Machine Operator

LED FastStart • Coushatta, LA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Coushatta Forest Products is hiring Sawmill Operators for its team in Coushatta, Louisiana. The Machine Operator supports the sawmill production process by operating, adjusting, and monitoring machinery to maintain production flow and meet quality and safety standards. Work may involve assembly-line tasks, machine setup, equipment checks, lumber inspection, and coordinating with operators at adjacent production positions. The role is performed onsite at an outside sawmill and plant, where noise levels range from low to moderate or high depending on the area and production activity.

Operators are expected to complete pre-shift checks, identify equipment or product issues, communicate concerns to the Lead Operator, and take corrective action within their authorized scope. The position also involves routine cleanup, reporting equipment wear, and following lockout/tagout procedures and required personal protective equipment practices. Various schedules and shifts are needed, including days, nights, and weekends, with occasional overtime as needed.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Proven experience operating industrial machinery in a plant, manufacturing, or production environment.
• Basic knowledge of assembly-line processes and safety standards.
• Ability to read and interpret technical documents and use measurement tools.
• Physical ability to perform manual tasks and operate heavy equipment safely.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and proficiency with hand and power tools.
• Ability to walk, climb steps or ladders, sit, and stand for long periods.
• Ability to bend, stoop, stretch, twist, or reach with the body, arms, and legs.
• Ability to work outside in all conditions and in and around loud equipment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds throughout the work shift.

Responsibilities

• Monitor material flow, lumber quality, and equipment performance at assigned positions; identify dimensional deviations, surface defects, equipment abnormalities, and production bottlenecks; promptly notify the Lead Operator and take corrective action within the authorized scope of the role.
• Complete pre-shift equipment checks for assigned positions, verifying guards, conveyor and roll systems, saw and chain configurations, and the absence of foreign objects or abnormal conditions.
• Coordinate with upstream and downstream operators to maintain continuous material flow and communicate pace changes, jams, quality issues, and equipment concerns.
• Control and adjust machines such as edgers, trimmers, head rigs, and sorters to meet production targets.
• Check lumber dimensions, inspect for surface defects, and immediately remove off-grade boards.
• Follow lockout/tagout (LOTO) rules and wear required personal protective equipment, including steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and hearing protection.
• Regularly clear sawdust and wood debris to prevent hazards and report equipment wear to supervisors.
• Operate and maintain production machinery and perform machine setup and adjustments to meet production specifications.
• Perform routine maintenance and deburr parts as needed.
• Use measurement tools such as micrometers to verify product accuracy.

Benefits

• Medical and prescription insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short-term disability
• Long-term disability
• Health insurance
• Supplemental life insurance
• Critical illness insurance
• Life and accidental insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off (PTO)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED