Principal Engineer

The Lumber Manufactory • Seattle, WA

20d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is building the sustainable future of the lumber industry with next-generation sawmill technology. Backed by leading investors, including Cantos, Slow Ventures, Susa Ventures, Banter, Humba Ventures, and Ravelin Capital.
The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is seeking a Principal Engineer to drive engineering rigor and operational excellence across deployment and production initiatives. This role will be responsible for establishing quality standards, processes, and documentation that enable a seamless transition from R&D to full-scale production.
As a Technical Chief of Staff, you will bring structure, clarity, and technical insight to fast-moving engineering teams building and deploying mills across the Southeast US. You will work closely with senior leadership and engineering teams to define roadmaps, implement best practices, and drive technical excellence. This role requires strong ownership, strategic thinking, and the ability to solve complex technical challenges while aligning stakeholders around shared goals.

The ideal candidate is a systems builder with experience turning complex technology into repeatable, automated deployments — especially in rural or remote environments where infrastructure is sparse, support is limited, and designs must be rugged, reliable, and self-sufficient.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Design Engineering, Systems Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering leadership roles with a strong focus on operational excellence and process development.
• Proven track record of building technical roadmaps and building processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to provide strategic insights to senior leadership.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-growth or complex technical environments preferred.

Responsibilities

• Engineering Standards & Processes:
• Define and implement engineering quality standards and best practices across design, systems, manufacturing, and industrial engineering disciplines.
• Develop and maintain documentation frameworks to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Operational Excellence:
• Build and optimize processes that enable smooth transitions from R&D to production environments.
• Establish metrics and governance models to monitor engineering performance and quality.
• Strategic Advisory & Leadership Support:
• Act as a trusted technical advisor to the VP of Deployment and Operations, providing insights on engineering strategy, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Gather feedback and ideas from engineering teams and translate them into actionable strategies.
• Roadmap Development:
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create technical roadmaps aligned with business objectives and operational goals.
• Ensure roadmap execution supports scalability, reliability, and efficiency.
• Culture & Collaboration:
• Champion a culture of rigor, excellence, and continuous improvement within engineering teams.
• Facilitate communication between leadership and technical teams to ensure alignment and transparency.

Benefits

• Our compensation and benefits package includes comprehensive health coverage, life insurance, and flexible time off.
• 100% employer-paid health coverage for employees and dependents (medical, dental, vision)
• Life insurance and disability coverage (100% employer-paid)
• Opportunity to shape the future of an essential industry

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal