Sr. Cabinet Maker (Wood Worker)

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Custom Cabinet Maker — Independent Contractor

Location: Vernon Hills, Illinois
Schedule: Approximately 40 hours per week, in person
Engagement Type: Independent Contractor

Position Overview

This is a senior-level, hands-on position for an experienced craftsperson who understands custom cabinetry from technical drawings through final assembly. The right person will be comfortable taking ownership of complex work, identifying potential issues before they become problems, and maintaining a high standard of quality, accuracy, and efficiency.

This is not an entry-level cabinet assembly position. The ideal candidate must be capable of reading detailed blueprints, understanding construction intent, independently solving fabrication challenges, and providing meaningful feedback to engineering and production leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and assemble high-quality custom cabinetry, architectural millwork, and specialty components.
• Independently complete complex cabinetry projects with limited supervision.
• Construct frameless, framed, and framed inset cabinetry.
• Read and interpret blueprints, shop drawings, engineering drawings, specifications, cut lists, and hardware instructions.
• Install and adjust specialty hardware, including pivot doors, pocket-door systems, concealed hardware, drawer systems, and other advanced mechanisms.
• Verify dimensions, materials, machining, hardware requirements, and construction details before and during production.
• Identify design, engineering, material, or production concerns and communicate them promptly to the production manager and engineering team.
• Collaborate closely with engineers to clarify details, resolve conflicts, and improve the manufacturability of custom designs.
• Inspect work throughout the production process and identify quality issues before pieces move to the next stage.
• Troubleshoot fit, finish, alignment, reveals, tolerances, and hardware-operation issues.
• Provide constructive feedback to the production manager regarding quality, workflow, tooling, and production challenges.
• Help improve production methods, processes, quality-control standards, and overall efficiency.
• Use digital systems to access blueprints, specifications, project information, hardware documentation, and production updates.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe work area.
• Handle materials and completed components carefully to prevent damage.
• Work independently while also contributing positively as part of a collaborative production team.
• Support and guide less-experienced team members when appropriate.
• Take responsibility for completing assigned work accurately, efficiently, and to CraftedWild’s quality standards.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in custom cabinetry, architectural millwork, woodworking, and/or woodworking production.
• Demonstrated ability to independently build complex custom cabinetry.
• Strong knowledge of frameless, framed, and framed inset cabinet construction.
• Experience installing and adjusting advanced hardware, including pivot and pocket-door systems.
• Ability to read and interpret detailed blueprints, shop drawings, specifications, and hardware instructions.
• Strong understanding of cabinet construction, joinery, materials, hardware, tolerances, and finishing preparation.
• Experience using professional woodworking machinery, hand tools, and power tools.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Ability to recognize quality problems, construction conflicts, and missing information.
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate clearly with production leadership, engineering, and other team members.
• Comfortable using computers, tablets, mobile applications, and cloud-based systems to access project information.
• Dependable, organized, self-directed, and capable of managing priorities.
• Strong interest in continuous improvement, efficiency, and better production practices.
• Ability to work approximately 40 hours per week in person at our Vernon Hills facility.

Tools and Equipment Experience

Candidates should have experience with many of the following:

• Lamello joining systems
• Biscuit joiners
• Dowel machines
• Jointers
• Planers
• Table saws and panel saws
• Miter saws
• Routers and router tables
• Sanders and other surface-preparation equipment
• Drills, drivers, and fastening systems
• Cabinet assembly and clamping equipment
• Measuring, layout, and precision-inspection tools
• Cabinet hardware installation jigs and templates
• Standard woodworking hand and power tools

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-end residential cabinetry and architectural millwork.
• Experience with European cabinet hardware and specialty systems.
• Familiarity with Blum, Hettich, HAWA, Cinetto, or comparable hardware systems.
• Experience working from CNC-produced components.
• Understanding of grain direction, veneer sequencing, panel alignment, and grain-matched cabinetry.
• Experience with premium materials, hardwoods, veneers, laminates, and prefinished panels.
• Experience identifying opportunities to improve production flow, quality, and labor efficiency.
• Ability to help train or mentor other cabinet makers and assemblers.

What Success Looks Like

A successful Senior Custom Cabinet Maker at CraftedWild:

• Can receive a set of drawings and independently plan and execute the work.
• Produces cabinetry that is accurate, clean, square, properly aligned, and ready for the next stage.
• Raises questions early when drawings, dimensions, or specifications are unclear.
• Does not knowingly pass quality issues to the next person or department.
• Communicates proactively with the production manager and engineering team.
• Treats each project as a shared responsibility and takes pride in the finished result.
• Looks for ways to improve quality, consistency, workflow, and efficiency.
• Can be trusted with challenging, highly customized, and detail-sensitive projects.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and work on the production floor for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, position, and assemble cabinetry components and sheet goods safely.
• Ability to bend, reach, kneel, and perform repetitive production tasks.
• Ability to safely operate woodworking machinery, hand tools, and power tools.
• Ability to work in an active woodworking and manufacturing environment.

Compensation

Compensation is based on experience, technical capability, independence, quality of work, and overall fit. Range: $28-35 / hour

About CraftedWild Cabinetry
CraftedWild Cabinetry designs, engineers, fabricates, and installs high-quality custom cabinetry and architectural millwork. Our projects range from modern frameless cabinetry to complex, highly detailed custom work involving framed inset construction, specialty hardware, premium materials, and one-of-a-kind solutions.
We are looking for an experienced Senior Custom Cabinet Maker who can independently execute challenging projects while collaborating closely with our production manager, engineers, project managers, and other members of the production team.

Company Description

About CraftedWild Cabinetry\nCraftedWild Cabinetry designs, engineers, fabricates, and installs high-quality custom cabinetry and architectural millwork. Our projects range from modern frameless cabinetry to complex, highly detailed custom work involving framed inset construction, specialty hardware, premium materials, and one-of-a-kind solutions.\nWe are looking for an experienced Senior Custom Cabinet Maker who can independently execute challenging projects while collaborating closely with our production manager, engineers, project managers, and other members of the production team.