Truck & Upfit Engineer

Working within Merchants Fleet's dynamic and growing commercial vehicle program, the Truck & Upfit Engineer will be a key player in supporting the future of fleet management and vehicle customization. This role serves as the primary consultant for customers, OEMs, upfitters, and internal teams, ensuring the successful specification and coordination of aftermarket equipment for our ReadyFleet upfitted commercial vehicles. By providing expert guidance and managing the upfit process, you will help deliver superior service and tailored solutions to meet our clients' unique vehicle needs.

Location:   Remote

What will your day look like?

• Consult with external customers, Sales, and internal departments to develop vehicle and upfit specifications, providing expert recommendations.
• Select appropriate upfitters and suppliers based on client requirements, OEM lead times, and upfitter capacity.
• Conduct weight analysis to ensure compliance with design and functional requirements of the chassis and upfitting.
• Develop and communicate ordering strategies for factory-ordered, upfitted vehicles.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the ReadyFleet upfitted commercial vehicle program, recommending upfitters and suppliers while providing support to the Acquisitions team.
• Support Sales and Client Experience teams with vehicle selector creation and provide insights on upfit specifications.
• Establish and maintain strong vendor and supplier relationships within the industry.
• Collaborate with the Merchants EV team to align vehicle and upfit specifications.
• Negotiate pricing for medium and heavy-duty truck chassis and equipment.
• Obtain quotes and lead times from upfit vendors and suppliers, presenting them for approval.
• Issue purchase orders to vendors and suppliers as necessary.
• Work cross-functionally with the Maintenance Team to address any upfit-related warranty concerns.
• Resolve order rejects or constraints in collaboration with the OEM Communication & Status Analyst.
• Coordinate with Factory Ordering, Dealer Stock, and Status & Delivery teams.
• Utilize financial knowledge to support account managers and clients in making informed decisions, liaising with the Finance team as needed.
• Organize local installations for upfitting of light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Attend OEM and equipment industry events to stay up-to-date with product knowledge.
• Utilize OEM order guides and body builder websites to obtain detailed vehicle specifications.

What YOU bring to the organization:

• Exceptional communication skills to present complex technical recommendations, both internally and externally.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
• Creative problem-solving mindset focused on client satisfaction.
• Ability to interpret and convey technical schematics and reports clearly.
• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and Salesforce; CAD experience is a plus.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment and multitask under pressure.
• A continuous improvement mindset to identify and enhance current processes.

Bring your expertise: 

• 10 years of automotive/truck experience or an automotive technical trade school degree combined with relevant experience.
• At least 3 years of experience in truck and upfit spec’ing, with direct client consultation experience.
• Prior fleet management or upfitter experience preferred.
• Class 7-8 experience and knowledge of EV/Hybrid/Alternative Fuels is a plus.
• Bachelor's Degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certifications and Truck Marketing Institute (TMI) training are a plus.

Connect With Me on LinkedIn to Learn More - linkedin.com/in/joewentworth/ 

The Company 

You're invigorated by team collaboration and a fast-paced work environment. Opportunities for growth motivate you to always bring your A-game. You’re tired of being told “no” when you think of ways to improve, innovate, and do things better.

There’s a place for people like you. Welcome to Merchants Fleet.

We’ve been around for more than 60 years, but we’re the fastest growing fleet management company in North America. The fleet industry is behind every delivered package, the summertime memories kids make on their way to camp, and the heavy-duty trucks and vans that keep the lights on. That’s a lot of responsibility, and why we want our employees to always be at their best.

Everything at Merchants Fleet is fueled by our entrepreneurial spirit, including:

• Leadership who truly lead and engage with employees   
• Real career paths and the tools you need to grow and develop  
• A work environment that’s encouraging and collaborative

We know employees won’t stay if they’re not happy, which is why we provide a great benefits package on top of our award-winning work environment. In fact, we’ve just made the “Great Companies to Work For in NH” list for the eighth year in a row and have a 88% employee satisfaction score (higher than the national average of 57%).

So, what are you waiting for? See why a career with Merchants Fleet is the best decision your future self has ever made.  

We are so fortunate to have an in-house team of Talent Acquisition Specialists who do an exceptional job meeting all of the needs of our business. For this reason, we do not have a need for external recruiting support.

^#LI-JW1