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Automotive Restoration Instructor

Vintage Vehicle Disassembly & Restoration

Job Summary

Academy of Art University’s School of Industrial Design is seeking an experienced Automotive Restoration Instructor to teach AUT 159: Vintage Vehicle Disassembly Procedures, a hands-on course within the Automotive Restoration program.

The instructor will guide students through the professional process of researching, evaluating, documenting, planning, and safely disassembling vintage automobiles in preparation for restoration. Students will learn to approach vehicle disassembly systematically, ensuring components are properly evaluated, cataloged, preserved, restored, and ultimately reassembled.

The course combines automotive history and research with hands-on mechanical work, visual inspection, photographic documentation, and restoration planning.

Course Instruction Responsibilities

The instructor will teach and demonstrate professional practices related to:

• Historical research and identification of vintage automobiles, components, specifications, and original vehicle configurations.
• Development of comprehensive vehicle restoration and disassembly plans.
• Safe and systematic disassembly of vintage automobiles.
• Proper use of automotive hand tools, specialty tools, shop equipment, and personal protective equipment.
• Identification, labeling, organization, and storage of removed components and hardware.
• Visual inspection and assessment of vehicle systems and components during disassembly.
• Identification of deterioration, corrosion, damage, wear, previous repairs, and non-original components.
• Written and photographic documentation of vehicle condition and the disassembly process.
• Development of restoration priorities, sequencing, and project timelines.
• Use of professional automotive restoration terminology when analyzing and discussing vehicles and components.
• Best practices for preserving original components and maintaining historical authenticity throughout the restoration process.

These responsibilities support the course learning outcomes, requiring students to research a vintage vehicle, understand and explain its disassembly process, document the vehicle and its components, and develop an overall restoration plan and timeline. 

Key Instructor Responsibilities

Responsible for all aspects of teaching the assigned course, including class preparation, implementation of the published syllabus and course outline, demonstrations of automotive restoration techniques, supervision of hands-on shop activities, student communication, and evaluation of student performance.

Maintain a safe, organized, and professional shop environment, ensuring students follow appropriate procedures when working with vehicles, tools, equipment, components, fluids, and potentially hazardous materials.

Provide hands-on demonstrations and individual instruction while helping students develop craftsmanship, mechanical problem-solving skills, confidence, and professional work habits.

Evaluate students on their technical execution as well as their ability to research, plan, document, analyze, and professionally communicate the restoration process.

Provide clear, constructive, and detailed feedback that identifies what students have done successfully, areas for improvement, and how they can strengthen their work.

Encourage students to accept and apply critiques, meet deadlines, actively participate in class, and communicate using appropriate industry terminology.

Maintain accurate attendance, assignment, progress, midterm, and final grade records in accordance with Academy of Art University policies.

Remain current with developments in automotive restoration, preservation practices, documentation, tools, materials, and restoration technologies.

Participate, as requested, in departmental activities including workshops, student reviews, automotive events, exhibitions, vehicle projects, and other instructional activities. 

Preferred Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have significant professional experience in automotive restoration, vintage and classic automobile repair, automotive preservation, or a closely related field.

Strong candidates should demonstrate:

• Professional experience restoring, preserving, maintaining, or repairing vintage and classic automobiles.
• Extensive hands-on knowledge of automotive mechanical systems and vehicle construction.
• Experience safely disassembling and reassembling complete vehicles and major automotive systems.
• Knowledge of vintage vehicle research, documentation, parts identification, and restoration planning.
• Ability to assess mechanical, structural, body, interior, electrical, and related vehicle components.
• Familiarity with professional automotive shop tools, equipment, procedures, and safety practices.
• Understanding of historical authenticity, originality, preservation, and appropriate restoration methods.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to students with varying levels of automotive experience.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, including photographic documentation of vehicles and components.
• A professional automotive restoration portfolio or documented examples of completed restoration projects.
• Previous teaching, mentoring, apprenticeship supervision, shop management, or technical training experience is preferred.  

Education and Professional Experience

A degree in Automotive Technology, Automotive Restoration, Industrial Design, Transportation Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.

Equivalent professional experience in automotive restoration may be considered in place of a traditional academic degree, particularly for candidates with substantial hands-on expertise, demonstrated mastery of vintage vehicle restoration, and a strong body of professional work. 

Compensation:

Starting at $57.00/hr for teaching and $19.61 per hour for all other non-teaching work.

No Application Deadline: Academy of Art University accepts applications on an ongoing basis for this position.

Benefits:

Academy of Art University offers part-time employees 401k options, paid sick leave and access to a commuter benefit program.

Academy of Art University is an equal opportunity employer.  All applicants will be considered regardless of age, Aids or HIV positive status, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition or genetic characteristics, race or national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender identity, gender or sexual orientation, name change, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other status protected by federal, state, local or other law. Academy of Art University will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Equal access to the hiring process, services, and employment is available to all persons. Applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact the Human Resources Department at [email protected].