Lead Builder/Maker/Cabinet Maker | Exhibits, Events | Woodridge, IL

PINNACLE; Woodridge (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Life insurance

Long term disability

Job summary

Pinnacle in Woodridge, IL is seeking a Lead Builder for its fabrication team. You will lead a small crew to fabricate high-end, custom environments for trade shows, using carpentry skills, CNC parts, and a variety of wood materials.

You will interpret detailed shop drawings, coordinate with designers and PMs, and ensure projects run smoothly from kickoff to shipment. The role requires extensive hands-on experience in cabinet shop or scenic fabrication, leadership capability, and strong

Qualifications

• 4+ years of professional cabinet shop or scenic fabrication experience; 5 years of lead or supervisory experience in the exhibit industry or a related field
• Problem solvers: ability to infer assembly sequence from drawings
• Detail-oriented: emphasis on tight seams and flush laminates
• Team players: operate in a collaborative shop with tight deadlines
• Knowledge of exhibit industry practices, electrical requirements and safety of hand/power tools
• Experience with CNC operation or assembly of CNC-routed parts

Responsibilities

• Lead projects and assign work for 1–5 builders
• Assist with warehouse setup and tear-down for previews
• Set up shop load-out and onsite crews
• Fabricate custom, large-scale exhibits using finish carpentry skills and hand tools
• Read blueprints and cut lists to determine fabrication requirements
• Coordinate with project managers, designers and detailers
• Assemble CNC parts for cabinets, counters and walls
• Manage projects from start to finish (kick-off to shipment)
• Ensure damage inspection reports are completed
• Maintain safety and organized shop environment
• Flexible hours and ability to work overtime when busy

Skills

Cabinet shop experience

Lead/supervisory experience

Problem solving

Detail-oriented

Team collaboration

Exhibit industry knowledge

Tool operation

Quality control

Project coordination

Independent work

Strong communication

Prioritization

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Table saws

Routers

Miter saws

Pneumatic fasteners

CNC operation

Job description

Want to make cool stuff with your hands?

We are doing some incredible things here at Pinnacle. We’re all about challenging convention and doing the hard work it takes to create mind-blowing digital and physical experiences, events, exhibits and environments for some of the world’s top brands. Our Rules of Engagement—being gracious, invested and creative—reward imagination and encourage disruptive thinking in the pursuit of flawless execution for our clients.

We are based in Portland, Oregon with facilities in both Northern and Southern California, Chicago, Illinois, Raleigh Durham, North Carolina and Connecticut! We are recruiting for a talented LeadBuilderto work in our Woodridge, IL facility. Our builders work with a skilled team of designers and fabricators to produce innovative brand experiences.

Unlike residential cabinetry where you build the same boxes every day, we build high-end, custom environments for trade shows. Every week is a different project. If you enjoy precision fabrication, working with diverse materials, and seeing a massive structure come together from a set of prints, this is the spot for you.

Some nuts and bolts about what our Builders do on the daily:

Duties:

• You will build cool stuff! You can see it, touch it and smell it and be proud of what you’ve made!
• You’ll lead projects—line out work for one to five builders, help the warehouse set-up and tear-down projects for previews, manage shop load-out, and set-up onsite crews for success.
• Using your general finish carpentry experience, you’ll use table saws, routers and all kinds of hand tools to fabricate custom, large-scale exhibits, events activations, environments!
• Work with Project Managers, Designers, Detailers, and other shop members to determine the best way to construct something. You’ll look at detail drawings and solve the puzzle.
• You’ll assemble CNC parts to create cabinets, counters, walls, fixtures.
• You’ll laminate, peel laminate and laminate some more.
• You’ll get to be creative and tactical all day every day.
• Fabrication: Building custom counters, kiosks, and large-scale booth structures from plywood, MDF, and hardwoods.
• Laminating: Proficient use of high-pressure laminates (HPL) and veneers.
• Blueprint Reading: Working from detailed shop drawings and cut lists to assemble complex units.
• Tool Operation: Safe and expert use of table saws, routers, miter saws, and pneumatic fasteners.
• Read and interpret blueprints, drawings, and sketches to determine specifications and material requirements for fabrication of multiple complex projects
• Manage projects from start to finish (kick-off to shipment)
• Assist warehouse personnel with damage inspections and reports
• Lead an assigned team of builders
• Determine material requirements
• Wire LEDs and other low-voltage electrical

We are an energetic and creative bunch and have high expectations for all of our employees. In addition to being fun to work with, we would like to hire someone with the following experience, skills, etc:

• 4+ years of professional experience in a cabinet shop or scenic fabrication environment. 5 years of lead or supervisory experience in the exhibit industry or a related field
• Problem Solvers: You can look at a drawing and figure out the best assembly sequence.
• Detail-Oriented: Tight seams and flush laminates are a must.
• Team Players: We work in a collaborative shop environment with tight deadlines.
• Knowledge of exhibit industry practices and procedures, building and electrical requirements
• Knowledge of the safe operation of hand and power tools and equipment
• Basic rigging skills
• Intermediate computer skills
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team with a positive attitude
• Strong written and oral communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively manage/coordinate simultaneous projects and successfully prioritize multiple tasks using good judgment
• Organized, accurate, able to follow the specifications/budget of each job
• Able to work long hours when needed
• Any high school, college or industry courses in carpentry preferred
• Experience with CNC operation or assembly of CNC-routed parts.
• Knowledge of specialty hardware (cam locks, hanging brackets, LED integration).
• You pay attention to the details—you have a dedication to excellence. You take pride in your work.
• You can work some crazy hours. We get busy!

Working conditions/physical demands:

• Usual wood shop working conditions
• Noise and dust level in the work environment is typical of most wood shop environments
• Frequently required to stand, communicate, reach, lift and manipulate objects. The position requires mobility. Duties involve moving materials weighing up to 60 pounds on a regular basis. Manual dexterity and coordination are required for over 90% of the work period while operating typical fabrication equipment.
• Hours: M-F, 6:00am – 4:30 pm, weekend work when required.

Our culture is important to us, and we are looking to hire interesting, enthusiastic people who enjoy working hard and helping our clients build their brands. We believe we can build a more creative, nimble, and devoted workforce to provide better service to our clients if we focus on both diversity and inclusion. Pinnacle is at its best when everyone is respected, included, and heard. We believe in creating a work environment where everyone can show up as themselves and feel empowered to do their best work every day. We are a team-based company with each employee operating at the individual contributor level meaning we all have to be the experts at what we bring to the table. It’s energizing and challenging and rewarding!

We offer a well-rounded benefits package that includes:

• PTO
• medical
• dental
• vision
• 401(k)
• life insurance
• long term disability

We are looking for full and part time folks.