Automotive Parts Research Specialist — Training Provided
Universal Air Conditioner, Inc. (UAC)
Mansfield, Texas
Full-time | Monday–Friday | No nights or weekends
Starting at $24 per hour
40–45 hours per week
About the role
Do you enjoy researching difficult questions, comparing information from several sources, and finding details that others may have missed?
Universal Air Conditioner is hiring an Automotive Parts Research Specialist to help investigate automotive parts, vehicle applications, product specifications, and catalog discrepancies.
Previous automotive catalog experience is not required. We will train the right person.
This is a research and problem-solving position—not a routine data-entry job. You will use manufacturer websites, OEM parts catalogs, technical documents, product drawings, competitor catalogs, internal records, and structured automotive data to answer questions such as:
- Does this part fit a particular vehicle?
- Are two part numbers equivalent, or are they different products?
- Is an interchange or cross-reference supported by reliable evidence?
- Which specifications can be verified from a technical drawing?
- Is UAC missing coverage for a vehicle or product?
- Does conflicting catalog information need to be corrected or escalated?
Your research will help UAC introduce new products, improve existing catalog information, answer internal product questions, and maintain accurate vehicle coverage.
What you will doResearch automotive parts and vehicle applications
- Research automotive A/C, heating, cooling, and engine-cooling components.
- Use OEM and manufacturer websites to identify parts and vehicle applications.
- Compare part numbers, descriptions, applications, images, drawings, and technical specifications.
- Investigate replacement numbers, supersessions, interchanges, and possible cross-references.
- Identify missing product coverage and potential new-product opportunities.
- Clearly document what the available evidence proves—and what still needs confirmation.
Investigate catalog questions and discrepancies
- Review questions about vehicle fitment, product identity, specifications, and catalog accuracy.
- Compare information from internal records, OEM sources, manufacturers, competitors, and industry catalogs.
- Identify unsupported, incomplete, or conflicting information.
- Recommend corrections or additional research based on documented evidence.
- Communicate findings clearly to Catalog, Product Development, Engineering, Purchasing, and other internal teams.
Research and verify product specifications
- Review product drawings, specification sheets, PDFs, images, and manufacturer documentation.
- Extract clearly labeled dimensions and technical specifications.
- Compare source documents with existing product data.
- Flag missing or conflicting specifications instead of estimating or guessing.
- Help maintain complete and accurate product information.
Support catalog quality and new-product development
- Help maintain accurate part numbers, descriptions, vehicle applications, specifications, attributes, and interchange data.
- Research competitor product coverage and automotive market opportunities.
- Support new-product introductions by gathering and validating the required catalog information.
- Use Excel and internal systems to organize research and analyze product data.
- Learn automotive catalog standards such as ACES and PIES through training.
- Help improve research procedures, documentation, and catalog accuracy.
Who will succeed in this position
You may be a strong fit if you:
- Enjoy online research and solving questions that do not have an obvious answer.
- Are naturally curious and willing to investigate details.
- Can compare several sources without automatically assuming they are all correct.
- Notice small differences in part numbers, descriptions, measurements, and vehicle information.
- Can explain your conclusion and show the evidence behind it.
- Are comfortable learning unfamiliar technical terminology.
- Work carefully and do not guess when evidence is incomplete.
- Can manage several research assignments while keeping your work organized.
- Communicate clearly with coworkers in writing and in person.
Required qualifications
- Strong internet and computer research skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including sorting, filtering, and comparing data.
- Strong attention to detail.
- Good written communication and documentation skills.
- Analytical thinking and problem-solving ability.
- Ability to learn automotive products, terminology, and catalog systems.
- Ability to work full-time at our Mansfield, Texas location.
Helpful but not required
The following experience is helpful, but we encourage you to apply even if you do not have it:
- Automotive parts, repair, service, retail, or distribution experience.
- Product catalog, e-commerce, data-quality, or product-information experience.
- Experience researching technical products or manufacturer information.
- Advanced Excel functions such as XLOOKUP, pivot tables, or INDEX/MATCH.
- Knowledge of ACES, PIES, Auto Care standards, or OEM parts catalogs.
- Experience with vehicle-registration or market data such as Polk.
- ASE Parts Specialist certification.
Training provided
UAC will train the selected candidate in:
- Automotive A/C and engine-cooling products.
- OEM part and vehicle-application research.
- Automotive catalog terminology and standards.
- Cross-reference and interchange research.
- Product drawing and specification review.
- UAC’s catalog systems, research procedures, and evidence standards.
We are more interested in your ability to research carefully, learn quickly, and make evidence-based conclusions than in whether you already know every automotive catalog system.
About UAC
Universal Air Conditioner is a leading supplier in the automotive replacement A/C, heating, and engine-cooling market. Our catalog includes more than 36,000 SKUs, including compressors, condensers, evaporators, radiators, blower motors, hoses, and cooling fans.
UAC products support non-discretionary repairs for internal-combustion, hybrid, and electric vehicles throughout North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
Schedule and compensation
- Full-time, in-person position.
- Starting pay: $24 per hour.
- Expected schedule: 40–45 hours per week.
- Monday through Friday.
- Eight-hour or ten-hour shifts.
- No nights or weekends.
- Bonus opportunities.
- Additional pay of $0.50 per hour for each qualifying ASE Parts Specialist certification:
- P1 — Medium/Heavy Truck Parts Specialist
- P2 — Automobile Parts Specialist
Benefits
- Health insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Life insurance.
- Paid time off.
- Employee discount.
- Opportunities for advancement.
Apply
If you are a careful researcher, enjoy solving product questions, and want to develop specialized automotive knowledge, we encourage you to apply—even if you have not previously worked with automotive catalogs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Commute:
- Mansfield, TX 76063 (Required)
Work Location: In person
