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automotive technician

What is it?

An Automotive Technician (often called an auto tech or mechanic) is a skilled professional responsible for diagnosing, repairing, and maintaining cars, trucks, and other vehicles.

Gone are the days when this job was purely about changing oil and turning wrenches. Modern vehicles are essentially rolling computers, meaning today’s automotive technician is equal parts mechanical expert and high-tech diagnostic specialist. They work on everything from traditional internal combustion engines to complex electrical systems and advanced hybrid or electric vehicle (EV) powertrains.

 

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

An automotive technician’s day is active, hands-on, and highly analytical. Their daily routine generally involves:

  • Diagnosing Vehicle Issues: Using computerized diagnostic equipment, scanners, and digital multi-meters to read trouble codes and pinpoint the root cause of electrical, mechanical, or drivability problems.

  • Performing Routine Maintenance: Executing standard preventative care to keep vehicles running safely, including oil changes, tire rotations, fluid flushes, wheel alignments, and brake inspections.

  • Repairing and Replacing Parts: Tearing down, repairing, or replacing worn-out components such as brake pads, rotors, suspension struts, alternators, water pumps, belts, and hoses.

  • Working on Advanced Systems: Servicing complex vehicle systems, which includes troubleshooting automatic transmissions, air conditioning (HVAC) systems, steering mechanisms, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) like lane-assist cameras and radar sensors.

  • Conducting Multi-Point Inspections: Performing thorough safety inspections of vehicles to identify potential future issues, documenting the findings, and estimating the parts and labor required for repairs.

  • Maintaining Accurate Records: Documenting all completed work, diagnostic steps taken, and parts used on digital shop management platforms to ensure clear communication with service advisors and customers.

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Length of Training

32 Weeks/8 Months

Type of Training

In Person

* Salary Range

$36,000-$93,000

(entry level – experienced)

An automotive technician in a red uniform adjusts equipment on a car wheel in a workshop, while another technician works in the background.

Is it Right For You?

To thrive as an automotive technician, a professional needs a combination of physical dexterity, technical intellect, and continuous curiosity.

 

Core Qualities

  • Analytical Curiosity: Modern vehicles are complex. A great tech enjoys the “detective work” of troubleshooting, using logic and deduction to figure out exactly why a strange noise is happening or why a specific warning light turned on.

  • Physical Stamina and Dexterity: This is a demanding job that requires standing for long hours, working in awkward or cramped positions under dashboards and hood compartments, and lifting heavy components like wheels and brake rotors.

  • Patience and Frustration Tolerance: Sometimes a bolt is rusted tight, a part is incredibly difficult to reach, or an electrical issue is intermittent. A top-tier tech stays patient and focused under pressure without rushing or damaging components.

  • High Integrity: Customers rely on technicians to keep their families safe on the road. A good technician is honest about what needs immediate repair versus what can wait, ensuring quality work that builds long-term trust.

Professional Skills

  • Technological and Electrical Literacy: Because cars are controlled by multiple interconnected computers (modules), a strong grasp of digital diagnostics, wiring diagrams, and electrical theory is absolutely essential.

  • Mechanical Aptitude and Precision: A deep understanding of how engines, hydraulics, and gear trains function. Techs must be precise when using specialized tools like torque wrenches and micrometers, as microscopic measurement errors can cause catastrophic engine failure.

  • Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: When a computer code doesn’t tell the whole story, a tech must analyze how different systems affect one another to solve complex, overlapping mechanical issues.

  • Commitment to Continuous Learning: Automotive technology changes rapidly with the rise of hybrid systems, electric vehicles, and autonomous driving features. Success requires a commitment to ongoing training and earning certifications (like ASE certifications).

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A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

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Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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