Optimization Technician

Company Summary

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to be North America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate nine sawmills in Western Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We also manage timberland and operate a wholesale and import/export division.  

Our mission is to grow, manufacture, and market renewable wood products and deliver innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment. At Hampton Lumber, we accomplish this through our own operations as well as those of our affiliates—Trapa Forest Products, Idaho Timber, and RedBuilt. Our tagline, "Find a better way every day," encapsulates our commitment to innovation and improvement across all operations. 

We are guided by our core values: 

• Safety – Prioritize safety across all operations.
• Integrity & Authenticity – Operate honestly and ethically while preserving our distinctive family-owned brand.
• Responsible Stewardship – Endeavor to balance and maintain economic, social, and environmental values in everything we do.
• Tenacity – Embrace challenges with grit, determination, and a can-do spirit. 
• Continuous Improvement – Strive to enhance our processes, products, and people.
• Customer Satisfaction – Be nimble, responsive, and solutions-oriented.
• Community Engagement – Be a responsive, supportive, and respected member of the community.

With over 80 years in the sawmill business, we are proud to have cultivated the knowledge and experience needed to grow and prosper, even in challenging times.  We always look to the future and invest in our people, new technologies, and continuous improvement processes and techniques. 

Overview

The Optimization Technician is responsible for maximizing fiber recovery, throughput, and product value by ensuring all scanning, optimization, and control systems operate at peak performance. This role partners closely with operations, maintenance, and leadership to continuously improve mill efficiency, accuracy, and consistency—supporting a world-class startup and ramp-up.

Benefits Highlights

• Substantial company-paid assistance for Medical and Dental insurance premiums; mental health coverage; cost effective co-pays and deductibles
• 401(k) with 5% annual company contribution and generous company matching contributions vested over three years
• Paid time off, including eight paid holidays
• Participation in the employee bonus program
• Employee wellness program that includes free counseling sessions, financial and legal guidance, and more
• Opportunities for paid training to support career advancement and personal development

Responsibilities

Optimization & Performance

• Monitor and adjust optimization systems (log scanning, breakdown, edging, trimming) to maximize recovery and value.
• Analyze daily production data to identify improvement opportunities in yield, throughput, and grade recovery.
• Calibrate and validate scanners, sensors, and measurement systems for accuracy and consistency.
• Continuously refine cutting solutions based on log mix, product mix, and market conditions.

Execution & Continuous Improvement

• Drive real-time problem solving on optimization-related issues impacting production.
• Partner with operations teams to ensure proper execution of optimized solutions on the floor.
• Lead and support improvement initiatives focused on recovery, uptime, and process stability.
• Develop and maintain standard work for optimization processes.

System & Technology Management

• Maintain and troubleshoot optimization software, scanning systems, and interfaces.
• Work with OEMs (e.g., Comact) and internal teams to implement updates, upgrades, and enhancements.
• Ensure data integrity across systems used for reporting, decision-making, and optimization.

Training & Capability Development

• Train operators and supervisors on optimization best practices and system use.
• Build operator understanding of how decisions impact recovery and value.
• Support development of a high-performance, data-driven culture on the production floor.

Startup & Ramp-Up Support

• Play a key role in commissioning, testing, and tuning optimization systems during startup.
• Establish baseline performance metrics and continuously improve against them.
• Support ramp-up plans to achieve target production, recovery, and quality goals.

Key Success Metrics

• Fiber recovery (% yield improvement)
• Throughput (MSF/hour or similar)
• Optimization system uptime and accuracy
• Grade recovery and value optimization
• Reduction in variance and process inconsistency

Qualifications

• Experience with sawmill optimization systems (scanners, trimmers, log breakdown, etc.).
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret production and performance data.
• Familiarity with optimization software platforms.
• Understanding of lumber manufacturing processes, particularly in high-volume mills.
• Ability to troubleshoot technical systems (mechanical, electrical, and software integration).
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence operators and leadership.

More About Us

The timber and wood products industry is a vital part of many communities, and we’re excited to bring new opportunities to Allendale County, South Carolina. We are committed to supporting the local workforce, investing in training and development, and being active members of the communities where we operate. Many of our employees have built long, rewarding careers with us, and we look forward to welcoming new team members to our family.

Learn more at Hamptonlumber.com, follow us on Facebook & Instagram: @hamptonlumber

EEO Statement

Hampton Lumber is an equal opportunity employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by law. 

Disability accommodation available: If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation in the application or hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Office for the location that you are applying.

Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about our commitment to equal employment opportunity, please see these government posters: EEO is the Law and its accompanying temporary supplement.