Luthier 1

Job Title: Luthier – Tier 1

Reports To: Shop Manager/Service Manager

People make the difference in an outstanding company and we are always looking for exceptional people! Schmitt Music is a well-known, respected, family-owned musical instrument dealer in the Twin Cities and surrounding region. Schmitt Music aims to become our customers' preferred resource for everything they need as they pursue their musical dreams. Our passion and mission have remained the same for 125 years – Enriching lives by helping people make music!

Position Summary:

The Workshop Team of the Paul A. Schmitt Violin Shop is currently seeking a full-time Luthier at our Bloomington location.  This role is responsible for setting up new orchestral string instruments and reconditioning company-owned orchestral strings, while serving as a strong partner to the retail team, road representatives, and local orchestra directors. This position plays a key role in delivering a seamless service experience for customers and schools by combining technical expertise with strong collaboration and communication—living Schmitt Music’s core values: Serve Your Customer, Do What’s Right, and Continuous Improvement.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support students, educators, and customers by ensuring a consistent supply of new and reconditioned instruments that meet or exceed Schmitt Music quality standards
• Uphold setup and repair quality standards, safety procedures, and ethical practices
• Exercise sound judgment when evaluating repair needs, determining extent of required repairs relative to the overall value of the instrument with assistance from more experienced repair staff
• Maintain accurate repair documentation, tagging, and tracking of instruments within the retail store environment
• Care for instruments, tools, and shop resources with professionalism and accountability
• Identify opportunities to improve setup and repair processes, turnaround times, and communication between service and retail teams

Experience & Qualifications

• Completion of recognized luthier training program preferred (e.g. Minnesota State College Southeast (Red Wing) or similar)
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with retail staff, road reps, and customers with assistance from more experienced repair staff
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage workload during peak school seasons with assistance from more experienced repair staff

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods at a repair bench
• Manual dexterity required for detailed, precision setup and repair work
• Ability to lift and move instruments and cases as needed

Salary : $18 - $20