Driving Instructor - CA

Coastline Automation Inc DBA Coastline Academy; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Coastline Academy is hiring driving instructors to teach students in Coastline vehicles, with in-car lessons and ongoing mentorship. The role emphasizes safety, student development, and professional conduct in a dynamic, schedule-driven environment.

Training consists of 60 paid hours, including 40 hours virtual learning and 20 hours hands-on driving and mentorship. Instructors work afternoons and weekends to align with student schedules.

Qualifications

• Requires a valid driver's license in the state you want to work in.
• At least 5 years of licensed driving experience.
• Background check, drug screen, and reference check required.

Responsibilities

• Teach the practical driving skills from parking lots to freeway merges.
• Coach students on the rules of the road.
• Build confidence and competence in learners.
• Take control of the vehicle when a situation requires it.
• Document and report progress of each student.
• Maintain timely communication with supervisor and support team.
• Bring professionalism to every interaction with students and teammates.
• Attend team meetings and ongoing development.

Skills

Patience

Clear communication

Safety mindset

Coaching

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Location: San Jose, CA

Description

About us

Coastline Academy is the largest and fastest growing driving school in the country. Since 2017 we've taught more than 250,000 students across seven states, backed by over 100,000 five-star reviews. We're on a mission to eradicate car crashes by teaching safe and confident drivers for life. We're people-first and technology-centric: online booking, digital lesson reports, transparent pricing, modern cars. 98% of our students rate their lesson five stars.

Become part of a team committed to creating safe, confident drivers for life.

About this role

You'll sit in the passenger seat of a Coastline car and teach people something they'll use every day for the rest of their lives. Most of your students are teenagers taking their first turn behind the wheel. Some are adults getting ready for a road test. All of them leave your car more capable than when they got in.

• You teach in our car, not yours. Every Coastline vehicle is company-provided, clearly marked, fitted with a second instructor brake, and inspected by certified mechanics.
• We pay for your certification. Our training team walks you through your state's driving instructor licensing requirements and provides the coursework. Training is paid.
• Every lesson is recorded. Dashcams capture video and audio inside and outside the car for your safety and your student's.
• Your schedule follows the students. Most of our students are in school, so demand concentrates in afternoons and weekends. A typical day is three two-hour lessons.

Your training: 60 paid hours

• 40 Hours Virtual Learning: Complete self-paced reading and interactive modules from home.
• 20 Hours Hands-On Driving & Practical Mentorship: Shadow 10 hours live in-car lessons (five 2-hour lessons with students) and complete 10 hours of direct coaching with a Certified Trainer (two 5-hour sessions).

You'll never be conducting lessons alone in a car with a student until you're ready.

What you'll do

• Teach the practical skills of driving, every aspect, from parking lots to freeway merges
• Coach students on the rules of the road
• Build confidence, not just competence
• Take control of the vehicle when a situation calls for it
• Document and report on each student's progress
• Stay in close, timely communication with your supervisor and support team
• Bring professionalism to every interaction with students and teammates
• Show up for team meetings, updates, and ongoing development

Requirements

What you bring

• A genuine passion for helping people learn
• Patience. The ability to stay calm and steady while someone learns something hard
• A strong safety mindset and sound judgment under pressure
• Clear, direct communication and real coaching instinct
• The focus to stay present for hours at a time
• A valid driver's license in the state you want to work in
• At least 5 years of licensed driving experience
• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Ability to pass a background check, drug screen, and reference check. We're one of the only driving schools that runs independent background and drug screens on every employee

Physical Requirements

• Sit for prolonged periods in a vehicle
• See and hear clearly in all weather conditions
• Bend, stoop, kneel, touch, and feel
• Lift up to 25 pounds at times

Equal Opportunity

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. That means that we support diversity and inclusion and do not discriminate against qualified employees or applicants because of race, color, religion, gender identity, sex, sexual preference, sexual identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law or local ordinance.