Lead Planer Technician — Operator & Process Optimizer

Timberlab; Millersburg (OR); On-site; USD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Timberlab in Oregon is seeking a Planer Technician to own the planning work center, operate, set up, troubleshoot, and optimize planing equipment while developing standards and training operators.

You will lead startup, ramp-up, perform knife changes, monitor quality and throughput, maintain tooling and records, and collaborate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to improve equipment reliability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years in manufacturing, lumber, wood products, or industrial production.
• Experience operating, setting up, and troubleshooting industrial equipment.
• Experience with planer knife changes, tooling maintenance, and production troubleshooting.
• Strong safety, quality, and continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary operator of critical production equipment.
• Operate and maintain planers, sizing equipment, and handling systems.
• Monitor dimensional accuracy, surface finish, throughput, and equipment performance.
• Perform planer knife changes, cutter head setup, and machine adjustments.
• Lead machine setup, startups, shutdowns, and changeovers.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures and work instructions.
• Train, coach, and mentor machine operators.
• Monitor production metrics and implement corrective actions.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to improve equipment performance.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Problem-solving

Leadership

Training others

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Planers

Job description

Timberlab in Oregon is seeking a Planer Technician to own the planning work center, operate, set up, troubleshoot, and optimize planing equipment while developing standards and training operators.

You will lead startup, ramp-up, perform knife changes, monitor quality and throughput, maintain tooling and records, and collaborate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering to improve equipment reliability.