Lead Guitar Technician

The Set-Up Lead is responsible for leading daily operations related to quality control, inspection, set-up, and repair of stringed instruments within a high-volume production environment. This role serves as both a technical expert and team leader, ensuring instruments meet manufacturing specifications and are in proper playing condition prior to distribution.

The Set-Up Lead drives workflow efficiency, trains and mentors technicians, and ensures adherence to quality standards, safety guidelines, and operational procedures. This role acts as a subject matter expert in guitar set-up and repair while supporting batch processing and continuous improvement initiatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

Leadership & Operations:

• Lead daily workflow and assign operational tasks to ensure efficient completion of set-up, QC, and repair activities.
• Monitor, guide, and support technicians to ensure adherence to procedures and quality standards.
• Train, mentor, and coach associates on set-up techniques, repair processes, and best practices.
• Act as a technical mentor and peer leader, supporting junior technicians and supervising batch rework projects.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of production, QC findings, and workflow metrics.
• Maintain organized, safe, and efficient work areas and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Quality Control & Set-Up:

• Perform detailed inspections of stringed instruments to verify compliance with manufacturing and quality standards.
• Execute standard set-up adjustments including string action, neck curvature, and intonation.
• Conduct visual and tactile evaluations to ensure instruments meet playability expectations.
• Identify, document, and escalate defects or deviations from quality standards.

Repair & Technical Expertise:

• Troubleshoot and perform repairs on a wide range of instrument issues, including:
  • Fretwork (level, dress, polish)
  • Nut and bridge adjustments or replacements
  • Neck and structural repairs
  • Electronics troubleshooting and replacement
• Support and organize batch repair processes to improve throughput and consistency.
• Assist in cost-effective repair processes to return instruments to sellable condition.

Production & Warehouse Support:

• Participate in material handling including unpacking, labeling, palletizing, and repacking instruments.
• Support inventory control processes and ensure accurate product flow.
• Maintain tools, supplies, and equipment needed for efficient workflow.
• Meet production deadlines and throughput goals for instrument processing and delivery.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS(NOT ALL INCLUSIVE)

Core Functions:

• Provides day-to-day leadership, guidance, and coordination for at least three team members within the same job classification, including planning and organizing their work activities. This role does not include direct reports, and leadership responsibilities comprise no more than 50% of total job duties.
• Perform and support material handling activities, including unpacking, repacking, labeling, and palletizing of stringed instruments prior to delivery, as directed by management.
• Work effectively both independently and in team environments, including leading, guiding, and coordinating cross-functional efforts to meet operational goals and deadlines.
• Utilize hand tools and apply technical expertise to inspect, evaluate, and identify visual and auditory variations in quality across a wide range of stringed instruments.
• Conduct timely inspection, setup, and implementation of quality control standards for proprietary instruments in accordance with established specifications.
• Maintain strict adherence to quality control and setup standards; document and report any deviations.
• Assist in the repair of instruments in a cost-effective and efficient manner, ensuring timely return to sellable inventory.
• Support inventory control processes and maintain accurate records as needed.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work environment, including proper care and reporting of tools, equipment, and supply needs.
• Meet productivity and turnaround expectations to ensure timely processing and delivery to customers.
• Follow and execute all company policies, procedures, and safety guidelines.
• Maintain a positive, professional, and collaborative attitude when interacting with team members and leadership.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support operational needs.

Mental Functions:

• Apply leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills to effectively supervise and coordinate team activities while balancing individual technical responsibilities.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyze complex or non-routine issues, contribute to process improvements, and support projects with significant operational impact.
• Exercise independent judgment and decision-making, including the ability to connect cross-functional concepts and adapt to evolving business needs.

Physical Functions:

• Lifting: 20% of time 60 pounds
• Sitting: 40% of time
• Walking/Standing: 40% of time
• Climbing: 0% of time
• Additional duties as assigned.
• Must be flexible to working overtime, which is sometimes mandatory.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Coaching & Training: Ability to effectively train, mentor, and develop team members.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across teams to drive solutions and improvements. Able to build relationships with others by offering help and providing suggestions for improvement.
• Customer Focus: Maintains focus on delivering high-quality instruments and customer experience.
• Initiative: Proactively identifies issues and drives resolution. Able to take positive action without being requested to do so. Focuses on ongoing learning and development.
• Interpersonal Communication: Able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization in a clear and concise manner.
• Organizational Skills: Manages priorities, workflow, and multiple tasks effectively. Able to utilize time, energy, and resources to manage priorities such as projects, stay on track, and achieve goals. Able toadjust to changing priorities. Able to multitask and pay strong attention to detail. Able to complete tasks thoroughly in a timely manner.
• Technology Skills: Able to navigate technology systems, equipment, and computer programs needed to fulfill communication, customer service, and business needs & expectations. Including instrument set-up and repair.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Warehouse environment, subject to moderate temperature changes. There are minimal health hazards due to working on or around a forklift.

Pay Rate: $28 - $36 an Hour

The job posting is not necessarily reflective of actual compensation that may be earned, nor a promise of any specific pay for any specific employee, which is always dependent on actual experience, education, and other factors. The pay range(s) listed are provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

To join our band, you'll need the following experience:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 5+ years experience in guitar set-up, repair, or related manufacturing/quality control environment.
• Strong knowledge of standard guitar set-up procedures and repair techniques.
• Guitar playing ability with the ability to tune and evaluate instruments.
• Experience in warehouse or production environments preferred.
• Luthier or stringed instrument repair experience preferred.
• Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, spreadsheet creation, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Must be able to speak, read, write, and comprehend English.

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About Guitar Center

The Guitar Center Company embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our teammates to find their own individual sound. Our mission is to develop and nurture lifelong musicians and make a difference in the world by enabling musicians and non-musicians alike to experience the joy that comes from creating music. We believe in putting our customers first, engaging with respect and integrity and fulfilling our mission with passion.

Whyjoin us?

With a career at Guitar Center, you become part of the world's largest multichannel musical instrument retailer. Whether at our Stores, Contact Centers, Distribution Centers, or Support Center, Guitar Center employees have a common goal: to help people find their sound and fill the world with more music.

Guitar Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides fair and equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other protected status prohibited under Federal, State, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on valid job-related requirements.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our website, you may request a reasonable accommodation to express interest in a specific opening. You can request reasonable accommodation by sending an email View email address on click.appcast.io.

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