Master Woodworker (Patterns and CNC) in Bogart, Georgia at Ulm Automotive LLC

Company: Ulm Automotive LLC

Department: Production

Reports to: Production Manager

Location: Bogart, GA (on-site)

Employment type: Full-time, hourly, non-exempt; paid weekly

Direct reports: None at hire; leads the cabinet and panel fabrication station and trains the technicians assigned to it

Position Summary

The Master Woodworker owns the cabinetry, panels, and substrates in every vehicle we build. Ulm converts incomplete Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis into luxury passenger vehicles, and the cabinets, consoles, wall and ceiling substrates, floor panels, and trim carriers are cut, machined, and assembled in-house. This role builds the master patterns and templates the line works from, programs and runs the CNC router, does the most demanding fabrication personally, and trains the technicians who do the rest.

This is a craftsman's seat with a lead's responsibility: someone who can take a drawing or a scanned vehicle surface and turn it into a repeatable pattern, a CNC program, and a finished part that fits the first time.

Key Responsibilities

Patterns and Templates

• Develop master patterns and templates for cabinets, consoles, wall and ceiling panels, floor panels, and trim substrates from engineering drawings, physical fit-ups, and digital scans of the vehicle interior.
• Fit patterns in the vehicle, correct them, and lock the revision so every unit is cut from the same file; keep the pattern library organized by product configuration and drawing revision.
• Convert patterns into nesting layouts and CNC programs (CAD/CAM) optimized for material yield.

CNC Programming and Operation

• Program, set up, and run the CNC router: tooling, feeds and speeds, fixturing, vacuum hold-down, and part probing for plywood, MDF, composite panels, and solid wood.
• Maintain the machine: daily checks, spoilboard surfacing, tool changes, calibration, and preventive maintenance with the maintenance schedule.
• Cut, edge, and finish parts to the drawing; check first pieces against the pattern and the vehicle before releasing a run.

Cabinet and Panel Fabrication

• Build cabinets, consoles, and fixtures: joinery, hardware, edge treatment, veneer and laminate work, and preparation of substrates for upholstery, DI-NOC film, or paint.
• Fit and install fabricated assemblies in the vehicle with the production team and correct the pattern when the fit is off.
• Support prototype and sample builds for Engineering, R&D, and design partners and report what is buildable at production pace.

Station Leadership and Training

• Set up and run the fabrication station: layout, dust collection, tooling, material storage, and standard work.
• Train and qualify production technicians on CNC operation, cutting, edge finishing, and assembly; maintain the skill matrix entries for the station with the Quality Manager.
• Plan daily station work against the production schedule with the Production Manager and lead the station to the standard hours.

Quality and Materials

• Inspect parts for dimensional accuracy, edge quality, grain and finish match, and fit; reject and rework what does not meet the standard.
• Track sheet-goods yield and scrap; feed usage data and material issues to Purchasing.
• Feed pattern, material, and process corrections back into the drawings and BOMs through the engineering change process.

Safety and Housekeeping

• Follow all shop safety rules for CNC, saws, routers, and dust collection; wear required PPE and keep the station to the 5S standard.
• Report injuries, near misses, and unsafe conditions immediately.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of hands-on cabinetmaking, millwork, or vehicle interior fabrication, including pattern making from physical fit-ups and drawings.
• 3+ years programming and running a CNC router for wood and composite panels, with working command of a CAD/CAM package (VCarve, Fusion 360, Mastercam, Alphacam, or comparable).
• Expert with cabinet joinery, veneer and laminate work, edge finishing, and preparation of substrates for wrap, film, or upholstery.
• Proven ability to build patterns and programs that other people can use to reproduce the work.
• Experience training or leading other fabricators.
• Ability to read drawings and BOMs, use precision measuring tools, and work from a build schedule.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, stand for a full shift, and work inside a vehicle.

Preferred Qualifications

• Vehicle, marine, or aircraft interior cabinetry experience, including curved and compound-surface panels.
• 3D scanning or reverse-engineering experience for vehicle interiors.
• Experience with lightweight composite and honeycomb panels and structural adhesives.
• Experience standing up a fabrication station or CNC cell in a new or growing production line.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

Competencies

• Precision - parts fit the first time because the pattern was right and the program was proven.
• Repeatability - turns personal skill into patterns, programs, and standards the line can follow.
• Teaching - raises the skill of every technician on the station.
• Material discipline - plans nests, tracks yield, and treats sheet goods and veneer as the inventory they are.
• Ownership - the station's quality and pace are this person's, not something inspected in later.

Success in the First 12 Months

• 90 days: Station and CNC cell running to standard work. Pattern library and CNC programs documented for the current cabinet and panel designs. First technician qualified on the station.
• 6 months: Fabrication first-time-through is measured and improving. Material yield tracked and scrap reduced. Two or more technicians qualified; the station runs to schedule when the lead is out for a day.
• 12 months: Every unit ships with cabinetry and panels to the master standard, the pattern library covers the full product line, and the station is staffed and trained for the planned volume.

Physical & Work Environment

Full shift on an active production floor with exposure to noise, wood dust, machinery, adhesives, and standard plant conditions; PPE is required in designated areas. Frequent CNC, saw, and bench work, lifting of sheet goods, reaching, kneeling, and work inside vehicle interiors.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly rate: $26.00 to $36.00 per hour, commensurate with demonstrated skill, CNC programming depth, and leadership experience
• Overtime paid at time and a half over 40 hours in the workweek
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off and holidays; tool and training support

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ulm Automotive, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.