OEM Technical Relations Principal

About I-CAR:

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) is a growing, not-for-profit organization, headquartered in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, serving the automotive collision repair industry globally. The organization was established by representatives of the collision repair, automotive, and insurance industries in 1979 and has doubled its revenue over the last six years.

Today, the I-CAR brand is stronger than it has been in 40 years of operation and has gained a worldwide reputation. There is momentum and excitement among its committed workforce, instructors and volunteers to continue to help the organization grow and expand its breadth of reach and scale. I-CAR leadership believes that the future of the organization will be importantly influenced by its continuing innovation and relevance of its products, technical programs and services.

Position Summary

As the OEM Technical Relations Principal, you are critical in leading I-CAR’s technical collaboration with automotive OEM partners. Based at the Appleton/Chicago Tech Center, you are positioned to work closely with internal teams—SMEs, Instructional Designers, researchers, and media specialists. Your deep expertise in collision repair, advanced vehicle technology, and industry education enables you to drive technical accuracy, improve communication between OEMs and I-CAR to support the creation of training and research that elevates the entire industry. Through your leadership, you help ensure I-CAR remains a trusted partner to OEMs and is recognized as the technical leader of the collision repair ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

OEM Relationship Management

• Serve as the technical liaison to OEMs, developing and maintaining strong collaborative relationships
• Plan and lead OEM Technical Council meetings
• Collaborate with OEMs to enhance the clarity, accuracy, and delivery of service and collision repair information
• Interface with collision repair shops and technicians to provide OEMs with actionable feedback and insights

Technical Content Review & Development

• Review and provide feedback on OEM position statements and service procedures to ensure clarity, accuracy, and shop-level feasibility.
• Monitor Linking Pin activity; report findings at industry events and conferences
• Develop OEM repair procedures in collaboration with technical OEM subject matter experts
• Evaluate new vehicle designs and procedures for practicality and collision industry acceptance
• Validate procedures on body-in-white vehicles to ensure accuracy and real-world applicability.

Industry Collaboration & Innovation

• Partner with tool/equipment manufacturers to collaborate on solutions to support industry needs.
• Work with paint and material suppliers to identify industry gaps and understanding of emerging technologies.
• Participate in industry panels and working groups, present research and recommendations

Technical Research

• Lead and support collaborative research with OEMs, tool vendors, and suppliers on emerging technologies (e.g., destructive weld testing, laser welding, UHSS sectioning, paint processes around ADAS hardware).
• Align research outcomes with I-CAR’s Technical Advisory Services and industry strategies.
• Author white papers, technical articles, and thought leadership pieces for trade publications

Curriculum Development Support

• Work with Instructional Designers, SMEs, and Tech Operations to develop accurate, industry-relevant curriculum aligned with OEM standards
• Create advanced-level learning content (e.g., MAP, MAM) with a focus on technical accuracy
• Participate in Repairer’s Realm programming and panel discussions with OEM representation
• Provide technical input into tool and equipment protocol development to align with industry and OEM strategies
• Contribute to curriculum expansion efforts in key areas such as ADAS, EV, and specialty OEM training

Qualifications

Required

• 10+ years in collision repair, OEM service development, or related technical field
• Extensive knowledge of structural and non-structural repairs, OEM service procedures, vehicle technology (EV, ADAS, Vehicle Construction Materials), and advanced repair methods.
• Experience working directly with OEMs, collision shops, technical educators, and product developers.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills with the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Preferred

• 4-year college technical degree or 2-year associated degree from an automotive trade school
• I-CAR Platinum or Gold Class recognition, or equivalent collision training credentials.
• ASE Collision Repair Certifications (B2–B5)
• Welding certifications (GMA Steel, Aluminum, MIG Braze, STRSW)
• Hands-on experience with OEM service platforms (e.g., Honda Service Express, GM GSI, Nissan TechInfo)
• Familiarity with collision estimating systems (CCC, Audatex, Mitchell).
• Proficiency with shop equipment
• Understanding of regulatory and safety standards
• Public speaking or technical presentation experience at trade shows or conferences

Soft Skills & Competencies

• Leadership & Influence: Ability to lead projects and influence high-level industry discussions
• Critical Thinking: Comfortable navigating ambiguity in technical procedures and interpreting evolving repair standards
• Collaboration: Effective cross-functional team player with strong industry relationship-building skills
• Attention to Detail: Precision in technical validation, documentation review, and communication

Work Environment

The role is identified as a remote position however, ideally the role would be located on-site at the Appleton, Wisconsin or Chicago, Illinois Technical Center, enabling direct collaboration with I-CAR teams and partners. Occasional travel is required to OEM sites, industry events, and educational institutions (estimated 20–30% of the time).

EEO Statement: 

I-CAR is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law, where applicable. Those with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws.