Custom Builder

Carter Lumber Company; Millersburg (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Paid holidays

Career growth

Job summary

Carter Lumber Company is seeking an experienced cabinetmaker to assemble and fabricate custom millwork once orders are scheduled. The role emphasizes accuracy, safety, and adherence to architectural details to ensure quality products.

The candidate will read shop drawings, plan build sequences, and work with limited supervision while maintaining high craftsmanship and on-time delivery. This is a full-time, on-site position with opportunities for growth.

Qualifications

• Experienced cabinetmaker, bench carpenter, or architectural woodworker with custom fabrication ability.
• Strong ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, shop drawings, and work orders.
• Proficiency with shop math, geometry, layout, measuring, and tolerance control.
• Knowledge of wood products, veneers, laminates, hardware, joinery, adhesives, machining, sanding, and assembly methods.

Responsibilities

• Plan the build sequence, joinery, tooling, templates, fixtures, material usage, and assembly approach for custom products.
• Fabricate millwork from hardwood, veneer, plywood, MDF, laminates and other approved materials.
• Build complex assemblies with joinery, adhesives, dowels, splines, biscuits, fasteners, clamps, jigs, and fixtures.
• Cut, shape, route, drill, sand, fit, and assemble components using hand tools and powered equipment.
• Construct curved, angled, radiused, segmented, or nonstandard components as required by design.
• Fit moldings, trim, doors, panels, hardware, and specialty components for proper alignment and operation.
• Develop reusable templates, jigs, or build methods to improve accuracy and safety.
• Perform inspections for dimensions, square, fit, surface condition, and conformity to drawings.
• Coordinate with machining, finishing, quality, and shipping teams to ensure smooth handoffs.

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.

• 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!