Build with
a real crew.
We hire carpenters, project managers, designers, and apprentices who take craft seriously. Full-time, W-2 only — no 1099 churn. Benefits, paid time off, and a clear ladder.
Open positions
ROSTER_01 / 5 OPENLead Carpenter
Full-time · Seattle, WARun framing and finish carpentry on residential ADU and addition projects across the Puget Sound. Lead a 2–4 person crew.
$38–$52 / hr DOE + benefitsApply →Project Manager
Full-time · Seattle, WAOwn 4–6 active ADU builds simultaneously. Coordinate design, permits, subs, schedule, and client communication.
$95k–$130k + bonusApply →Designer / Drafter
Full-time · Hybrid · SeattleProduce permit-ready construction documents in Revit. Collaborate with our architect and engineer on DADU and AADU designs.
$72k–$92k + benefitsApply →Permit Coordinator
Full-time · Remote · WAManage submittals across Seattle DCI, Bellevue DSD, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tacoma jurisdictions. Track corrections and approvals.
$58k–$74kApply →Apprentice Carpenter
Full-time · Paid training · Seattle, WAJoin our paid apprenticeship program. Hands-on training in framing, exterior, and finish work under a lead carpenter.
$24–$30 / hr + benefitsApply →
Don't see your role?
We always want to talk to skilled trades people in the Puget Sound. Send us your résumé.
Email office@golden-adu.comCareers — frequently asked
What roles do you typically hire for?
Lead Carpenters, Apprentice Carpenters, Project Managers, Estimators, Permit Coordinators, and Designers. We hire trades in cycles — heaviest hiring is February and August ahead of spring and fall production peaks. Specialty trade openings (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) post when we expand a sub-roster, typically annually.
Do you sponsor apprenticeships?
Yes. We are signatory to a Washington L&I-registered carpentry apprenticeship and place new hires into the 4-year program at the appropriate step based on documented hours. Apprentices earn progressive wages from ~55% to 100% of journey scale and receive employer-paid medical after 90 days. We pay for required class hours.
Go deeper: Glossary: RRIO (Rental Registration & Inspection Ordinance)
What benefits do you offer?
W-2 employment with employer-paid medical (~80%), dental, vision, $25K basic life, 401(k) with 3% safe-harbor match, 80 hours PTO accruing first year (rising annually), 8 paid holidays, paid sick under Washington's Paid Sick Leave law, and Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave. Field employees also get an annual boot allowance and tool stipend.
Is your work seasonal?
We run year-round in the Puget Sound. Roof and weather-barrier scopes get sequenced around the November–March wet season, but interior trades (drywall, finish, cabinetry, tile) run at full pace through winter inside dried-in shells. We have not laid off a permanent W-2 employee for seasonal reasons since 2019.
What's the typical career path?
Apprentice Carpenter → Journey Carpenter → Lead Carpenter → Superintendent → Project Manager is the common track over 6–10 years. We post all internal openings 30 days before external recruiting and pay for OSHA 30, first aid, and trade-specific certifications throughout the path. Two of our current PMs started as apprentices in 2015.
Do I need a contractor's license to work for you?
No. Direct W-2 employees work under our company license (GOLDESA747LZ). You do need a current L&I certificate of registration if you join us as a subcontractor or specialty trade partner. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC techs need their respective WA specialty licenses (EL, PL, HVAC/R) and current trainee/certificate cards.
What's the work culture like?
Adult, organized, drug-free. We start at 7am, lunch at 11am, off at 3:30pm. Crews run pre-job huddles every morning, weekly toolbox talks on a written safety topic, and end-of-week clean as a default. We do not yell, we do not chase weekend overtime as a habit, and we do not tolerate harassment or unsafe shortcuts. Tenure averages 5.4 years.
Where will I be working?
Active sites across Seattle, the Eastside, North End, South End, and South Sound. Crews are assigned to one project from mobilization through dry-in, then often follow that project through finish. We pay drive time per Washington law for travel beyond standard commute, and provide trucks for crews staging from the shop.
Do you hire remote office staff?
Some hybrid roles (Estimator, Permit Coordinator, Designer) are 2 days in office / 3 days remote within Washington State. We do not hire fully remote out-of-state because Washington tax, L&I, and PFML registration require WA residence for our employer payroll setup. Field roles are 100% on-site.
How do I apply?
Email a résumé and a short note ("why ADUs, why Golden State") to office@golden-adu.com with the subject line "Careers — [role]". We screen every application, even when no role is posted, and keep résumés on file for 12 months. If we have a near-term match we reply within a week with next steps — typically a phone screen, a site walk-along, and a working interview.
Go deeper: Read the Eastside deck cost & permits: cedar, IPE, composite (2026) guide
Do you have an internship or summer program?
We hire 2–3 summer interns annually — one design intern from a WA architecture program (UW, WSU) and 1–2 carpentry interns from a regional apprenticeship pre-program. Internships are paid, run 10–12 weeks, and have converted to full-time offers about 60% of the time historically.
INTERNAL_LINKS / Deep Map