About Us
Ryan Day Woodworking is a Calgary custom shop building high-end solid wood furniture and cabinetry. We are a small, tight-knit team that takes pride in doing exceptional work and standing behind it. Every piece that leaves our shop carries our name, so we care deeply about craft, precision, and getting it right the first time. We build and manufacture in-house; installation is handled by our trusted partners, so this role is focused on the bench and the machines, not site work.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced furniture maker to join our production team. You will work with a small team of craftspeople building custom solid wood furniture (with cabinetry work mixed in as projects call for it) from shop drawings through to a finished, client-ready piece. This is hands-on work for someone who genuinely loves furniture making as a craft, takes ownership of their results, and thrives in a collaborative shop where everyone pulls their weight.
What You'll Do
- Build custom solid wood furniture as the primary focus of the role, with cabinetry work as needed.
- Read and interpret shop drawings, cut lists, and project specs accurately.
- Operate woodworking machinery safely and confidently (table saw, jointer, planer, bandsaw, shaper, sanders, and related equipment).
- Mill, dimension, joint, and assemble solid wood components to a high standard of fit and finish.
- Execute quality furniture joinery, mortise-and-tenon, dovetails, frame-and-panel (and similar techniques), and trim parts and subassemblies into complete, square, well-aligned units.
- Sand, prep, and assist with finishing (staining, sealing, and topcoat) as needed.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment, including routine care and maintenance of tools and machines.
- Collaborate with the team to keep projects on schedule and on spec.
- Occasionally assist with deliveries or busy-period support as part of a small team.
What We're Looking For
- Hands-on experience building solid wood furniture, OR Red Seal Journeyman Cabinetmaker certification with strong furniture-making experience.
- Demonstrated experience with solid wood furniture (not just sheet goods/melamine cabinetry production).
- Confident reading and working from shop drawings and cut lists; strong joinery skills and a sharp eye for detail, fit, and finish; a genuine commitment to workplace safety and safe machine operation.
- A team-first attitude, reliable, communicative, humble, and easy to work alongside.
- Self-directed and able to take a task from drawing to finished piece with minimal hand-holding
- Comfortable with the physical demands of shop work, including regular lifting and being on your feet.
Nice to Have
- Red Seal certification.
- Experience with hand-cut joinery and traditional furniture-making techniques.
- Familiarity with finishing processes.
- Cabinetry experience; some projects include built-ins and casework alongside furniture pieces.
Why Join RDW
- Work on genuinely high-end custom pieces, not repetitive production runs.
- Small, respectful team where your work is seen and your input matters.
- Steady, full-time work with a healthy project pipeline.
- Compensation based on experience and skill.
To Apply
Send your resume to [email protected] along with a short note about your woodworking background and, if available, a few photos of work you're proud of. We want to see how you think about the craft.
