Custom Builder

Carter Lumber; Millersburg (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision coverage

Disability insurance

Life insurance & AD&D

Company-paid 401(k)

Paid vacation & holidays

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Carter Lumber is seeking a skilled Custom Door Builder to assemble and fabricate high-quality millwork according to approved drawings and production notes. You will plan sequences, verify tolerances, and work with minimal supervision to ensure consistent quality and on-time completion.

The role requires experience in cabinetmaking or architectural woodwork, strong attention to detail, and the ability to interpret complex drawings.

Qualifications

• Experienced cabinetmaker or woodworker with demonstrated custom fabrication ability.
• Ability to read architectural drawings, approved shop drawings, sections, details, specifications, and work orders.
• Proficiency with shop math, fractions, geometry, layout, measuring, and tolerance control.
• Knowledge of wood products, veneers, laminates, hardware, joinery, adhesives, machining, sanding, and assembly methods.
• Ability to select an efficient build approach, solve fit and constructability issues, with limited supervision.
• Strong attention to detail, craftsmanship, communication, and accountability for quality and schedule.
• Familiarity with architectural woodwork standards and commercial millwork requirements preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review approved drawings, specs, work orders, and material lists to understand design intent.
• Plan build sequence, joinery, tooling, templates, fixtures, and material usage.
• Verify field dimensions, tolerances, materials, grain direction, and finishes before fabrication.
• Coordinate with Engineering or Production on unclear details.
• Lay out components using drawings or patterns as appropriate.
• Fabricate millwork from hardwood, veneer, plywood, and laminates.
• Assemble using joinery, adhesives, dowels, splines, fasteners, and fixtures.
• Cut, shape, route, drill, sand, and fit components with proper tools.
• Create nonstandard components per approved design.
• Fit moldings, doors, panels, and hardware for proper reveals and operation.
• Develop reusable templates and jigs to improve accuracy and safety.
• Perform inspections for dimensions, square, fit, surface condition, and color match.
• Coordinate handoffs with machining, finishing, and packaging teams.
• Maintain identification of parts and progress records.

Skills

cabinetmaker/woodworker

bench carpenter

custom millwork builder

architectural woodworker

read architectural drawings

shop math & tolerances

wood products & materials

plan build & supervision

attention to detail

communication & accountability

architectural woodwork standards

Job description

A Carter Architectural Millwork Custom Door Builder is responsible for assembling and building doors accurately to ensure a quality product is produced. This is accomplished by completing job orders as directed by the schedule with minimal supervision. Adheres to safety regulations when handling material and equipment. A strong belief in the mission and goals of the company are necessary to this position.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Experienced cabinetmaker, bench carpenter, custom millwork builder, or architectural woodworker with demonstrated custom fabrication ability.
• Strong ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, approved shop drawings, sections, details, specifications, and work orders.
• Proficiency with shop math, fractions, geometry, layout, measuring, and tolerance control.
• Demonstrated knowledge of wood products, veneers, laminates, hardware, joinery, adhesives, machining, sanding, and assembly methods.
• Ability to select an efficient build approach, solve fit and constructability issues, and work with limited supervision.
• Strong attention to detail, craftsmanship, communication, and accountability for quality and schedule.
• Familiarity with architectural woodwork standards and commercial millwork requirements is preferred.

Responsibilities of the Position:

Planning and Work Preparation

• Review approved shop drawings, details, specifications, work orders, material lists, and production notes to understand design intent and quality requirements.
• Plan the build sequence, joinery, tooling, templates, fixtures, material usage, and assembly approach for custom or nonstandard products.
• Verify field dimensions, critical tolerances, revisions, materials, grain direction, veneer sequence, finishes, and hardware before fabrication.
• Identify unclear, conflicting, or unbuildable details and coordinate with Engineering or the Production Supervisor before proceeding.
• Lay out components accurately using drawings, full-size patterns, templates, story poles, or direct measurement as appropriate.

Custom Fabrication and Assembly

• Fabricate custom architectural millwork from hardwood, veneer, plywood, MDF, particleboard, laminates, and other approved materials.
• Build complex assemblies using appropriate joinery, adhesives, dowels, splines, biscuits, fasteners, clamps, jigs, and fixtures.
• Cut, shape, route, drill, sand, scribe, fit, and assemble components using hand tools and stationary or portable woodworking equipment for which the employee is trained and authorized.
• Construct curved, angled, radiused, segmented, sequenced, or otherwise nonstandard components where required by the approved design.
• Fit wood moldings, trim, doors, drawers, panels, hardware, and specialty components to achieve consistent reveals, alignment, and operation.
• Fabricate or integrate solid-surface components when assigned and properly trained, following approved fabrication procedures.
• Develop reusable templates, jigs, or build methods when they improve accuracy, safety, or repeatability without changing approved design intent.

Quality, Coordination, and Production Control

• Perform first-piece and in-process inspections for dimensions, square, fit, joint quality, surface condition, grain and color match, hardware function, and conformity to drawings.
• Build to applicable project specifications, CAM quality requirements, and referenced architectural woodwork standards.
• Communicate material, drawing, tooling, quality, or schedule concerns promptly and recommend practical manufacturing solutions.
• Coordinate handoffs with machining, casework assembly, finishing, solid surface, quality, packaging, and shipping teams.
• Protect completed products and maintain job, part, room, and sequence identification throughout fabrication.
• Record production progress, labor, completed quantities, rework, and material issues in CAM's designated systems or work documentation.
• Provide hands-on guidance and share proven methods with less-experienced team members when requested.

Safety and Workplace Organization

• Follow all machine-guarding, lockout/tagout, dust-control, adhesive, lifting, housekeeping, and personal protective equipment requirements.
• Inspect tools, cords, blades, bits, guards, and fixtures before use and promptly report unsafe conditions or maintenance needs.
• Maintain a clean, organized work area and participate in daily coordination and continuous-improvement activities.

Benefits Provided (full-time employees):

• Health, Dental, and Vision coverage (single and family plans) available after 30 days of employment
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Company-paid life insurance and AD&D
• Optional supplemental life insurance
• Company-match 401(k)
• Vacation time and paid holidays
• Vendor incentives
• Room for growth; we promote from within!
• Military encouraged to apply!