About Us

Since 1979 MHQ, Inc. has been the premier public safety and public works vehicle upfitter in New England. MHQ is family owned and operated and has a long lineage in the automotive world extending back to 1948 when our founder first owned Harr Ford in Worcester, Massachusetts. Our Marlborough, Massachusetts location is our corporate headquarters and our largest upfitting facility. We provide the vehicle, the equipment, the paint, the graphics and the industry expertise to put it all together for our customers under one roof.

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Under The Hood

Is the shop heated? Air conditioned?

The shop is heated. It is not currently air conditioned, however it is cooled by high velocity fans.

What is the size of the team I’d be working with?

There are approximately 40 employees currently working on the production team in this facility. This includes employees in paint, graphics, installation, pre-assembly, quick-turn service and logistics. Employees working just on installs work alone or in teams of 2-3 people.

What are the shop hours and what are the shift timeframes?

Standard hours are from 7:00AM to 3:30PM, Monday through Friday. There is some flexibility in start and stop times for employees who have demonstrated maturity, good safety practices and productivity.

What tools does the shop provide that are available for all technicians to use?

MHQ will provide the following items: • Drill bits • Hole saws • Connectors • Fuses • Tape 3M • Tessa cloth tape • Zip ties • Mounting hardware • Toolbox • PPE (safety glasses, hearing protection) • Air line for air tools • Razor blades • Heat shrink • Silicone glue Tools that technicians should be equipped with: • Crimpers • Wire strippers • Flush cuts (for cutting zip-ties) • Power probe (for testing 12v power and ground) • Socket and socket wrenches 5.5mm-21mm • Allen keys • Trox’s set • Cordless impact drill • Cordless drill • Flashlight • Phillips and Flathead screwdriver • Plastic pry tool • Utility knife • Butane torch • Pry bar • Pick set

What type of break room facility is provided?

There are multiple break areas provided. Employees can relax near the production floor at high-top tables, or enjoy a conference room style break area near the office, or go outside on the lawn. There are multiple refrigerators, microwave ovens, and kitchenettes available.

How many bays does your shop have?

MHQ is not a repair facility and the floor is not organized the way a car dealership or maintenance facility would be. We typically have about 60 vehicles in some stage of production on the floor.

How many repair orders do you average per month?

MHQ is not a repair facility. The Marlboro location typically produces up to 2,000 vehicle builds per year. Some builds take as little as 6 hours. Other builds as many as 150 hours.

What is your parts ordering process?

All of the parts necessary for the build are supplied to the installer on carts, or if the parts are very large, such as a K9 unit, they will be brought to the floor by forklift. If an installer needs a part during the build process, they can obtain it through the parts warehouse or the parts vending machine.

What is your policy on side work?

Employees are not allowed to perform work on the side for any customer of MHQ or for anyone who may be a customer of MHQ. MHQ specializes in serving the government market and certain commercial markets. Employees may do vehicle customization work for friends and family as long as they are not members of law enforcement or other public agency employees. For further information refer to the MHQ Code of Ethics & Conduct.

Are there any other unique features of the work environment worth noting?

Unlike at typical car dealership or repair facility, our production floor is very clean and odor free. Once a vehicle is inside the building it is deenergized for the duration of the build process. Occasionally a siren will go off during the install process so it can be unexpectedly loud, but that is the exception!

Do you offer any skills training or continuing education opportunities?

Yes. We offer IPC-A-620 training as well as ongoing OEM training on all equipment installed on our vehicles. Employees may also receive tuition reimbursement for any outside coursework related to their current employment or that prepares them for promotional opportunities in our company.

Can you describe opportunities for career growth at your business?

There a multiple growth pathways for installers and technicians who join our team. We have employees who started as Automotive Equipment Installers who went on to be shop foreman, then production manager, then general manager. We also have Installers who went from the production floor into our sales team as account managers and sales engineers.

Can you describe your performance review process?

Annual performance reviews are conducted in January & February each year. Employees that meet or exceed performance expectations are eligible for a merit increase which goes in to effect the first pay day in April each year. Pay increase may occur throughout the year based on promotion, assignment of additional responsibilities and to adjust to market rates.

What type of safety training is required?

Annual Right-to-Know training is conducted by an outside firm. Internal safety training is job specific and conducted by the shop foreman, or the compliance officer. Hot Works training is required by the Commonwealth for all positions on our production floor.

Can you describe how Techs work with and mentor younger techs?

This depends upon the position. More experienced technicians, regardless of their age, are paired with less experienced technicians to teach the less experienced technicians the build process. In the pre-assembly area, one experienced employee will work with a small group of less experienced employees to learn the assembly processes.

How does your shop get involved with the local community?

MHQ is represented on the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation board of directors and is also a member of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. We provide vehicles for community parades as well as for law enforcement funeral processions.

Do you do anything with local high schools or tech schools to encourage more students to enter the profession?

Yes, we currently have a co-op program with a local vocational high school to give students the opportunity to learn the various positions available in our industry. We would love the opportunity to connect with more schools for this purpose.

Where do you see the shop in five years?

Really busy! We have been really busy for over 40 years and we only see it getting busier. Technology in the base vehicle and all of the equipment that goes in it is evolving so quickly it is difficult to keep up with! Once upon a time a police car had one bubblegum light, a push bumper, a siren and a radio. Now these vehicles are equipped with multiple communication devices, personal safety devices, dozens of computer controlled lights, gun racks, storage units, computers, printers, radar, cameras and more.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about career development and community?

Many of our employees have a high regard for our first responders and take great pride in building their vehicles. It is pretty cool to see your work product everyday patrolling the highway or serving in the community where you live.

Do you have an application form and how long does it typically take to complete?

We have a quick apply form on our website. It takes about a minute to complete. Once we have determined the applicant has a serious interest in one of our positions we ask them to submit a full job application which can take 10-15 minutes to complete depending on the work history of the applicant.

Do you phone screen applicants before doing in-person interviews?

Yes. The phone screen is used to confirm the applicants interest level, the distance they would be commuting, the pay they would like to receive, whether the applicant is currently working, and what times they could be available for an in-person interview.

What do your in-person interviews entail?

The applicant will come to our Marlborough facility. They will be given instructions ahead of time on where to park, what door to go to and how to gain access to our locked facility. The applicant will meet with either the production manager or the general manager, sometimes both, depending upon the position. The interview will usually start in a conference room. The applicant will be asked questions to determine the familiarity with the role and the responsibilities. They will be asked about their prior work history. The applicant will be given a tour of the production area and will be given a chance to ask as many questions as they like about the company and the position. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Do you perform background checks, drug screening, or personality tests before hiring an applicant?

Prior to the interview we do a Predictive Index Survey, which helps us determine if the applicants behavior aligns with the behavior required to be successful on the job. After we have made an offer of employment and the applicant accepts the offer, we conduct a criminal background check and a social security number verification through a third party agency. We require a pre-employment physical and drug screen at the local occupational health facility. We do not screen for marijuana.

Do you perform a skill assessment before hiring an applicant? If yes, what does it entail?

There is no formal skill assessment test. During the interview, the applicant will be asked questions pertaining to information that they would be expected to know based on their years of experience in the industry. For an entry level position the focus will be more on interest, attitude and aptitude.

After an in-person interview, approximately how long should I expect to wait for a rejection or an offer?

Two business days.

Approximately how long does the full hiring process take from submitting the application to the time of the hiring decision?

This depends upon the availability of the applicant to come to an interview and the hiring manager to be available. It has taken as little as 24 hours and as long as 2 weeks.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention about your hiring process?

We are very responsive to applicants and welcome open communication from applicants regarding their requirements.

Automotive Equipment Installer Pay Range: $46,000 - $132,000/year

Entry level Automotive Equipment Installers typically start at $20-$22 per hour. Experienced installers make $35-$40 per hour. This is an hourly rate, NOT flat rate. Overtime is usually available and sometimes mandatory during our fleet build season. Overtime is paid at time and a half.

Pre-Assembly Technician Pay Range: $33,280 - $41,600/year

Pre-Assembly Technicians typically start at $16-$18 per hour. Experienced technicians make $20-$22 per hour. This is an hourly rate, NOT flat rate. Overtime is usually available and paid at time and a half.

Health Insurance Offered: For 2022 employees have a choice of Harvard Pilgrim HMO or Harvard Pilgrim PPO. Family option or employee-only option available. MHQ, Inc. pays the second half of the deductible through a Health Reimbursement Arrangement on all plans. For 2022, the employee-only HMO requires an employee contribution of $34.96 per week. For the family HMO the employee contribution is $186.42 per week. For the employee-only PPO it is $70.72 per week and for the family PPO it is $199.18 per week. New employees are eligible for health coverage on the first day of the month following their date of hire. Only full-time employees are eligible for health insurance.
Dental Insurance Offered: For 2022 MHQ offers Guardian Dental PPO for dental coverage. Employee-only contribution per week is $7.35. Family contribution per week is $21.50. New employees are eligible for dental coverage on the first day of the month following their date of hire. Only full-time employees are eligible for dental insurance.
Vision Insurance Offered: For 2022 MHQ offers Guardian Insurance through the VSP network. Employee-only contribution per week is $3.12 per week. Family contribution per week is $1.45. New employees are eligible for vision coverage on the first date of the month following their date of hire. Only full-time employees are eligible for vision insurance.
Retirement Plan Offered: MHQ offers a Fidelity 401k Plan. Employees are eligible to enroll on the first day of the quarter starting after their date of hire. MHQ matches $0.25 for each $1.00 the employee contributes, capped at 1% of the employee gross earnings. The 401k plan is available to full and part time employees.
Sick Leave Offered: MHQ offers paid sick leave conforming to the Massachusetts Sick Leave Law. Sick Leave is earned at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, and is capped at 40 hours per calendar year. Unused sick leave is paid out in January of the following year. Sick leave is available to full and part time employees.
Vacation Offered: Vacation time or PTO is earned and taken on a calendar year basis. Employees are eligible for PTO up to 5 days in their first year of employment, up to 10 days after their first year and through their 5th year. Up to 15 days after their 5th year. Up to 5 days of earned but unused PTO can be carried in to the following calendar year. Vacation or PTO time is only available to full time employees.
Paid Holidays Offered: Full time employees receive 9 paid holidays each year. Some holidays are assigned by MHQ and the balance will be floating holidays. Each year MHQ distributes the holiday calendar identifying the assigned holidays. Floating holidays may be taken at any time during the year. Part time employees are not eligible for holiday pay.
ST / LT Disability Offered: MHQ offers company paid short term disability through UNUM. This policy replaces up to $1,250 per week, for 26 weeks, of employee income in the event of an illness or injury not related to work. Employees may purchase optional long term disability coverage through American Fidelity Assurance Company.
Life Insurance Offered: MHQ offers company paid life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance through UNUM, equal to the employee's annual gross income, in increments of $1,000. Employees may purchase additional optional coverage through UNUM for themselves, their spouse and their children.
Uniforms Not Offered: Our employees are not exposed to oils, solvents, or other substances that would damage their clothing. Employees are free to wear the clothes that they are most comfortable working in as long as the clothes do not present a safety hazard for the employee or could possibly damage vehicles or equipment.
Other Offered: MHQ provides quarterly employee lunches with state-of-the-company updates. We also provides periodic off-site, after-hours events that are optional for employees to attend. MHQ provides MA PFML coverage through UNUM in coordination with the UNUM short term disability policy. MA PFML allows employees to take up to 12 weeks of bonding leave within 52 weeks of the birth or adoption of a child. It allows up to 20 weeks to care for your own serious health issue, up to 12 weeks to care for a family member, or up to 26 weeks for caring for a family member injured in the armed forces.

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