their work, keep jobs moving, and produce quality hours. European experience is strongly preferred, especially with Audi/VW, BMW/MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, and other European platforms. But we're not looking for a badge or an arbitrary "A-Tech/B-Tech" label. We're looking for someone who can fix cars. This Isn't Your Average Independent Shop We've spent years building the kind of facility technicians should be able to work in. VL Auto Repair operates out of a 15,000 sq. ft. professional facility with room to continue growing.

Our shop includes:

In-house chassis dynamometer Dedicated clean room for engine assembly and precision work ASNU fuel injector testing and cleaning equipment Extensive manufacturer-specific and specialty tooling Professional diagnostic and programming equipment Automotive PowerPusher for moving disabled vehicles without destroying your back Large, fully stocked parts department Modern digital inspections and workflow Clean, organized work areas Strong shop processes and SOPs Weekly paid training Continued investment in tooling, equipment, and technology We believe good technicians should spend their time diagnosing and repairing vehicles — not fighting the shop around them. You shouldn't have to hunt for basic supplies. You shouldn't have to improvise because nobody bought the right tool. You shouldn't have to waste half your day dealing with chaos. And you definitely shouldn't have to push dead cars around a 15,000 sq. ft. building by hand. Our job is to give you the environment to produce at a high level. We Need a Producer — Without Sacrificing Quality Turning hours matters here. So does fixing the vehicle correctly. We're looking for a technician who understands that production and quality aren't opposites.

The right person:

Consistently produces billed/flagged hours Completes quality repairs efficiently Performs thorough digital vehicle inspections Keeps jobs moving from start to finish Has solid diagnostic ability Thinks before throwing parts at a problem Has low comebacks and takes quality personally Works independently without needing someone standing over them Communicates with advisors, parts, and other technicians Has their own professional tools Takes ownership of their work Wants to continue improving If you're a high-level diagnostic technician, we want to talk. If you're an excellent mechanical technician who turns strong hours and has solid diagnostic skills, we want to talk to you too. European Experience Matters Here VL Auto Repair works on all makes and models , but European vehicles are an important part of our business. We regularly work with platforms including Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, and other European makes. You'll also see Subaru, Toyota, Honda, domestic vehicles, and plenty in between. We're looking for a well-rounded technician , not someone who can only work on one brand. However, if you've spent meaningful time working on European vehicles, that's something we value. Built By Someone Who Understands the Work VL Auto Repair is locally owned by a Master ASE Certified Technician with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University. His technical background includes work with: Mercury Marine Toyota Technical Development Kohler Engines Professional engine calibration Graduate-level dynamometer and calibration research involving snowmobile testing Why should that matter to you? Because this shop is being built by someone who understands diagnostics, data, tooling, calibration, workflow, and what it's actually like to be responsible for figuring out the vehicle in your bay. We understand why specialty tools matter. Why training matters. Why good information matters. Why clean engine assembly matters. And why a talented technician gets frustrated when the shop around them keeps slowing them down. We built the kind of shop we'd want to work in ourselves. Good Systems. Less Chaos. We're big believers in processes and SOPs. Not because we want to micromanage good technicians. Because good structure gets the BS out of your way. We work toward clear repair processes, consistent inspections, organized digital workflow, strong communication between technicians/advisors/parts, consistent quality standards, accountability across the entire team, less wasted time, and better production. We're always improving the system. That's part of the culture here. We Invest in Technicians Cars aren't getting simpler. We provide weekly paid training and invest in ongoing technical education and professional development. If you're already an excellent diagnostician, we want you to keep sharpening those skills. If you're a strong producer who wants to become better with electrical, diagnostics, programming, or European platforms, there's room to keep growing here. We want our technicians to become more valuable every year they're with us. We Take the Work Seriously. Not Ourselves. VL has high standards. That doesn't mean the place has to be miserable. We're locally owned, we have a close team, and we actually enjoy cars and the people we work with. We do team lunches, cookouts, events, and trips. We support our community through things like Paws & Pistons, local school donations, and customer events like Free Hot Dog Fridays. There's usually an ice-cold glass bottle of Shawano Sun Drop around for our guests. And then there's Diesel, our shop dog and morale manager. His diagnostic accuracy is questionable. His attendance is excellent. Compensation & Benefits $35-$47 per flat-rate hour based on experience, certifications, diagnostic ability, and demonstrated skill Plus production bonus opportunities.

We also offer:

Monday-Friday schedule No weekends Health insurance Dental insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Paid time off Paid holidays Retirement plan Health savings account Flexible spending account Employee discount Referral program Weekly paid training Professional development assistance Relocation assistance for the right candidate Team events and lunches Professional 15,000 sq. ft. facility Serious specialty tooling and equipment Room to grow technically and financially Already Have a Job? Good. You don't have to hate where you work to find out whether there's something better. Applying here doesn't commit you to anything. Come tour VL Auto Repair. See the facility. Check out the dyno. See the clean engine room. Walk through the parts department. Look at the specialty tooling. Meet the technicians. Meet Diesel. Ask us hard questions. Tell us what you're good at and what you want the next five years of your career to look like. Then decide for yourself whether VL Auto Repair is worth making a move for. We're looking for good technicians who produce, care about quality, and take this trade seriously. If that's you, hit Apply. Let's talk.

Pay:

$35.00 - $47.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Professional development assistance Referral program Relocation assistance Retirement plan Vision insurance People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply Application Question(s): On average, how many billed/flagged labor hours do you typically produce in a 40-hour work week? Briefly describe your experience performing and documenting multi-point vehicle inspections. Which European vehicle makes do you have professional repair experience with? Please briefly describe your experience. If your background is primarily with domestic or Asian vehicles, tell us which makes you know best.

Work Location:

In person