Shop Production Manager / Junior Designer

KGBL; New York (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

KGBL designs and handcrafts unapologetically modern furniture in our Brooklyn workshop, working across wood, metal, glass, stone and upholstery. We are seeking a Shop Production Manager / Junior Designer to oversee day-to-day production and contribute to new and custom work, coordinating fabrication and developing 3D models, shop drawings, and client-facing approvals.

This hands-on role blends technical modeling, production planning, and creative development with room to grow, reporting to the

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in a custom furniture, millwork, or fabrication shop environment, or a design role with substantial shop exposure.
• Robust 3D computer modeling and rendering skills (Rhino, SolidWorks, AutoCAD or equivalent).
• Demonstrated design sensibility with a portfolio of furniture, objects, or interiors work.
• Deep understanding of fabrication coordination across wood, metal, glass, stone, and upholstery.
• Strong working knowledge of Excel/Google Sheets, including building dynamic, formula-driven spreadsheets.
• Understanding of and interest in the contemporary furniture and design landscape.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and timelines.
• Strong communication skills across design, sales, and shop teams.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.
• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day shop production and coordinate fabrication schedules across materials.
• Own the production tracker from order through crating and shipping.
• Coordinate with outside vendors and fabricators for specialty materials and finishes.
• Manage material sourcing, ordering, and inventory across production categories.
• Troubleshoot production issues and quality control across fabrication stages.
• Build and maintain dynamic spreadsheets to track production schedules, materials, costs, and timelines.
• Partner with design and marketing/sales teams to scope custom and architectural projects with feasible timelines.

Skills

3D modeling

Rhino

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Portfolio development

Shop coordination

Excel/Sheets

Bilingual English/Spanish

Adobe Creative Suite

Fabrication knowledge

Tools

Rhino

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

KGBL designs and manufactures unapologetically modern, meticulously handcrafted furniture and objects in our Brooklyn workshop, working across wood, metal, glass, stone and upholstery. Our practice spans fine art-caliber furniture production, custom millwork and full architectural/residential projects.

THE ROLE

We're looking for a Shop Production Manager / Junior Designer to oversee day-to-day production across our workshop while contributing directly to the design of new and custom work. You'll coordinate fabrication across every material we work in, and you'll be at the drawing board — developing 3D models, shop drawings, and client-facing design approvals for custom pieces.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone early in their career with genuine shop fluency and design ambition: equal parts technical (modeling, drawing, production planning), operational (coordinating makers, tracking materials, managing timelines), and creative (developing custom pieces alongside the design team).

You'll work directly with our founder and design lead, with room for the the role to grow as you demonstrate range.

PRODUCTION & SHOP MANAGEMENT

• Oversee day-to-day shop production, coordinating fabrication schedules across wood, metal, glass, stone and upholstery
• Own the production tracker — keep every piece current on status, due dates, and next steps from order through crating and shipping
• Coordinate with outside vendors and fabricators across specialty materials and finishes, including veneer layup, upholstery, stone and glass and metal plating
• Manage material sourcing, ordering, and inventory across all production categories, including receipt and routing of COM/COL fabric and leather
• Troubleshoot production issues and quality control across all stages of fabrication
• Build and maintain dynamic spreadsheets to track production schedules, material orders, costs, and timelines
• Partner with design and marketing/sales teams to scope custom and architectural projects, providing realistic timelines and production feasibility input

DESIGN & DRAWING

• Create and maintain robust 3D models and renderings for new designs, custom client work, and shop drawings
• Translate design concepts into accurate technical drawings and cut lists for fabrication
• Produce client-facing drawings for approval (DFAs) and carry them through revisions to sign-off
• Develop custom variations of existing KGBL pieces — dimensions, materials, finishes, and hardware — in collaboration with the design team
• Specify and source materials, finishes, and hardware; prepare and coordinate samples for client approval
• Contribute to the development of new pieces for the KGBL collection, from sketch through prototype
• Maintain a working knowledge of the contemporary furniture and design landscape to inform material choices, finishes, and production standards

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2–5 years in a custom furniture, millwork, or fabrication shop environment, or a design role with substantial shop exposure
• Robust 3D computer modeling and rendering skills (e.g. Rhino, SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated design sensibility, supported by a portfolio of furniture, object, or interior work
• Deep understanding of fabrication coordination across wood, metal, glass, stone, and upholstery
• Strong working knowledge of Excel/Google Sheets, including building dynamic, formula-driven spreadsheets
• Understanding of and interest in the contemporary furniture and design landscape
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and timelines
• Strong communication skills across design, sales, and shop teams
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
• Adobe Creative Suite proficiency a plus