Part-Time Instructor, Automotive Restoration

Academy of Art University; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 118,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k options

Paid sick leave

Commuter benefit program

Job summary

Academy of Art University’s Automotive Restoration program seeks an experienced instructor to teach AUT 159: Vintage Vehicle Disassembly Procedures. You will guide students through research, planning, disassembly, documentation, and restoration preparation, combining vehicle history with hands-on practice and safety best practices.

You will lead demonstrations, assess student performance, maintain a safe shop, and collaborate with colleagues to preserve historical authenticity while developing

Qualifications

• Experience teaching or mentoring in automotive restoration.
• Hands-on expertise with vintage vehicle disassembly and restoration.
• Strong documentation and photographic records skills.
• Ability to develop restoration plans and timelines.

Responsibilities

• Historical research and identification of vintage automobiles and configurations.
• Development of comprehensive restoration and disassembly plans.
• Safe and systematic disassembly of vintage automobiles.
• Proper use of automotive tools, shop equipment, and PPE.
• Identification, labeling, organization, and storage of removed components.
• Visual inspection and assessment during disassembly.
• Identify deterioration, corrosion, damage, wear, and non-original components.
• Written and photographic documentation of vehicle condition.
• Develop restoration priorities, sequencing, and timelines.
• Use of professional restoration terminology in discussions.

Skills

Vintage vehicle restoration

Teaching capabilities

Documentation skills

Safety practices

Education

Bachelor's in Automotive Restoration or related field

Equivalent professional experience

Job description

Driven. Engaging. Innovative. Do these words motivate you? If so, then we want to talk with you. Academy of Art University offers a rewarding employment experience for those who excel in a dynamic environment and who can consistently deliver high-caliber customer service. We thrive on ingenuity and pursue ideas every day that lead to extraordinary opportunities for tomorrow.

Automotive Restoration Instructor

Job Summary

Academy of Art University’s School of Industrial Design is seeking an experienced Automotive Restoration Instructor to teach AUT 159: Vintage Vehicle Disassembly Procedures, a hands‑on course within the Automotive Restoration program. The instructor will guide students through the professional process of researching, evaluating, documenting, planning, and safely disassembling vintage automobiles in preparation for restoration. Students will learn to approach vehicle disassembly systematically, ensuring components are properly evaluated, cataloged, preserved, restored, and ultimately reassembled. The course combines automotive history and research with hands‑on mechanical work, visual inspection, photographic documentation, and restoration planning.

Course Instruction Responsibilities

• Historical research and identification of vintage automobiles, components, specifications, and original vehicle configurations.
• Development of comprehensive vehicle restoration and disassembly plans.
• Safe and systematic disassembly of vintage automobiles.
• Proper use of automotive hand tools, specialty tools, shop equipment, and personal protective equipment.
• Identification, labeling, organization, and storage of removed components and hardware.
• Visual inspection and assessment of vehicle systems and components during disassembly.
• Identification of deterioration, corrosion, damage, wear, previous repairs, and non‑original components.
• Written and photographic documentation of vehicle condition and the disassembly process.
• Development of restoration priorities, sequencing, and project timelines.
• Use of professional automotive restoration terminology when analyzing and discussing vehicles and components.
• Best practices for preserving original components and maintaining historical authenticity throughout the restoration process.

These responsibilities support the course learning outcomes, requiring students to research a vintage vehicle, understand and explain its disassembly process, document the vehicle and its components, and develop an overall restoration plan and timeline.

Key Instructor Responsibilities

Responsible for all aspects of teaching the assigned course, including class preparation, implementation of the published syllabus and course outline, demonstrations of automotive restoration techniques, supervision of hands‑on shop activities, student communication, and evaluation of student performance. Maintain a safe, organized, and professional shop environment, ensuring students follow appropriate procedures when working with vehicles, tools, equipment, components, fluids, and potentially hazardous materials. Provide hands‑on demonstrations and individual instruction while helping students develop craftsmanship, mechanical problem‑solving skills, confidence, and professional work habits. Evaluate students on their technical execution as well as their ability to research, plan, document, analyze, and professionally communicate the restoration process. Provide clear, constructive, and detailed feedback that identifies what students have done successfully, areas for improvement, and how they can strengthen their work. Encourage students to accept and apply critiques, meet deadlines, actively participate in class, and communicate using appropriate industry terminology. Maintain accurate attendance, assignment, progress, midterm, and final grade records in accordance with Academy of Art University policies. Remain current with developments in automotive restoration, preservation practices, documentation, tools, materials, and restoration technologies. Participate, as requested, in departmental activities including workshops, student reviews, automotive events, exhibitions, vehicle projects, and other instructional activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience restoring, preserving, maintaining, or repairing vintage and classic automobiles.
• Extensive hands‑on knowledge of automotive mechanical systems and vehicle construction.
• Experience safely disassembling and reassembling complete vehicles and major automotive systems.
• Knowledge of vintage vehicle research, documentation, parts identification, and restoration planning.
• Ability to assess mechanical, structural, body, interior, electrical, and related vehicle components.
• Familiarity with professional automotive shop tools, equipment, procedures, and safety practices.
• Understanding of historical authenticity, originality, preservation, and appropriate restoration methods.
• Ability to clearly communicate technical concepts to students with varying levels of automotive experience.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills, including photographic documentation of vehicles and components.
• A professional automotive restoration portfolio or documented examples of completed restoration projects.
• Previous teaching, mentoring, apprenticeship supervision, shop management, or technical training experience is preferred.

Education and Professional Experience

• A degree in Automotive Technology, Automotive Restoration, Industrial Design, Transportation Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Equivalent professional experience in automotive restoration may be considered in place of a traditional academic degree, particularly for candidates with substantial hands‑on expertise, demonstrated mastery of vintage vehicle restoration, and a strong body of professional work.

Compensation

Starting at $57.00/hr for teaching and $19.61 per hour for all other non‑teaching work.

No Application Deadline

Academy of Art University accepts applications on an ongoing basis for this position.

Benefits

• 401k options
• Paid sick leave
• Access to a commuter benefit program

Academy of Art University is an equal opportunity employer.

All applicants will be considered regardless of age, AIDS or HIV positive status, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition or genetic characteristics, race or national origin, pregnancy, religion, sex, gender identity, gender or sexual orientation, name change, citizenship, physical or mental disability, veteran status or other status protected by federal, state, local or other law. Academy of Art University will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. Equal access to the hiring process, services, and employment is available to all persons. Applicants requiring accommodations to the application and/or interview process should contact the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].

Academy of Art University, established in 1929 by Richard S. Stephens, transforms aspiring students into professional artists and designers. For three generations, the Stephens family has been devoted to the development of aspiring artists and has held the fundamental belief that with proper instruction, hard work and dedication, students can learn the skills necessary to become artistic professionals.