Senior Cabinet Maker / Furniture Maker

Permanent and full-time opportunity with an ASAP start date. Monday – Friday working hours promoting a healthy work/life balance.

• Progression and continuous development opportunities
• Recognition for good work
• Relaxed and friendly working environment
• Free on-site parking
• Company pension scheme
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas shut down

Working Hours: Monday to Thursday 7am-5.15pm

The Company you will be working with; MTrec Recruitment are proudly representing our industry leading client on their search for an experienced and highly skilled Cabinet Maker / Furniture Maker to join our Frame Shop, producing high-end bespoke furniture to exceptional standards. This is a predominantly hands-on production role, with approximately 90% of working time expected to be spent directly manufacturing and assembling furniture.

The successful candidate will work on the tools as part of the Frame Shop team, with a particular focus on more complex show-wood furniture including dining chairs, occasional tables, dining tables and other bespoke pieces. Alongside excellent practical woodworking and joinery skills, we are looking for someone with a strong manufacturing mindset. While making furniture, they should be able to consider not only how to produce an individual piece to the required standard, but how the method can be made efficient, consistent and repeatable for future production.

The role will work closely with Product Design, the Woodmill and other production colleagues where required to resolve manufacturing challenges and establish practical methods of manufacture. The emphasis remains on hands-on furniture making, balancing high levels of craftsmanship and attention to detail with quality, repeatability and commercially viable production times.

The Role you will be doing:

• Manufacture and assemble high-end bespoke furniture using a variety of hardwoods, engineered timber products and other appropriate materials.
• Take a leading role in the manufacture of complex show-wood products including dining chairs, occasional tables, dining tables and other specialist pieces.
• Interpret technical drawings, dimensions and specifications and translate these into practical methods of manufacture.
• Apply strong knowledge of furniture construction and joinery to select appropriate manufacturing and assembly methods.
• Work closely with Product Design and the Woodmill to develop new products from initial prototype through to repeatable production.
• Consider how products can be manufactured consistently and efficiently, identifying opportunities to improve construction methods, machining processes and assembly sequences.
• Develop and use jigs, fixtures, templates and other practical production aids to improve accuracy, repeatability and efficiency.
• Identify unnecessary hand fitting, reworking or variation within manufacturing processes and help develop practical solutions.
• Work accurately to defined dimensions, tolerances and quality requirements, ensuring finished work meets the required specification.
• Balance a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail with the need to achieve realistic and commercially viable production times.
• Proactively identify manufacturing or quality issues and work collaboratively with colleagues to establish practical solutions.
• Support continuous improvement activity within the Frame Shop and Woodmill, contributing ideas that improve safety, quality, efficiency and repeatability.
• Share knowledge, techniques and good working practices with other members of the team and support the development of less experienced employees where appropriate.
• Safely and correctly set up and use relevant woodworking machinery, power tools, pneumatic equipment and hand tools within the individual's training and authorisation.
• Maintain a safe, organised and clean working environment and follow all company health and safety procedures.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties requested by the line manager.

About You:

Essential:

• Significant experience in high-quality cabinet making, furniture making or architectural/bespoke joinery.
• Strong practical experience manufacturing solid timber furniture or similarly high-quality joinery products.
• Excellent understanding of furniture construction, traditional and modern joinery techniques.
• Strong understanding of hardwoods, timber selection, grain direction, timber movement and the properties of different wood materials.
• Ability to accurately interpret technical drawings, dimensions and specifications.
• Experience using conventional woodworking machinery, power tools and hand tools.
• Ability to manufacture accurately and consistently while working within realistic production times.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills and the ability to develop effective manufacturing solutions.
• Experience working independently on complex products with minimal supervision.
• Good understanding of quality requirements, tolerances, fit and finish within high-end furniture manufacture.
• Ability to work collaboratively with designers, machinists and other production employees.

Desirable:

• Experience manufacturing high-end show-wood dining chairs and tables.
• Experience developing new products or transitioning prototypes into repeatable production.
• Experience designing or developing jigs, fixtures and templates.
• Experience of both one-off bespoke manufacture and small-batch production.
• Experience working with CNC-manufactured components and understanding how machining and assembly processes interact.
• Experience in specialist decorative techniques such as veneering, inlaying or marquetry.
• Experience supporting, coaching or developing other furniture makers.