Build the future of pre-owned EV ownership.

Open position

Founding Service Manager: EV Service & Customer Experience

Otonamo Mishawaka, IN Full-Time $85,000–$100,000 base + performance bonus

Who We Are

Otonamo is reimagining what buying a used electric vehicle should feel like. Think of us as the Apple Store of used car buying, a place built on clarity, craftsmanship, and trust: somewhere people can explore, ask questions, and drive away confident in what they’ve bought.

We hold every vehicle to one standard: it should be clean, it should be honest, and it should be safe. That standard isn’t a slogan. It’s built into our process, our training, and the way we invest in this business for the long run.

That standard is exactly why our service department exists. Every car we sell needs to be safe, and every car we service needs to be safe. No exceptions, no shortcuts.

We also believe a great workplace should feel good to be part of. Music in the shop, a hoop or a cornhole board out back, an occasional Friday cookout. Serious about the work, easy to enjoy the day.

The Role, In Plain Terms

Make no mistake, this is a leadership role first and a wrench-turner role second. We need someone to build our service department from the ground up, on a foundation we’re already investing in: the process, the tools, the parts, the people, all of it, done right from the start.

Here’s the real test: if you’re still the only one who can do the job right a year from now, you haven’t built anything, you’ve just given yourself a job. Winning looks like this: you recruit good people, you train them right, and you build a process so clear and so solid that someone else could run this shop the exact same way, on day one, without you standing over their shoulder. If we opened a second location tomorrow, could you hand someone the playbook you built and have it work? That’s the job.

You don’t need to already be an EV specialist. What matters is this:

• Real, hands-on automotive experience: you’ve diagnosed problems and fixed cars yourself
• You’ve led a shop or a crew before, whether or not the title was official
• You’re curious about EVs and want to be ahead of where the industry is headed
• You’re comfortable with a tablet or laptop, using software to track jobs, parts, and customers feels natural, not foreign
• You take pride in doing the job right, whether or not anyone’s watching

If you’ve never worked on an EV, that’s fine. If you have a strong automotive foundation and a genuine interest in the electric side, we’ll invest in training you.

What You’ll Actually Be Doing

Preparing every vehicle to earn our name

• Inspecting and reconditioning every used EV before it reaches the lot
• Verifying battery health and overall condition
• Making sure nothing leaves our shop unless it’s genuinely safe

Running the shop day to day

• Deciding how service works best for us, whether that’s a fixed shop, a mobile setup, or both
• Building the systems for scheduling, tracking, and documenting every job
• Managing parts inventory efficiently, without waste
• Selecting the right equipment: lifts, tire machines, diagnostic tools, battery testing gear
• Owning the budget for tools, parts, and equipment

Earning customer trust

• Explaining battery health and repairs in language people actually understand
• Being direct about what needs fixing, what it costs, and how long it takes
• Helping first-time EV owners feel confident instead of overwhelmed

Building the team

• Hiring and training technicians
• Leading a crew that shows up, does excellent work, and enjoys being here
• Setting a tone of collaboration: no egos, no shortcuts, everyone helps everyone

Using technology to simplify the work

• Setting up simple, modern systems for scheduling, inspections, and repair tracking
• Reducing paperwork and busywork so the team can focus on the vehicles

How We’ll Know You’re Doing Great Work

• No unsafe vehicle ever leaves our shop. That’s non-negotiable
• Customers understand their battery health and trust what you tell them
• We’re earning five-star reviews because people had a genuinely great experience
• Jobs are completed on time, parts are on hand, and the shop runs smoothly
• Your team is trained, growing, and staying
• The shop runs just as well when you’re not standing in it, because you built it that way
• You’re building a model of service excellence that could set the standard as we grow, from this location to a national brand

What Makes You a Great Fit

• Strong automotive service background, technician-level skill, EV experience not required
• Experience leading people, in any form: a shift, a shop, a crew
• A real want to recruit and train people up, not hoard the know-how for yourself
• A genuine interest in cars and where EVs are headed
• A commitment to safety and doing things right, even when it’s slower
• Comfort with computers and new software, since technology is part of how we run
• The ability to build something from nothing, not just maintain what exists
• A desire to grow with a company, not simply clock in and out

Nice to have, not required

• ASE certifications or other technical credentials
• EV, hybrid, or high-voltage training
• Experience with Tesla, Ford, GM, Hyundai/Kia, Rivian, or other EV brands
• Battery diagnostics or high-voltage systems experience
• Experience with tires, alignments, brakes, HVAC, or reconditioning used vehicles
• Familiarity with shop management software, digital inspections, or scheduling tools

Life at Otonamo

We’re family-first. If your child has a game or something comes up at home, that comes before the schedule.

We close for major holidays. This is a role where you can build something meaningful without sacrificing your life outside of it. We’re building for the long term, not burning people out to get there.

It should also be enjoyable. Music in the shop, a place to shoot hoops or throw cornhole, the occasional Friday cookout, and a team that genuinely likes one another.

What You Get

• 401(k) with 6% match
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Company vehicle
• Company laptop
• Company cell phone
• Paid membership at your gym of choice
• Three weeks of paid vacation, plus paid holidays
• Paid maternity / paternity leave
• Tools and equipment budget
• Support for training and certifications
• Relocation assistance if needed
• Branded gear (including some sweet new Otonamo Nike shoes)
• Employee discounts
• The opportunity to build this from the ground up and make it yours

Why This Role Matters

For many of our customers, we may be the first place they’ve ever driven an EV or asked a real question about how batteries hold up over time. Our service department is how we prove Otonamo isn’t just selling cars: we stand behind them, and we’re building the standard other locations will follow.

This is a founding role with real backing behind it: the investment, the vision, and the runway to build something that lasts. If you have the skill, the leadership instinct, and the desire to build something rather than simply maintain it, we’d like to talk.

Discover more. Drive better.