---
title: 'Process Engineer at The Lumber Manufactory'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/process-engineer-the-lumber-manufactory-remote-wnw48r8jjyds'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# Process Engineer at The Lumber Manufactory

- **Company:** The Lumber Manufactory
- **Location:** Remote
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** remote
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/lumbermanufactory/293526a5-480d-4443-a29c-93bdcd05eedd

## Job description

The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is building the future of sustainable lumber with next-generation sawmill technology. We design and operate state-of-the-art modular sawmills that produce high-grade dimensional wood products with greater efficiency and less waste. Backed by leading investors including Cantos, Slow Ventures, Banter Capital, Humba Ventures, and Ravelin Capital.

The Lumber Manufactory is seeking a Process Engineer to design, optimize, and continuously improve mill operations across our sawmill, planer mill, and engineered wood facilities. In this role, you will own material flow from log intake through finished goods, evaluate and specify the equipment that maximizes recovery and throughput, and partner closely with production, maintenance, and capital projects teams to execute modernization initiatives. You will spend meaningful time on the mill floor running studies, validating layouts, and commissioning new equipment, turning data into measurable gains in yield and efficiency. This is a hands-on engineering role at the center of TLM's competitive advantage in sustainability and efficiency.

Location: This role carries at least 25-50 percent travel, concentrated at our New Albany, Mississippi mill sites initially, with additional onsite support across other US locations as our operations grow.

In This Role, You Will

- Design and optimize material flow from log intake through primary breakdown, secondary processing, drying, surfacing, and finished goods staging, minimizing handling, rehandling, and queue buildup between operations
- Develop and maintain mill layouts for sawmills, planer mills, panel plants, or engineered wood facilities, incorporating equipment footprints, log, cant, and lumber flow paths, green chain and dry chain configurations, and trim and sort systems
- Determine primary and secondary breakdown equipment requirements, including headrigs, frame saws, and gang saws, and define optimal sequencing to maximize recovery and throughput
- Evaluate and specify automation and optimization systems such as scanning and optimization technology (log, cant, and lumber optimizers), PLC-controlled sort systems, and automated stacking and strapping lines
- Perform line balancing and bottleneck analysis across the mill, from the log deck and debarker through the green chain, kiln scheduling, dry mill, and shipping, ensuring equipment utilization is matched to production targets
- Conduct time studies and production flow analyses to establish standard work, crew sizing, and shift capacity targets across mill departments
- Partner with maintenance, production, and dry kiln teams to plan and execute equipment installations, mill reconfigurations, and capacity expansion projects with minimal downtime
- Apply lean principles to wood products manufacturing, identifying waste in lumber handling, sort and stacking operations, trim optimization, and grade flow
- Support capital project development for mill modernization initiatives, including scanning upgrades, automated grading systems, and materials handling improvements, contributing to vendor evaluation, installation, and commissioning
- Own and maintain mill flow diagrams, equipment layout drawings, and standard operating procedures, authoring and updating documentation as equipment, products, or processes change
- Adapt to changing priorities and support team and operational needs as they evolve

## Who You Are

- A technically deep engineer who thrives on solving complex material flow and equipment sequencing problems in high-volume manufacturing environments
- Someone who prefers collaborative, cross-functional problem-solving and enjoys partnering with operations, maintenance, and capital projects teams to execute ambitious mill improvements
- Hands-on and detail-oriented, comfortable spending time on the mill floor conducting verification tests, validating layouts, and commissioning new equipment rather than working only from a desk
- Comfortable with ambiguity in early-stage projects, able to work within the constraints of existing mill infrastructure while envisioning and planning future state configurations
- A self-directed owner who carries projects from analysis through implementation and holds oneself to rigorous engineering standards and timelines

## Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or an equivalent technical discipline
- 5+ years of process or industrial engineering experience in wood products manufacturing (sawmill, planer mill, OSB, LVL, plywood, MDF, or similar environments)
- Working knowledge of primary and secondary wood breakdown processes, including log merchandising, sawing patterns, kerf and recovery optimization, surfacing, and grading
- Hands-on experience with mill layout design and material flow planning, including green end and dry end configurations, lumber handling systems, and sort and stacker integration, with proficiency in layout tools such as AutoCAD
- Familiarity with scanning and optimization systems and how optimizer settings translate to recovery and grade yield outcomes
- Experience evaluating and implementing automation in mill environments, including PLC-controlled sort lines, automated stackers, kiln tracking systems, and MES or production reporting platforms
- Proficiency in time study methods, OEE analysis, and capacity modeling applied to high-volume, continuous-flow wood processing
- Knowledge of kiln drying operations and how drying schedules, kiln capacity, and green inventory management interact with mill flow
- Understanding of lumber grading rules and how product mix and grade targets influence equipment sequencing and line design
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across mill operations, construction and installation teams, maintenance, forestry and procurement, and sales teams

The expected salary range for this position is $150,000 to $180,000. Placement within this range is determined by the candidate's relevant experience, skills, and educational background as compared to the requirements of the role. Our compensation and benefits package includes comprehensive health coverage, life insurance, and flexible, unlimited time off.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including:

- 100% employer-paid health coverage for employees and dependents (medical, dental, and vision)
- 100% employer-paid life insurance and disability coverage
- Paid time off and company holidays
- The opportunity to help build something from the ground up in an essential, evolving industry

Join our team as we modernize timber from forest to finished product. The Lumber Manufactory is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

## About The Lumber Manufactory

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is building a nationwide network of modular sawmills to convert America’s timber surplus into a resilient domestic lumber supply for the housing industry.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Venture-backed; Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Seattle, Washington, United States
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Not publicly available

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Paper and Forest Product Manufacturing / Industrial Sawmill Operations
- **Target customers**: B2B; Landowners, timber communities, and the housing/construction supply chain
- **Mission or purpose statement**: To reimagine sawmill operations with modular technology that is faster, smarter, and better for America’s forests, converting local fiber into a resilient domestic lumber supply.

## Products & Services
- **Modular Sawmill Network (Service/Infrastructure)**: TLM designs, deploys, and operates a network of next-generation, modular sawmills. Unlike standard mills that take years to build, TLM’s mills are designed for fast, flexible deployment and can be optimized over time. Each mill is tailored to its region’s timber profile, logistics, and workforce, but powered by a repeatable technology platform.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available
- **Key Metric**: Total Funding of **$52.1M** (as of October 2025)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Cantos, Slow Ventures, Susa Ventures, Banter Capital, Humba Ventures, and Ravelin Capital (lead on Seed round)
- **Growth Signals**: 
    - Headcount grew **+209.1% year-over-year** (from ~5 to 28 employees)
    - Expanded from one operational mill to a nationwide expansion plan, with locations in Mississippi, Seattle (HQ), and Washington D.C.
    - Raised a **$35M Series B** in October 2025, following a $13M Venture Round in February 2025 and a $4.1M Seed round in May 2024
    - Active job postings for senior engineering and leadership roles

## Competitive Advantages
- **Modular, Fast Deployment**: TLM’s mills are modular and can be deployed in months rather than the years required for traditional sawmills, allowing rapid scaling and regional adaptation.
- **Technology Platform**: A repeatable, software-enabled technology platform that standardizes designs and processes, making each deployment faster and more efficient than the last.
- **Vertical Integration & Standardization**: The company standardizes what works, automates what repeats, and vertically integrates where it improves cost, quality, or reliability.
- **Strong Investor Backing**: Supported by a group of prominent venture firms (Cantos, Slow Ventures, Susa Ventures, Banter, Humba Ventures, Ravelin Capital) providing both capital and strategic support.

## Strategic Focus
- **Nationwide Expansion**: Scaling from one operational mill to a network of ten or more mills across the U.S., with a current focus on the Southeast region.
- **Technology Platform**: Continuing to develop a repeatable, software-enabled technology platform to standardize mill designs and deployment playbooks.
- **Domestic Supply Chain**: Addressing the structural mismatch where the U.S. imports roughly one-third of its lumber, by building modern manufacturing infrastructure to serve the housing and construction industries.
- **Sustainable Forestry**: Supporting responsible forest management and healthier forests by improving timber utilization.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Described as "engineering-forward by default" with a focus on process, machines, controls, and software. Values include decisive execution, safety, continuous learning, and owning the outcome.
- **Work Environment**: Hybrid workspace with offices in Seattle (HQ), Mississippi (New Albany), and Washington D.C. Some roles are remote-eligible. Relocation assistance is provided for certain positions.
- **Growth & Opportunity**: Rapidly scaling from one mill to ten and beyond, offering significant career growth and cross-functional pathways. The company emphasizes "real growth means real opportunity."
- **Perks**: Employer-sponsored comprehensive healthcare, competitive pay, generous paid time off and company holidays, and relocation assistance for some roles.
- **Engineering Culture**: Described as "engineering-forward by default" with a focus on process, machines, controls, and software. The team values decisive execution, standardization, and building systems that perform consistently under real-world conditions.

## Sources
1. [lumbermanufactory.com](https://www.lumbermanufactory.com/)
2. [lumbermanufactory.com/careers](https://www.lumbermanufactory.com/careers)
3. [lumbermanufactory.com/about](https://www.lumbermanufactory.com/about)
4. [linkedin.com/company/the-lumber-manufactory](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-lumber-manufactory)
5. [builtin.com/company/the-lumber-manufactory-com](https://builtin.com/company/the-lumber-manufactory-com)

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