Principal 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 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.

Key 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.

Qualifications

• 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.

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

Location & Travel
This is a field-based position requiring significant travel and extended onsite presence at mills around the southeast US region.

Compensation
Our compensation and benefits package includes comprehensive health coverage, life insurance, and flexible time off. The applicable annual base salary paid to a successful applicant will be determined based on multiple factors, including but not limited to the nature and extent of prior experience and educational background.

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.