Mass Timber CNC Operator

Role summary

Mass Timber CNC Operator is a full-time role at Western Forest Products in Vancouver, Washington, United States (on-site). Posted 2026-10-30. Salary: USD 27–29 per hour. Experience level: 0-2. No degree required.

Job title

Mass Timber CNC Operator

Company

Western Forest Products

Location

Vancouver, Washington, United States

Work arrangement

on-site

Employment type

full-time

Category

Trades & Construction

Salary

USD 27–29 per hour

Experience level

0-2

Degree required

No

Date posted

2026-10-30

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

Western Forest Products is hiring for a Mass Timber CNC Operator to join our team based in Vancouver, Washington at our Fruit Valley location.

What You’ll Do: Mass Timber CNC Operator is responsible for the setup, programming, operation, and routine maintenance of CNC timber-processing equipment used to fabricate glulam and other mass timber components. This is a hands-on technical role that combines CNC machining knowledge with an understanding of wood, cutting tools, and structural wood fabrication.

Who You Are: The successful candidate will interpret shop drawings and digital fabrication information, prepare and verify CNC programs, select and manage tooling, establish appropriate machining parameters, and troubleshoot machining or equipment issues. The operator must understand how cutting speed, feed rate, chip load, tool geometry, material properties, and workpiece orientation affect machining quality, tool life, productivity, and safety.

What We Offer:

Hourly range of $26.74 - $28.96 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

An energetic team-oriented environment

A safe workplace

Work Environment: This position is to be performed in person at Western Forest Products' Fruit Valley location.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Safety and Environmental Performance

Perform work in accordance with OSHA and WISHA regulations, Western Policies, Site Rules, lockout/tagout procedures, and established safe work practices;

Conduct required pre-operational inspections and identify unsafe conditions;

Safely load, position, process, and unload glulam/timber members;

Follow established procedures for machine access, tool changes, clearing jams, maintenance, and troubleshooting;

Maintain a clean and safe work area and use required personal protective equipment;

Participate in safety meetings, hazard assessments, and continuous improvement activities.

CNC Programming and Machine Operation

Set up and operate the Hundegger Robot-Max CNC glulam/timber processing machine to fabricate glulam and other structural wood components;

Review shop drawings, 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 appropriate program or machining adjustments when required to produce conforming parts;

Monitor machine operation throughout the machining cycle 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 glulam/timber component.

Tooling and Machining

Select appropriate cutters, drills, saws, and other tooling based on the machining operation and material;

Understand and apply machining concepts including feed rate, spindle speed, cutting speed, chip load, depth of cut, tool diameter, and tool engagement;

Recognize signs of 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 as required;

Balance machining quality, tool life, productivity, and safe machine operation when selecting or adjusting machining parameters;

Maintain accurate tool information and verify that installed tooling corresponds with machine and program requirements.

Wood Fabrication and Quality

Understand the machining characteristics of wood and engineered wood products, including the effects of grain direction, knots, moisture, member orientation, and material variability;

Perform cutting, drilling, routing, notching, slotting, profiling, and other machining operations required for structural glulam/timber fabrication;

Read and interpret shop drawings and understand how individual machined features relate to the completed part and connection;

Verify finished components using tape measures and appropriate precision measuring equipment;

Identify dimensional, machining, or material defects before components move to subsequent production operations;

Understand fabrication tolerances and distinguish between cosmetic conditions and conditions that may affect fit-up or part conformance;

Maintain accurate production, downtime, material usage, and quality records.

Machine Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Perform required 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 in diagnosing machine faults and completing repairs;

Maintain the machine, tooling, work area, and supporting equipment in an orderly condition that supports reliable production.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Required Experience

High school diploma or equivalent;

Experience working in a manufacturing, production, woodworking, construction, or industrial environment preferred;

Basic mechanical aptitude and interest in learning CNC machining and manufacturing processes;

Ability to read and interpret basic shop drawings, measurements, and production instructions;

Ability to use a tape measure and other basic measuring tools;

Basic computer skills and ability to learn machine-control software and production systems;

Ability to work