Mass Timber CNC Operator

Western Forest Products•Vancouver, WA

9d•$33 - $40•Onsite

About The Position

Western Forest Products is hiring a Mass Timber CNC Operator for its Fruit Valley location in Vancouver, Washington. This hands-on technical role is responsible for setting up, programming, operating, and routinely maintaining CNC timber-processing equipment used to fabricate glulam and other mass timber components. The position combines CNC machining knowledge with an understanding of wood, cutting tools, and structural wood fabrication, with an emphasis on safety, quality, and continuous improvement. The operator interprets shop drawings and digital fabrication information; prepares and verifies CNC programs; selects and manages tooling; establishes machining parameters; and troubleshoots machining or equipment issues. The role requires understanding how cutting speed, feed rate, chip load, tool geometry, material properties, and workpiece orientation affect machining quality, tool life, productivity, and safety. The position is performed in person at the Fruit Valley location.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience operating CNC machinery in woodworking, glulam or timber fabrication, metal machining, manufacturing, or a comparable production environment.
Working knowledge of CNC machining principles and how tooling, spindle speed, feed rate, chip load, material, and cut quality relate.
Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, fabrication drawings, dimensions, tolerances, cutting lists, and production information.
Experience with CAM, CNC programming, machine-control, CAD/CAM, or similar technical software.
Mechanical aptitude and demonstrated ability to troubleshoot equipment and machining problems.
Hands-on familiarity with cutting tools and ability to recognize tool wear, damage, and inappropriate machining conditions.
Ability to use tape measures and precision measuring equipment to verify finished parts.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, repeatable work.
Ability to work safely around automated machinery and large structural components.
Commitment to personal safety, sustainable management, and environmental stewardship.
Strong mechanical, technical, computer, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to recognize machine, tooling, programming, material, and quality issues and determine appropriate corrective action.
Ability to work independently and effectively within a production team.
Strong communication and organizational skills.
Ability to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Ability to understand the machining process and recognize when a program, tool, machine setting, or material is not producing the intended result, then determine appropriate corrective action.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating a Hundegger Robot-Max, K2, K2i, Speed-Cut, or comparable CNC glulam/timber processing machine.
Experience machining glulam, mass timber, heavy timber, or engineered wood products.
Experience with timber fabrication, timber framing, woodworking, millwork, or similar wood-processing operations.
Experience modifying CNC programs or CAM-generated machining operations rather than solely operating pre-programmed equipment.
Familiarity with large-format material handling using overhead cranes, forklifts, or similar equipment.
Experience performing operator-level preventive maintenance and troubleshooting on CNC machinery.

Responsibilities

Perform work in accordance with OSHA and WISHA regulations, company policies, site rules, lockout/tagout procedures, and established safe work practices.
Conduct pre-operational inspections and identify unsafe conditions.
Safely load, position, process, and unload glulam and timber members.
Follow procedures for machine access, tool changes, clearing jams, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Maintain a clean and safe work area, use required personal protective equipment, and participate in safety meetings, hazard assessments, and continuous improvement activities.
Set up and operate the Hundegger Robot-Max CNC glulam/timber processing machine to fabricate structural wood components.
Review shop and fabrication drawings, cutting lists, work orders, and digital production information before machining.
Import, review, and process CNC files using CAM and machine-control software.
Verify CNC programs before production, including member orientation, reference surfaces, dimensions, machining operations, clearances, and tooling.
Make program or machining adjustments as needed to produce conforming parts.
Monitor machine operation and safely respond to faults, alarms, tooling problems, or unexpected machine behavior.
Understand the relationship between the digital model, CAM output, machine coordinate system, tooling, and finished components.
Select cutters, drills, saws, and other tooling for the machining operation and material.
Apply machining concepts such as feed rate, spindle speed, cutting speed, chip load, depth of cut, tool diameter, and tool engagement.
Recognize improper machining conditions, including poor surface finish, tearout, burning, excessive vibration, tool deflection, premature tool wear, and chip evacuation problems.
Inspect cutting tools for wear or damage and perform or coordinate tool changes.
Balance machining quality, tool life, productivity, and safe operation when selecting or adjusting machining parameters.
Maintain accurate tool information and verify installed tooling against machine and program requirements.
Account for wood and engineered wood characteristics, including grain direction, knots, moisture, member orientation, and material variability.
Perform cutting, drilling, routing, notching, slotting, profiling, and other operations required for structural glulam and timber fabrication.
Read and interpret shop drawings and understand how machined features relate to completed parts and connections.
Verify finished components using tape measures and appropriate precision measuring equipment.
Identify dimensional, machining, or material defects before components proceed to subsequent production operations.
Apply fabrication tolerances and distinguish cosmetic conditions from issues affecting fit-up or conformance.
Maintain accurate production, downtime, material usage, and quality records.
Perform daily and periodic operator maintenance, inspections, cleaning, lubrication, and machine checks.
Troubleshoot mechanical, tooling, software, programming, and material-related problems.
Identify abnormal machine conditions such as vibration, unusual noise, damaged tooling, alignment issues, or deteriorating cut quality.
Assist Maintenance and technical support personnel with diagnosing machine faults and completing repairs.
Keep the machine, tooling, work area, and supporting equipment orderly to support reliable production.

Benefits

Hourly pay range of $33.42–$40.10, based on skill level, qualifications, and experience.
100% employer-paid dental and medical benefits.
401(k) retirement savings plan with immediate Safe Harbor match.
Basic life insurance.
Employee assistance program.
Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays.
Opportunities for growth and a long-term career.
On-the-job training and continuing education.
Competitive total rewards and recognition.
Challenging opportunities and diverse career paths.