Smith Shop Seeks Blacksmith

April 1, 2025

40 hrs per week

Starting pay is $18-25/hr or commensurate with qualifications

Start Date: Immediate

Located in Highland Park, Michigan

Job Narrative

Smith Shop, a celebrated Detroit-based metalsmithing studio, is now accepting applications for a full-time blacksmith. Applicants should have a solid proficiency in ornamental forgework and a firm grasp of foundational blacksmithing skills and concepts including tool making, power hammer forging, traditional joinery, and forgewelding. Experience in machining and steel fabrication preferred, experience in jewelry making and/or silversmithing is also desirable. In addition to a demonstrated blacksmithing proficiency, candidates should be able to manage forging and fabrication tasks independently and communicate aesthetic and mechanical concepts effectively. Smith Shop will give preference to applicants who desire room for advancement and will seek to help the shop grow to meet our current volume of demand. Candidates should seek to contribute to a community oriented studio that executes commission and production work, offers classes and workshops, and facilitates a larger metalworking community in Detroit. Two + years of industry experience in a reputable ornamental metalwork shop, a relevant certificate or credential, a BFA, or journeyman’s qualification is required. As a benchmark, ABANA level III certification is roughly the competency a candidate should possess. A paid two-week trial is required for all candidates before hiring.

Responsibilities

Creating custom and production artistic metalwork from blueprints and schematics
Managing projects and tasks independently
Designing and engineering creative metalwork
Working special events including retail and trade shows (some weekends required)

Required Skills

A good attitude! We take our work place culture seriously.
Ability to arrive at work on time
Experience in hot forging metal including ornamental work, power hammer forging, forge welding, and tool making
Experience building fixtures, dies, and jigs to support metal forging
Good organizational skills
Ability to understand and articulate aesthetic and mechanical concepts
Ability to work with fractional and decimal tolerances

Other helpful skills

Proficiency in jewelry making and/or silversmithing
Experience and accuracy in cutting, welding (MIG & TIG), grinding, and finishing steel
3D Modeling experience in Rhino
Manual machining experience (lathe & mill)
Familiarity with CNC cutting and tool path programming
Adobe illustrator & photoshop

Perks

Opportunity for advancement
Access to facility for personal projects
Paid work related travel
Free metalworking classes and products
Work in a dynamic, highly creative, and entrepreneurial environment
Dog friendly work environment
Opportunity to teach classes through Smith Shop (additional compensation offered).

To apply, please send a letter of interest, 10+ images of recent work, resume, and names + contact info of two references to info@smithshop.com with the subject line “Careers”.

Questions? Send us an email at i nfo@smithshop.com.