wOrk with us
Panoptic is led by two creative people from very different backgrounds who came together with a singular focus of building high-quality, durable museum exhibits and a fun and energizing business. Our work environment is a collaborative community with lots of hands-on troubleshooting and frequent discussion. We value having diverse perspectives that we can pull from throughout the day as a part of a freeform, flexible, creative process. This is how we make the most unique and reliable exhibits in the business! It can be chaotic and frantic, and it can be boring at times. Every day is a bit different. We want our employees to take care of themselves and their families, while having fun and being energized by the work we do here.
We are an LGBTQ+ inclusive and disability-friendly workplace. Please note that our shop is located in an old mill and wheelchair access is difficult but possible through the lower level and elevator. There are 3 steps to access the front door.
About Panoptic
Exhibit Crafter/ Woodworker
Employment start date: Between July1-September1, 2025 (flexible)
Panoptic Design/Build is seeking a full time Exhibit Crafter/Woodworker to work with our small team to fabricate custom museum exhibits for this growing creative business. We are looking for a self-motivated, friendly person to handle a wide range of fabrication needs, primarily in wood, to support us in designing and building awesome museum exhibits for kids and families.
Official Duties:
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Woodworking of cabinets, scenic parts, and interactives
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Assembly
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Painting and Finishing, including spray application, rolling, scenic painting, lacquer, wax, etc
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Other fabrication as needed, including plastics, sculpture, metalwork, electromechanical, and more (Some on-the-job training available).
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Keeping a clean workspace
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Tool repair and maintenance
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Reviewing and revising shop drawings as part of our detail design process
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Wrapping, packing, and loading exhibits for shipping and transport
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Possible assistance with installations on-site in museums and other institutions
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Taking delivery of raw materials
Requirements:
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Minimum 5 years experience in a woodshop or other fabrication shop
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Skilled in wood fabrication, including plywood, hardwood, MDF, and complex cabinetry
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Ability to read, understand, and work from shop drawings and 3D models to make cut lists and assemble pieces
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Able to apply high-quality finishing on wood with paint, stain, lacquer, wax, and other methods
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Familiarity with a wide range of materials (particularly in wood, metal, and plastics), their ideal applications, and the best finishes for each.
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Ability to lift 75 lbs
All the better:
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Familiarity with Fusion 360
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Toolpathing experience for CNC router and/or CNC laser cutter/engraver
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Welding/metal working experience
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Sculptural background
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Electrical experience
We’re looking for someone who is:
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Excited about working in a creative small business
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Looking for flexible hours
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Willing to work from our shop in West Springfield
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Friendly, upbeat, and humorous
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Willingness to communicate early and often
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Focusing on finding solutions and troubleshooting with us
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Hoping to work on something new and different every day
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Dedicated to high-quality craftsmanship and takes pride in their work
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Interested in expanding their capabilities as a craftsman with our odd and unusual lot of projects
Compensation
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Full Time, hourly
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$27/hr, non-exempt (negotiable)
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Some flexibility with work hours
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8 hrs of sick time accrued per month of employment, capped at 60 hours
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6 paid holidays per year
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Starting with 1 week paid vacation per year
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To Apply: Please send your resume and portfolio (.pdf or a link) to terra@panopticdesignbuild.com