Manufacturing Engineer

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, Susa Ventures, Banter Capital, Humba Ventures, and Ravelin Capital.

The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer to lead hands-on development and continuous improvement of next-generation sawmills. In this role, you will be responsible for shaping how production systems are developed, measured, and scaled translating engineering intent into safe, repeatable, and high-performing operations.

You will be a core member of the operations team, working directly on the factory floor to stabilize processes, improve quality and reliability, and reduce cost through advanced process design and implementation of new technologies. This role offers significant autonomy and ownership, with the opportunity to influence core manufacturing systems at a fast-growing industrial tech startup.

This role is based onsite at our New Albany, Mississippi manufacturing facility and requires regular presence on the factory floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead hands-on process improvement efforts to improve safety, quality, throughput, delivery, and cost across manufacturing operations.

• Develop and refine manufacturing processes that deliver consistent, compliant product with high yield and low variability.

• Drive day-to-day process stability through production troubleshooting, root cause analysis of downtime and defects, line balancing, takt time optimization, and bottleneck elimination.

• Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives, including 5S, Kaizen events, waste reduction, cycle time reduction, and labor productivity improvements.

• Design and implement equipment, tooling, and automation solutions that enable productivity gains, reduce labor time, and improve process repeatability.

• Enable new product introduction and scaling by developing production processes, implementing DFM improvements, supporting pilot builds and ramp-ups, and planning capacity for growth.

• Optimize factory layouts and material flow to improve work center performance across log yard, kilns, production lines, and finished goods packaging, loading, and shipping.

• Build and maintain production performance metrics to prioritize improvement work and enable data-driven operational decision making.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, or closely related engineering discipline from an accredited university.

• 2-5+ years of hands-on experience in a manufacturing environment, with direct ownership of engineering or process improvement projects. Internships and co-ops count toward this requirement.

• Demonstrated ability to diagnose and solve mechanical or process problems on the production floor, not just support others who did.

• Experience in heavy industrial, automotive, or similarly demanding manufacturing environments. Background in aerospace, medical devices, or consumer electronics is considered but requires demonstrated transferability to heavy industrial operations.

• Strong problem-solving instincts and comfort working directly on heavy equipment and industrial machinery.

• This is a hands-on individual contributor role with no direct reports. Candidates whose recent experience has shifted primarily toward management, CI leadership, or operations management should be prepared to discuss their return to floor-level engineering.

Preferred Skills

• Experience in wood products, forestry, or heavy industrial manufacturing (strongest differentiator).

• Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement, and standard work.

• Experience with statistical process control, process capability, or data-driven manufacturing approaches.

• Experience standing up or launching a new production line or process from scratch.

• Comfort spending significant time on the factory floor and collaborating across engineering, operations, and maintenance.

• Ability to independently own projects end-to-end in a fast-paced, startup environment where priorities shift and resources are lean.

• Ability to independently own projects end-to-end in a fast-paced, startup environment.

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.