Field Crew Junior Builder

Rippling; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Rippling is seeking a Junior Builder in Los Angeles to support experienced builders while working through various phases of construction. This role involves learning directly from multifaceted projects and contributing to building foundations for a successful construction career.

The ideal candidate will have 1–2 years of site exposure, a physical aptitude for demanding work, and a willingness to learn and grow. We believe in developing our team, offering a pathway toward greater responsibility and possibly ownership as the company evolves.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of site exposure, preferably in residential work.
• Willingness and capability for demanding physical work.
• Ability to take feedback and learn from it quickly.

Responsibilities

• Support and follow the lead of phase leaders during the build.
• Adapt and be proactive in anticipating needs on-site.
• Learn from experienced builders and demonstrate growth.

Skills

Site exposure

Physical capability

Attention to detail

Job description

How This Crew Works

Each member of this crew takes the lead at their phase of the build ‑ and steps back to support when the baton passes. As a Junior Builder, you will follow and support whoever is leading the current phase. That means you'll work under the Framing carpenter during structure, under the Systems Builder during rough‑in, under the Finish carpenter during interiors, and under the Foreman throughout.

That’s not a limitation ‑ it’s the fastest education on a job site that exists. By the time you’ve been through one full build with this crew, you will have worked alongside four different builders at the top of their respective phases. Pay attention. The right person for this crew will see that opportunity clearly.

Mission of the Role

You are here to do the work that needs doing, learn from the people doing it at the highest level, and earn your way into more responsibility. The range is the point. You are building the foundation of what you’ll eventually be great at ‑ and you’re doing it by watching great builders lead, phase by phase.

Focus of the Role

• You support whoever is leading the current phase. That changes as the build progresses. Structure, rough‑in, finish ‑ you will touch all of it. Pay attention at every stage.
• You move fast, you stay alert, and you anticipate what’s needed before you’re asked. A good Junior Builder is one step ahead of the work, not one step behind.
• You take feedback well and act on it immediately. You don’t repeat mistakes. You ask good questions when you’re unclear, and you don’t guess when precision matters.
• You are the most coachable person on the site. You are here to learn ‑ from the Foreman, from the phase leaders, from the work itself. You pay attention to what right looks like when you see it. You are building a picture of the whole, one phase at a time.

What Success Looks Like

• The crew relied on you. Not just for labor ‑ for your attention, your pace, your follow‑through. You made every phase leader’s work easier.
• You’ve been a useful crew member in at least three phases of the build. You understand how each one sets up the next.
• Your instincts are better. You’ve made mistakes and learned from them. You’ve received feedback and used it.
• You’ve started to develop a sense for which phase speaks to you most. That’s the beginning of a real career. The Foreman has already noticed.

Our Part

We will not use you as a body to move materials and leave it at that. You will work alongside experienced builders who are invested in developing your skills. The rotating nature of this crew means you’ll learn from four different builders in a single project ‑ each one leading at their best. Come ready to learn and you will leave every project sharper than you arrived.

Core Competencies

• 1–2 years of site exposure ‑ residential preferred, but what matters more is that you’ve shown up, worked hard, and paid attention.
• You are physically capable and willing. This is demanding work, in the heat, on your feet, all day.
• You take pride in doing small things well. The person who cleans up after themselves, stacks material cleanly, and listens the first time ‑ that’s who we want.
• You are here because you want to become a great builder. Not because it’s a job. That difference shows up every day and we’ll know it quickly.

Compensation & Ownership

We pay fairly and we develop our people. As Riley Projects moves toward employee ownership (ESOP), the team being built today is the team that will have a stake in what this becomes. We’ll talk through the full picture when we meet.

Multi‑trade · Full build cycle

You don’t have it all figured out yet. That’s fine. What matters is that you’re ready to put in the work, take direction well, and grow fast.

About Riley Projects

We’re a small design‑build firm doing high‑craft custom residential work in Los Angeles. Designer, project manager, and field crew under one roof. We’re building toward employee ownership ‑ the people who help build this company have a real stake in what it becomes. We’re serious about developing the people on our team, not just using them.