Marketing Vehicle Technician

About the Role

Slate's marketing fleet isn't just transportation; it's the brand in motion. These vehicles appear in photo shoots, brand partnership activations, consumer ride-and-drive events, press previews, and high-profile commercial productions. They need to look and perform flawlessly every single time, in front of cameras, journalists, executives, and customers alike. We're looking for a Marketing Vehicle Technician who brings a craftsperson's mindset to fleet care: someone who takes genuine pride in presentation-quality work, understands that a surface flaw visible to a camera lens is as critical as a mechanical fault, and can pivot between detailed mechanical diagnosis and hands-on upfitting with equal competence.

This role sits within Slate's Creative Operations team and supports four core fleet programs:

• Picture Cars: hero vehicles purpose-built for photo and video production
• PR & Communications: press fleet vehicles supporting media relations and journalist drives
• Social Media: vehicles supporting content creation and brand storytelling
• Ride & Drive Demo Tour: customer-facing event vehicles operated nationwide

You'll work closely with the Creative, Marketing, Communications, and Production teams, serving as the technical backbone that keeps the fleet campaign-ready at all times.

Responsibilities

Fleet Stewardship & Presentation-Quality Care

• Maintain the marketing and commercial fleet in pristine, camera-ready condition at all times, proactively identifying and correcting any mechanical, electrical, or cosmetic issues before they impact production or events.
• Perform pre-shoot and pre-event vehicle prep, including deep detailing, wrap inspection, surface correction, and final QC checks to meet photography and video production standards.
• Manage wrap and vinyl film condition across the fleet, coordinating with wrap vendors on installation, repair, and removal as campaigns change.
• Own and continuously improve the fleet inspection framework, establishing standards and cadences for vehicle condition documentation across mechanical, aesthetic, and configuration dimensions.

Diagnostics, Maintenance & Repair

• Perform high-level diagnostics and complex repairs on Slate EV powertrains, high-voltage systems, and all associated vehicle systems.
• Execute routine and preventive maintenance on schedule to ensure zero unplanned downtime during active campaigns or events.
• Troubleshoot and resolve mechanical, electrical, and software-related issues using diagnostic tools, data logging, and wiring schematics.
• Act as the primary technical authority for marketing fleet vehicles. Coordinate with Slate's Service, Engineering, and Quality teams when issue escalation or technical guidance is required.

Vehicle Upfitting, Configuration & Customization

• Execute vehicle upfits, retrofits, and configuration changes that transform fleet assets to meet campaign, program, or event-specific requirements.
• Install and integrate accessories, lighting systems, custom components, and brand-specific hardware with a clean, production-quality finish.
• Support prototype and pre-production vehicle preparation, including converting engineering development vehicles (DVs) for marketing use.
• Maintain strict configuration control and documentation for each vehicle's current spec, ensuring fast and accurate reconfiguration between programs.

Event & Travel Support

• Travel up to 40% nationwide to support ride-and-drive events, media drives, brand activations, and commercial productions, ensuring vehicles arrive on-site in flawless condition and perform without issue throughout.
• Serve as the on-site technical lead during events, managing vehicle readiness, handling any real-time issues, and interfacing professionally with internal teams, agency partners, and media.
• Support vehicle loading, transport logistics, and hand-off coordination with event and production crews.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary technical point of contact for Creative, Marketing, and Communications teams, translating campaign needs into accurate vehicle preparation and configuration.
• Partner with the Production Studio team at Sterling Ponds on vehicle availability scheduling, shoot day prep, and post-production vehicle return and reset.
• Maintain clear communication and status updates with team leadership on fleet condition, upcoming vehicle needs, and any issues requiring attention.

Requirements

• Required Experience: 6+ years of professional automotive technician experience, preferably with fleet, premium, prototype, or marketing/press vehicles.
• Certifications: State Certifications, or Active ASE certifications; Master Technician preferred.
• Diagnostic Tools: Experience working with diagnostic tools including data logging, ECU diagnostics, and wiring schematics.
• Presentation Standards: Demonstrated attention to cosmetic and surface quality; you understand the difference between field-acceptable and camera-acceptable.
• Travel Flexibility: Ability and willingness to travel up to 40% of the time, including occasional short-notice and weekend travel to support event schedules.
• Valid Driver's License: Clean driving record required. Ability to operate all fleet vehicle types.
• Professionalism: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable representing Slate in professional, media, and executive environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience supporting marketing, press, or picture car fleets at an OEM, agency, or production company.
• Hands-on experience with high-voltage EV systems, including diagnostics, testing, battery service, and safe HV procedures.
• Fabrication, custom upfitting, or accessory integration experience, including wiring, body modifications, component mounting, and finishing.
• Experience with wrap vinyl, paint protection film (PPF), and surface care products.
• Familiarity with photo and video production workflows and the vehicle prep standards they require.
• Startup or fast-paced environment experience; comfort operating with ambiguity and shifting priorities.

Benefits

Why Join Team Slate?

At Slate, we’re fueled by grit, determination, and attention to detail. The start-up spirit of ingenuity and resourcefulness moves our business forward. Team Slate fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and mutual respect, and is motivated by shared principles:

• Safety First
• Delight Customers
• One Team
• Relentless Improvement
• Fast, Frugal, and Scrappy
• Respectful Collaboration
• Positive Legacy