Automotive HVAC Technician (Air Conditioning) in Bogart, Georgia at Ulm Automotive LLC

Company: Ulm Automotive LLC

Department: Production

Reports to: Production Manager

Location: Bogart, GA (on-site)

Employment type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt; paid weekly.

Direct reports: None

Position Summary

The Automotive HVAC Technician owns the climate system in every vehicle we build. Ulm converts incomplete Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis into luxury passenger vehicles, and a rear-cabin air conditioning and heating system is part of every build: auxiliary evaporators, condensers, compressors, refrigerant lines, ducting, and controls that have to integrate cleanly with the chassis HVAC and deliver cabin comfort for passengers in summer heat.

This technician installs, evacuates, charges, leak-tests, and performance-tests those systems, diagnoses the ones that do not perform, and is the floor's expert on refrigerant handling and climate electrical. It is a specialist seat on the production line, not a general mechanic role, and it also supports warranty diagnosis on vehicles that come back.

Key Responsibilities

• Installation
• Install auxiliary air conditioning and heating systems to the drawing: under-body condensers, rear evaporator units, compressor upgrades or add-on compressors, refrigerant line routing, and ducting through the interior.
• Fabricate and crimp refrigerant hoses and lines, route them clear of heat, abrasion, and moving parts, and secure them to the standard.
• Wire the climate system: relays, fuses, thermostats and controls, blower circuits, and integration with the chassis electrical system, to the schematic and the 12V wiring standard.
• Install auxiliary heaters and ventilation components where the build calls for them.
• Charging, Testing & Diagnosis
• Pressure test, evacuate, and charge every system by weight to specification; log refrigerant type and quantity on the build record.
• Perform performance testing (vent temperature, pressures, airflow, cycling) before final inspection and document the results.
• Diagnose low performance, leaks, electrical faults, and noise complaints on in-process and returned vehicles and repair to root cause.
• Recover and handle refrigerant in compliance with EPA Section 609 and shop procedures; maintain the recovery and charging equipment.

Quality & Documentation

• Build to the current drawing and BOM revision; report any mismatch between the drawing, the kit, and the vehicle before proceeding.
• Complete station checklists and torque and leak-test sign-offs; tag and report nonconformities rather than working around them.
• Feed installation improvements and component problems back to Engineering and Purchasing.

Training & Support

• Serve as the floor's reference on climate systems: train production technicians on ducting, wiring, and handling of components at adjacent stations.
• Support the Quality Manager on final inspection of climate function and road-test climate checks.
• Keep the climate work area, tools, and refrigerant inventory organized, labeled, and safe.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on automotive air conditioning experience: installation, diagnosis, and repair, including line fabrication and system charging.
• EPA Section 609 certification for motor vehicle air conditioning (required at hire).
• Experience with R-134a and R-1234yf systems, recovery and recharge equipment, and charging by weight.
• Ability to read electrical schematics and refrigerant system diagrams and to wire 12V circuits cleanly.
• Competent with hand and power tools, hose crimpers, gauges, vacuum pumps, and leak detection equipment.
• Ability to work in and under vehicles, and to lift 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• ASE A7 (Heating and Air Conditioning) certification; additional ASE certifications welcome.
• Experience installing rear or auxiliary climate systems on commercial vans, shuttles, buses, ambulances, or limousines.
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or other commercial van platform experience.
• Familiarity with electric compressors and high-voltage safety practices.
• Auxiliary heater (fuel-fired) installation experience.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Physical & Work Environment

Full shift on an active production floor with exposure to noise, machinery, refrigerants, and standard plant conditions; PPE is required in designated areas. Frequent work overhead, kneeling, and in confined vehicle interiors and engine compartments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly rate: $26.00 to $34.00 per hour, commensurate with certifications and experience
• Overtime paid at time and a half over 40 hours in the workweek.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off and holidays; tool and certification support (ASE, EPA 609 renewal, manufacturer training)

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ulm Automotive, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.