Senior furniture maker

Critical Playground LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team lunches

Social events

Professional development opportunities

Potential for progression

Job summary

Jan Hendzel Studio in London is seeking a senior furniture maker to join our award-winning team. The role focuses on solid timber production, bespoke commissions, and sculptural pieces, with a pathway to permanent employment or workshop leadership as the business grows.

Based in South East London, the in-person role requires five days per week and immediate start; you will interpret technical drawings, lead projects through production, mentor juniors, and uphold high standards of quality and

Qualifications

• Minimum five years’ professional experience in bespoke furniture making or fine joinery.
• Extensive experience with solid timber and hardwood furniture construction.
• Excellent understanding of traditional and contemporary joinery techniques.
• Strong woodworking machine and bench joinery experience.
• Ability to read and work confidently from technical drawings.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of timber grain, movement and material selection.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to work efficiently under deadlines.
• Positive, proactive and collaborative attitude.
• Passion for craftsmanship and continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Manufacture high-end bespoke furniture and joinery to an exceptional standard.
• Interpret technical drawings and specifications accurately.
• Lead projects through all stages of production, from material preparation to final assembly.
• Develop practical solutions to complex joinery and production challenges.
• Work closely with designers, suppliers and external collaborators.
• Mentor and support junior furniture makers and apprentices.
• Maintain workshop systems, organisation and quality control standards.
• Keep accurate records of project and production time.
• Ensure machinery, hand tools and workshop equipment are maintained to a high standard.
• Contribute positively to a collaborative and ambitious workshop culture.

Skills

5+ yrs exp

Solid timber

Joinery techniques

Technical drawings

Problem solving

Organisational skills

Collaboration

Craftsmanship

Attention to detail

Continuous development

Tools

CNC programming

Lathe operation

Three-axis CNC

Job description

Jan Hendzel Studio is seeking a senior furniture maker to join its team in London.

South East London, full-time, freelance with potential to become permanent.

Join our workshop

Jan Hendzel Studio is looking for an experienced furniture maker to join our award winning team. We create expressive furniture, sculptural objects and bespoke interiors that combine impeccable design, craft and precision.

Working primarily with British-grown timbers, we push the boundaries of what can be achieved with wood while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality, longevity and responsible production. Our projects range from one-off bespoke commissions and commercial joinery to public-facing sculptures, artist collaborations and our own furniture collections exhibited internationally.

As our business continues to grow, we are looking for an experienced senior furniture maker to join our workshop team. This role offers the opportunity to work on ambitious and technically demanding projects, with the potential to develop into a permanent position and, for the right candidate, progress into a workshop manager role as the business grows. However, this is not a requirement, and we are equally interested in hearing from exceptional makers who wish to remain focused on workmanship and production.

This is an in-person role based in our South East London workshop, ideally five days per week, with an immediate start preferred.

The role

We are looking for a highly skilled and proactive furniture maker with substantial experience in solid timber furniture production. Our work is often technically challenging and sculptural in nature, requiring a strong understanding of joinery, material behaviour and production processes.

You will play a key role in bringing projects from concept to completion, contributing practical solutions to design challenges while helping maintain high standards of quality, efficiency and workshop organisation.

Due to the bespoke and project-led nature of our work, some flexibility around working hours and occasional additional time may be required to help meet project deadlines.

Key responsibilities:

• manufacture high-end bespoke furniture and joinery to an exceptional standard
• interpret technical drawings and specifications accurately
• lead projects through all stages of production, from material preparation to final assembly
• develop practical solutions to complex joinery and production challenges
• work closely with designers, suppliers and external collaborators
• mentor and support junior furniture makers and apprentices
• maintain workshop systems, organisation and quality control standards
• keep accurate records of project and production time
• ensure machinery, hand tools and workshop equipment are maintained to a high standard
• contribute positively to a collaborative and ambitious workshop culture

Skills and experience

Essential:

• minimum five years’ professional experience in bespoke furniture making or fine joinery
• extensive experience working with solid timber and hardwood furniture construction
• excellent understanding of traditional and contemporary joinery techniques
• strong woodworking machine and bench joinery experience
• ability to read and work confidently from technical drawings
• excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• understanding of timber grain, movement and material selection
• strong organisational skills and ability to work efficiently under deadlines
• positive, proactive and collaborative attitude
• passion for craftsmanship and continuous professional development

Highly desirable:

• eight to ten plus years’ of professional furniture-making experience
• CNC programming and operation experience (three-axis CNC)
• experience producing one-off bespoke pieces as well as batch production work
• lathe experience and confidence with complex timber turning
• ability to design and manufacture custom jigs and workshop solutions
• experience managing projects and coordinating workshop workflows
• furniture installation and site-fitting experience

Of interest:

• experience working with reclaimed and sustainable timbers
• understanding of green timber applications
• design training or design-led project experience
• interest in material innovation and timber culture

About you

You are an experienced furniture maker who takes pride in producing exceptional work. You combine technical skill with curiosity, initiative and a genuine passion for design and craft.

You enjoy solving problems, collaborating with others and contributing to a workshop environment where quality, creativity and continuous improvement are valued. You are comfortable taking ownership of projects and helping less experienced makers develop their skills.

A comprehensive set of personal hand tools would be necessary.

What we offer

• opportunity to work on unique and ambitious design-led projects
• day rate based on your experience, with a structured review and increase at three months
• clear potential for long-term progression as the studio grows
• professional development and specialist training opportunities
• a supportive, creative and collaborative workshop environment
• the chance to help shape the culture and future direction of a growing business
• team lunches prepared on a rotating basis
• summer and Christmas social events, plus occasional team activities

www.janhendzel.com