Job Description
Job Description
Carpenter / Pattern Maker | $24–$28/hr | 4-Day Work Week
Omaha Steel Casting (Owen Industries) – Wahoo, NE | Mon–Thu, 5:00 AM – 3:30 PM
If You Can Build It to a Thousandth of an Inch, We Need You.
Omaha Steel Casting has been producing high-quality steel castings for demanding industrial applications for decades — and behind every flawless casting is a precision-built pattern. We’re looking for a skilled Carpenter / Pattern Maker who brings the craftsmanship of a finished carpenter and the precision of an engineer to every piece they build.
This isn’t production woodworking. This is exacting, detail-driven craft work where your patterns become the foundation for the metal components our customers depend on. If you take pride in tight tolerances, clean joinery, and work that has to be right — not just close — this is your kind of shop.
The Details
- Starting pay: $24.00–$28.00/hr depending on experience
- Hours: Mon–Thu, 5:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Schedule: 4-day work week — OT on Fridays as production needs rise
- Location: Wahoo, NE
What You’ll Do
- Create and modify foundry patterns and core boxes from wood, foam, and composite materials based on engineering drawings and specifications
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, and dimensional specifications to build patterns that meet exact tolerances
- Operate a full range of woodworking equipment including table saws, band saws, miter saws, jointers, planers, lathes, routers, and hand tools with precision and confidence
- Ensure all patterns meet dimensional and geometric tolerances using calipers, micrometers, squares, and other precision measurement equipment
- Build, mount, rig, and set up pattern equipment accurately in coordination with the foundry team
- Sand, finish, and seal patterns to ensure surface quality that produces clean, accurate castings
- Repair and modify existing patterns and core boxes as needed to accommodate design changes or wear
- Use impact wrenches, drills, and power tools to complete assembly and mounting tasks
- Collaborate with foundry engineering staff to troubleshoot pattern-related casting issues and implement improvements
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe woodworking shop at all times
What We’re Looking For
- Demonstrated experience as a finish carpenter, cabinet maker, woodworker, or pattern maker — this role requires true craftsmanship, not general carpentry
- Strong proficiency operating table saws, band saws, miter saws, jointers, planers, and routers safely and accurately
- Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and blueprints with precision
- Proficiency with precision measuring tools — calipers, micrometers, squares, and gauges — measuring to tight tolerances
- Knowledge of wood species, composites, and pattern-making materials and how they behave
- Meticulous attention to detail — your work has to be dimensionally accurate, not approximately accurate
- Ability to repetitively lift up to 100 lbs. and work in an environment with exposure to dust, noise, and temperature variation
- Reliable attendance and a strong work ethic — the foundry schedule depends on patterns being ready
- Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently
- Foundry pattern making experience is a plus — we will train the right craftsperson
What’s In It For You
✅ $24–$28/hr depending on experience ✅ 4-day work week — Mon through Thu, every week ✅ Fridays - OT as needed ✅ Health, Dental & Vision insurance ✅ Life and Disability coverage ✅ 401(k) with employer contributions and company match ✅ Paid holidays and PTO — accrual begins after probationary period ✅ Wellness program with premium incentives ✅ Opportunities for growth and advancement within Owen Industries ✅ A shop environment where craftsmanship is genuinely valued
Benefits begin the 1st of the month after 30 days of employment.
Why Omaha Steel Casting?
Omaha Steel Casting is part of Owen Industries, a recognized leader in the steel industry for decades. We produce high-alloy steel castings for some of the most demanding industrial applications in the country — and the quality of every casting starts with the quality of the pattern behind it. You’ll work in an environment where precision is non-negotiable, your craft is respected, and the work you produce has a direct impact on what leaves this facility.
If you’ve spent your career building things that have to be right, you’ll appreciate working somewhere that holds itself to the same standard.
???????? Veterans — You Belong Here
The technical discipline, attention to detail, and work ethic you developed in service — especially those with military construction, engineering, or fabrication backgrounds — translate directly to this role. Omaha Steel Casting and Owen Industries are proud to be Veteran-friendly employers committed to supporting those who have served.
Apply Now
Precision craftsmanship meets industrial application. If you build things to a thousandth of an inch and take pride in work that matters — apply today and bring your skills to Omaha Steel Casting.
Owen is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs — without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
5AM-3:30PM, M-TH