Shop Production Manager / Junior Designer

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

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