AIRCRAFT WOOD SHOP SPECIALIST
Location: Indianapolis, IN - Airport, KEYE
Reports to: Director of Interior and Paint
Built Different
Jet Access is a family-owned, professionally operated private aviation company. Everything private aviation lives here: aircraft management, charter, maintenance, sales, flight training, FBO services, and charter brokerage. We were the first to bring every sector of private aviation under one brand, and the best of what we are building is still ahead of us.
But here is what you really need to know: the energy at Jet Access is different, and you will feel it from day one. We move with purpose and intensity, thinking strategically, acting decisively, and tackling challenges head-on. This is not a place for coasting. We expect excellence, ownership, and the drive to do things right even when it is harder. We push hard because we genuinely want to elevate the lives of our clients, our aircraft owners, and the people right next to us. Growth is not just happening around us. We are driving it together.
Bring your energy, your expertise, and your commitment to excellence and expect us to meet you with the same. You will have a voice, a real seat at the table, and the opportunity to grow in a company that is genuinely invested in your future. Expect it all.
Our Core Values
- Safety First. Above all else, we operate with the safety of our Team Members, clients, and guests as our top priority. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
- Do the Right Thing for the Long Term. We act ethically, think strategically, and make decisions built for the future. Our Team Members are empowered to choose the harder right over the easier wrong.
- Take Care of Each Other. When we take care of our people, our people take care of our clients and each other. We show up, listen first, and lift each other up.
- Relationships Matter. Our relationships with Team Members, clients, vendors, and the communities we serve are the foundation of our success. We keep our word and build trust one interaction at a time.
- Maintain Positivity. We celebrate wins, lift each other up, and bring optimism and solutions to every challenge. The energy we create together is a choice, and we choose well.
Your Competitive Edge
- Hourly rate of $22.00 to $35.00, based on experience and demonstrated craft capability, paid bi-weekly
- This position is classified as FLSA Non-Exempt
- Overtime compensated in accordance with applicable federal and state wage and hour law
- Advancement within the interior craft pay structure based on demonstrated quality, output, and tenure, reviewed on a defined cadence
Our commitment to "Take Care of Each Other" shows up in everything we offer: generous benefits, competitive wages, paid vacation and holidays, excellent training programs, and discounted flight training. You will join a tight-knit family where leadership is compassionate, transparent, and empowers you to achieve success, both for the business and your personal growth.
Where You Make Your Mark
Every cabinet face, table, side ledge, and trim panel in a Jet Access cabin passes through the wood shop before it goes back on the aircraft. This seat strips, rebuilds, and refinishes those components, matching veneer, laminate, and clearcoat so that a refurbished interior looks the way an aircraft owner expects it to look. Attention to detail at the substrate level is what makes the finish hold.
Component Teardown and Preparation
- Uncover and disassemble interior components from incoming projects by means of delamination using solvents and heat guns
- Clean and prepare components so that surfaces accept new laminate, veneer, and finish correctly
- Evaluate substrate condition and repair damage before refinishing rather than covering it
- Disassemble and reassemble cabinetry, tables, side ledges, and trim without damaging surrounding structure
- Track component sets by aircraft and project so that nothing is lost or mismatched during teardown
Laminate, Veneer, and Finish Fabrication
- Fabricate laminate and veneer to fit each component precisely, with close attention to detail
- Develop patterns from prints, sketches, models, and verbal instructions
- Inspect, select, and work with veneers, laminates, adhesives, and finishing materials specified for each assignment
- Match grain, pattern, and color across adjacent components so that finished cabin surfaces read as one set
- Sand and polish clearcoat to the finish standard required for high-visibility cabin surfaces
Shop Equipment and Safe Practice
- Safely set up and operate shop and woodworking equipment, including routers, saws, and sanders
- Work in a safe manner in accordance with OSHA requirements and Jet Access safety procedures
- Wear required protective equipment, including particle masks, goggles, assorted gloves, head bonnets, and disposable protective suits, for the duration of each task
- Handle solvents, adhesives, heat guns, and finishing chemicals according to product data and shop procedure
- Maintain a clean and organized work area, with tools, materials, and chemicals stored correctly
Project Delivery and Quality
- Work with limited supervision on routine and non-routine assignments
- Perform calculations using shop math for tooling, detailed parts, assemblies, and installations
- Complete assignments within budget without sacrificing quality or finish standards
- Complete adhesive bonding, hardware installation, and rivet installation to specification, following proper aircraft maintenance practices
- Accurately log computerized labor data collection for time and attendance tracking
Craft Development and Continuous Improvement
- Train other Team Members on specific job assignments and finishing techniques
- Recommend improved production methods, including rework reduction, process improvement, and flow reduction
- Share veneer, laminate, and clearcoat methods that shorten build time or improve consistency across the shop
- Provide accurate status on assigned work so that department Scorecard measurables reflect true progress
- Complete special projects and initiatives as needed, embracing opportunities to contribute to Jet Access's continued growth and success
Who Thrives in This Seat
The Skills You Carry In
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum of three years of hands-on fabrication, refinishing, or millwork experience in a high-craft finishing environment
- Aviation experience is not required; comparable backgrounds include classic and custom automotive restoration, custom marine interiors, and fine furniture or cabinetry work
- Proven experience using a variety of hand and power tools
- Demonstrated technical aptitude, including shop math sufficient for tooling, detailed parts, and installation calculations
- Ability to distinguish colors and match grain, pattern, and finish across components
- Ability to read and comprehend written instructions and to speak and write clearly enough to document work performed
- Deep alignment with the Jet Access core values
- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening
- This position is designated FAA Safety Sensitive and is subject to DOT and FAA random drug and alcohol testing throughout employment
What This Role Asks of You
- On-site presence at the Indianapolis interior shop; this role cannot be performed remotely
- Able to lift and transport up to 60 lbs. with or without reasonable accommodation
- Visual capacity and muscular dexterity to work on fine detail, high-cost products with minimal rework
- Able to wear protective equipment for extended periods of time, including particle masks, goggles, assorted gloves, head bonnets, and disposable protective suits
- Able to stock and remove materials from bins above storage level with or without reasonable accommodation
- Able to climb in and out of aircraft and perform work in tight or confined places and unusual positions
- Must not be allergic to chemicals, solvents, paints, adhesives, natural or manmade materials, fabrics, or feathers
- Sustained standing, bending, and repetitive sanding and finishing motion across a full shift
How You Engage
- Self-starter who moves work forward with minimal supervision
- Positive mindset with the ability to stay focused on the project at hand
- Comfortable working as part of a shop team and equally effective working through tasks individually
- Receives direction and critique on finish quality without defensiveness, and applies it on the next pass
- Eager to learn, consistently going the extra mile to develop the craft
- Builds trust with Team Members across sewing, wood shop, paint, and maintenance so that handoffs happen cleanly
What the Days Look Like
- Full-time hourly schedule on the shop floor, with start and end times set by project phase
- Overtime, evening, and occasional weekend work as project deadlines require
- Thrives under the pressure of project deadlines while continuing to look for efficiencies
- Accurate daily logging of time and labor against the correct project and work order
- Attends department meetings, safety briefings, and Level 10 Meetings as scheduled
What Sets You Apart
- Experience sanding and polishing clearcoat to a high-gloss finish
- Cabinetry, millwork, or fine furniture background
- Aircraft interior refurbishment experience on business jet platforms
- Familiarity with FAA-approved interior materials, burn certification documentation, and flammability requirements
- Prior work in a shop operating under an FAA Part 145 repair station certificate
Equal Opportunity Statement
Jet Access Group and affiliated companies are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in our workplace. Employment decisions are based solely on the qualifications and merit of the individual candidate and needs of the business, without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.