12V Installer and Automotive Electrical Specialist

Freedom Forged 4x4 LLC; Aurora (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Freedom Forged 4x4 in North Aurora, IL is seeking a 12V Installer & Automotive Electrical Specialist to plan, wire, and program aftermarket electronics across our shop vehicles, from daily drivers to police, fire, and EMS fleets. This hands-on role requires diagnosing electrical issues, integrating with factory CAN bus systems, and delivering factory-clean wiring with proper grounding and labeling.

You will document installs in Tekmetric and work closely with the Foreman, advisors, and

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on 12V installation experience in a professional shop.
• Strong understanding of 12V electrical theory and CAN bus basics.
• Ability to read and build from wiring diagrams and schematics.
• Proficiency with a digital multimeter, power probe, and test light.

Responsibilities

• Install audio, lighting, and electronics across a range of vehicles.
• Wire emergency lighting, sirens, and upfits for police, fire, and EMS fleets.
• Program lighting controllers and CAN bus interfaces.
• Diagnose electrical faults and produce factory‑quality wiring.
• Document installs in Tekmetric with wiring notes and controller programming.

Skills

12V installation

CAN bus

Diagnostics

Soldering

Tools & meters

Education

MECP certification

EVT certification

ASE A6 certification

Tools

Tekmetric

Job description

About Freedom Forged 4x4

Freedom Forged 4x4 is a family-owned, multi-division specialty shop in North Aurora, Illinois, built on two things: the highest quality of work and customer service that people talk about. We run four divisions under one roof — Freedom Forged 4x4 (custom off-road builds and accessories), Auto Repair & Service, Patriot Spray Lining (spray-on bedliners and undercoating), and Freedom Forged Upfitters (commercial, fleet, and emergency vehicle upfitting).

We have deep ties to the military and first responder community, and a growing share of our work is building out the vehicles those crews depend on. That means the wiring has to be right the first time, every time. This role exists because electrical is the backbone of nearly everything we build — and we want one person who owns it.

Location: 609 Airport Rd, Suite A, North Aurora, IL 60542 Division: Freedom Forged 4x4 / Freedom Forged Upfitters Reports to: Shop Foreman Employment type: Full-time, W-2

Position Summary

The 12V Installer & Automotive Electrical Specialist is our in-house wiring and electrical expert. You will plan, install, wire, and program aftermarket electronics across everything that rolls through our bays — from premium audio and head units in a customer's daily driver, to full lighting, siren, and controller packages on police, fire, and EMS vehicles, to auxiliary power and switching systems on overland builds and commercial fleet trucks.

This is a hands‑on, high‑trust role. You will diagnose electrical problems other shops gave up on, integrate aftermarket equipment with factory CAN bus systems without breaking them, and leave every harness looking like it came from the factory. You will also be the person our Foreman, Service Advisors, and technicians come to when a job has wires in it.

We are looking for someone who takes real pride in clean work, documents what they build, and understands that a loose ground on an emergency vehicle is not a comeback — it is a safety failure.

What You'll Do

Audio & In-Cab Electronics

• Install head units, amplifiers, DSPs, speakers, and subwoofer systems in a wide range of vehicles, from base‑model trucks to premium factory sound systems
• Integrate aftermarket head units with factory steering wheel controls, backup cameras, and vehicle data using interface modules (iDatalink Maestro, Axxess, PAC, or equivalent)
• Install remote start, security, dash cams, backup cameras, and sound deadening
• Tune systems by ear and by meter so they sound right before the customer hears them

Emergency Vehicle Upfitting

• Wire and install emergency lighting, sirens, light bars, consoles, controllers, partitions, push bumpers, and gun locks on police, fire, and EMS vehicles (Ford PI Utility, Chevy Tahoe PPV, Dodge Durango Pursuit, F-Series, and similar)
• Program lighting controllers and siren systems (Whelen, Federal Signal, SoundOff Signal, Code 3, or equivalent) to each department's flash patterns and switching requirements
• Integrate with factory upfitter interfaces, ignition‑sense, and CAN bus systems without disrupting factory functions
• Build and label power distribution: fuse blocks, relays, battery isolation, and idle‑management or secondary battery systems

Overland, Off‑Road & Commercial Fleet Electrical

• Install auxiliary switching systems (sPOD, Switch‑Pros, or equivalent), LED light bars, rock lights, winches, air compressors, and accessory power
• Build dual‑battery and DC‑DC charging systems, inverters, 12V fridge circuits, and auxiliary fuse blocks for overland builds
• Wire work lights, strobes, backup alarms, inverters, telematics, and ladder racks on commercial fleet vehicles

Diagnostics, Quality & Documentation

• Diagnose and repair electrical faults on customer vehicles and on our own builds, including parasitic draws, CAN bus issues, and intermittent faultsProduce factory‑quality work: proper gauge wire, correct fusing at the source, soldered or quality‑crimped connections, heat shrink, loom, and clean routing away from heat and pinch points
• Document every install in Tekmetric with wiring notes, fuse locations, and controller programming so the next person can service it
• Perform a full function test and bench your own work before it leaves your bay; stand behind it when it comes back
• Help scope and quote electrical jobs with the Service Advisors and Foreman, including realistic labor estimates and parts lists
• Keep your bay, tools, and electrical inventory organized; flag parts and supply needs before they hold up a job
• Mentor technicians on wiring standards and step in on electrical portions of larger builds

What You Bring

• 3+ years of hands‑on 12V installation experience in a professional shop (car audio, emergency vehicle upfitting, fleet upfitting, or a combination)
• Expert understanding of 12V DC electrical theory: voltage drop, current draw, wire gauge selection, fusing, grounding, relays, and load calculation
• Proven ability to read and build from wiring diagrams and schematics, and to draw your own when none exist
• Confident with a digital multimeter, power probe, and test light; comfortable with an oscilloscope or willing to learn
• Working knowledge of CAN bus and factory data networks, and the judgment to know what you can and cannot tap into
• Experience with at least one emergency lighting or siren controller platform, or demonstrated ability to learn programming software quickly
• Clean, consistent workmanship: you solder or crimp correctly, heat‑shrink everything, loom and route like the factory did, and never leave a wire unfused or unlabeled
• Ability to work independently from a work order, manage your own time across multiple jobs, and ask the right questions before you start cutting
• Own set of basic hand tools (specialty electrical tools and diagnostic equipment are provided)
• Valid driver's license, insurable driving record, and ability to operate customer and fleet vehicles, including full‑size trucks and vans
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and able to pass a background check (required for law enforcement and government fleet work)

Preferred Qualifications

None of these are required, but any of them will move you to the top of the list:

• MECP (Mobile Electronics Certified Professional) certification, any level
• EVT (Emergency Vehicle Technician) certification or hands‑on experience upfitting for police, fire, or EMS agencies
• ASE A6 (Electrical/Electronic Systems) certification
• Direct experience programming Whelen Core / CenCom, SoundOff bluePRINT, or Federal Signal Pathfinder systems
• Experience with overland power systems (REDARC, Victron, Blue Sea, National Luna, or similar)
• Experience with fleet telematics or camera systems (Samsara, Geotab, Motive, Lytx)
• Fabrication skills: mounting brackets, console cutouts, custom panels, basic welding or sheet metal work
• Experience in a shop running Tekmetric or similar shop management software
• Military or first responder background — you will understand our customers and our culture

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is a shop‑floor position in an active automotive service and fabrication facility. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals.

• Stand, kneel, crouch, and work in tight spaces (under dashes, behind kick panels, inside consoles, under vehicles on a lift) for extended periods
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs regularly (batteries, amplifiers, light bars, push bumpers) and up to 75 lbs occasionally with assistance
• Fine motor control and good vision for small‑gauge wiring, connectors, and reading diagrams and screens
• Work around running engines, shop noise, lifts, power tools, soldering equipment, and automotive chemicals; follow all shop safety and PPE requirements
• Occasional work at customer or fleet sites and occasional driving of customer and fleet vehicles
• Exposure to seasonal temperatures in the shop and lot

Compensation, Schedule & Benefits

Pay: $20 – $35 per hour, based on experience and certifications, plus a monthly production bonus tied to completed, comeback‑free work.

Schedule: Full‑time, Monday through Friday, [8:30 AM – 6:00 PM]. Occasional Saturdays or extended hours during fleet delivery deadlines, scheduled in advance.

Benefits:

• 40 ours Paid Leave]
• Full Benefits
• Employee pricing on parts, accessories, and shop services
• Paid training and certification support (MECP, EVT, manufacturer programming courses)
• Specialty tools, diagnostic equipment, and shop uniforms provided
• A seat at the table in a growing company — your input on how we build and wire vehicles will shape the standard