Crate Builder

Axiom Custom Products • Portland, OR

14h • $20 - $25

About The Position

Most days, you’re thinking about how something is going to survive the trip before it even leaves the building.

A finished project rolls out of build looking flawless. Custom cabinetry, metal details, perfect finish. Everyone’s proud of it. And then it’s your turn. Because no matter how good it looks on the floor, it has to make it through forklifts, freight terminals, tight truck loads, and sometimes cross-country shipping. That’s where you come in.

You work with the Crating manager and start by studying the piece. Not just its size, but its weight, balance points, vulnerable edges, finished surfaces. You’re already planning the crate in your head. Where does it need blocking? Where will it be lifted? What could rub? What could flex? Is it a tradeshow crate that is going to be used over and over? You’re not just building a box you’re engineering protection. And if it gets really challenging, you have an engineering team at your fingertips to help.

Once you have a plan, you measure carefully and start cutting lumber. You build a base that can handle a forklift from any side it needs to. You frame it square and solid. If something’s heavy, the crate needs to be overbuilt, not just “good enough.” You think about how it will sit in a truck, whether it will be stacked, and how it might shift during transport.

Before it even goes in the crate, you wrap and protect the piece itself. Foam, padding, edge protection, stretch wrap, each layer has a purpose. Finished surfaces get extra care. Hardware is secured. Moving parts are stabilized. You’re making sure that when the client opens that crate, it looks exactly the way it did when it left the shop.

Once everything is positioned and blocked, you secure it properly. No rattling. No guesswork. You close up the crate, label it clearly, and make sure the paperwork matches what’s actually inside. If it needs freight coordination, you’re part of that process too, staging it properly, loading it safely, communicating any special handling notes.

Some days you’re building one large, complex crate that takes serious planning. Other days you’re knocking out multiple smaller crates, staying efficient without sacrificing quality. There’s rhythm to it: measure, cut, assemble, protect, secure, but every project is different. A custom shop means custom crating.

Periodically, as needs arise, you'll receive materials/shipments or work at the warehouse. You’ll unload trucks, move materials and various things safely and efficiently. You’re always aware of your surroundings. Safety matters here. Clean pathways, organized racks, post-project materials organized and accounted for, no mystery piles in the corner, storage areas are clean and functional.

But the heart of the role is crating. It’s craftsmanship with a purpose. You’re the last line of defense between our work and the outside world.

Success in this role is simple and clear. Products ship on time. They arrive damage-free. Clients open crates without surprises. Internally, teams trust you because once something is in your hands, it’s protected.

It’s hands-on work. You’ll use woodworking tools daily. You’ll design, lift, build, problem-solve, and think ahead. You’ll work with others on your team and work closely with build, project management, and purchasing to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

At the end of the day, when a truck pulls away from the dock, there’s a quiet satisfaction in knowing you built what stands between a perfect project and a costly mistake.

Responsibilities

• Building crates for finished projects, considering size, weight, balance, and vulnerability.
• Planning crate construction, including blocking, lifting points, and protection against rubbing and flexing.
• Measuring and cutting lumber to build crate bases and frames.
• Wrapping and protecting items with foam, padding, edge protection, and stretch wrap.
• Securing items inside crates to prevent rattling and movement.
• Labeling crates and ensuring paperwork accuracy.
• Coordinating freight, staging, loading, and communicating special handling notes.
• Receiving materials/shipments and working in the warehouse as needed.
• Unloading trucks and moving materials safely and efficiently.
• Maintaining clean and organized pathways and storage areas.

Benefits

• Excellent pay
• Medical, dental, vision for the employee (with additional cost options for dependents)
• 401k and ROTH investment options
• 20 days of PTO after year one
• Paid holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed