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Planer Operator Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Summary: The Planer Technician serves as the work center owner and primary operator for Timberlab's planning operations. This position is expected to personally operate, set up, troubleshoot ...

What You'll Do * Planer machine set up based on dimensional run schedule. * Identify and ... Who We Are Interfor is a growth-oriented forest products company, operating in all major forest ...

What You'll Do * Planer machine set up based on dimensional run schedule. * Identify and ... Who We Are Interfor is a growth-oriented forest products company, operating in all major forest ...

Providing timely feedback to planer operators regarding planer quality & size issues * Must be able to obtain a grader certification * Strong mathematical skills * Proficiency in use of sawmill ...

Entry Level - Planer - Swing

Willamina, OR

$17.50 - $21.25/hr

Company Summary Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to beNorth America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate ...

Entry Level - Planer - Day

Willamina, OR · On-site

$17.50 - $21.25/hr

Company Summary Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to beNorth America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate ...

Entry Level - Planer - Swing

Willamina, OR

$17.50 - $21.25/hr

Hampton Lumber is a thriving family-owned company aspiring to beNorth America's preferred source for responsibly-sourced wood solutions. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, we operate nine sawmills in ...

OR · On-site

The Open Connect Control Plane team is seeking talented Distributed Systems Software Engineers to ... Experience building and operating business-critical, real-time systems at scale. Distributed ...

Machine Operator

Portland, OR · On-site

$22.50/hr

New employees to TFA receive extensive training under the guidance of experienced operators. TFA ... plane, I.D. / O.D. Visually check for surface flaws on each fitting. Record results of hourly ...

Senior Software Engineer - Postgres

OR · Remote

$122K - $161K/yr

You'll work across a range of areas - from control plane services and automation to operational ... Experience: 6+ years in software engineering, ideally with experience building or operating ...

Airport Ramp Agent

Eugene, OR · On-site

$15.50 - $19/hr

Job Summary Ramp agents are responsible for loading and unloading aircraft baggage, guiding planes to and from their gates, operating baggage carts, de-icing planes and performing other airplane ...

Airport Ramp Agent

Eugene, OR · On-site

$15.50 - $19/hr

Job Summary Ramp agents are responsible for loading and unloading aircraft baggage, guiding planes to and from their gates, operating baggage carts, de-icing planes and performing other airplane ...

Airport Ramp Agent

Eugene, OR

$15.50 - $19/hr

Job Summary Ramp agents are responsible for loading and unloading aircraft baggage, guiding planes to and from their gates, operating baggage carts, de-icing planes and performing other airplane ...

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Planer Operator information

What is the difference between Planer Operator vs Millwright?

AspectPlaner OperatorMillwright
CredentialsHigh school diploma, technical training, certifications in machinery operationHigh school diploma, technical training, certifications in machinery installation and maintenance
Work EnvironmentFactories, manufacturing plants, woodworking shopsConstruction sites, factories, industrial facilities
Industry UsageWoodworking, metalworking, manufacturingManufacturing, industrial maintenance, construction
Job FocusOperating planers and similar machinery to shape materialsInstalling, repairing, and maintaining machinery and equipment

While both roles work in industrial settings and require technical skills, a Planer Operator primarily focuses on operating machinery like planers to shape materials, whereas a Millwright specializes in installing, maintaining, and repairing machinery. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What are some common challenges faced by Planer Operators, and how can they be addressed?

Planer Operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining consistent machine calibration, managing wood defects, and ensuring safety during high-speed operations. Addressing these issues typically involves regular equipment inspections, prompt maintenance, and following strict safety protocols. Additionally, effective communication with team members and supervisors helps in quickly resolving production issues and maintaining workflow efficiency. Staying proactive and detail-oriented can significantly reduce downtime and improve overall product quality.

What are Planer Operators?

Planer Operators are skilled workers who operate industrial planing machines to smooth, shape, and finish wood or metal surfaces. Their main responsibilities include setting up and maintaining the planer, monitoring the machine during operation, and ensuring the final product meets specific size and quality standards. They may also be responsible for adjusting machine settings, performing regular maintenance, and following safety protocols. Planer Operators often work in manufacturing, woodworking, or metalworking environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Planer Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Planer Operator, you need strong mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and experience with woodworking or metalworking machinery, often supported by a high school diploma or technical training. Familiarity with planer machines, safety protocols, and basic measurement tools like calipers and micrometers is typically required. Reliability, problem-solving skills, and effective communication help operators excel in maintaining quality and addressing production issues. These skills ensure safe operation, high-quality output, and efficiency in manufacturing environments.
What are popular job titles related to Planer Operator jobs in Oregon? For Planer Operator jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What are popular job titles related to Planer Operator jobs in OR? For Planer Operator jobs in OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Planer Operator job openings in Oregon as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 48% Full Time, 49% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution.
Planer Technician

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago


Timberlab rating

6.3

Company rating: 6.3 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz


Job description

Job Description Summary:

The Planer Technician serves as the work center owner and primary operator for Timberlab's planning operations. This position is expected to personally operate, set up, troubleshoot, optimize, and maintain planning and sizing equipment while developing operating standards and training operators. The Technician owns equipment performance, dimensional quality, surface finish quality, tooling management, uptime, throughput, and continuous improvement within the work center.

Job Description:

Responsibilities

  • Act as the primary operator of critical production equipment

  • Operate and maintain planers, sizing equipment, material handling systems, and associated production equipment.

  • Monitor dimensional accuracy, surface finish quality, throughput, and equipment performance.

  • Perform planer knife changes, cutter head setup, and machine adjustments required to maintain product specifications.

  • Act as the primary operator of critical production equipment during startup, commissioning, ramp-up, and early production operations.

  • Inspect planer knives and tooling for wear, damage, and performance degradation.

  • Perform planer knife grinding, sharpening, balancing, and maintenance activities in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and Timberlab standards.

  • Manage knife inventory, replacement schedules, and tooling change records to ensure continuous production readiness.

  • Establish and maintain tooling standards to optimize surface quality, dimensional consistency, equipment uptime, and production efficiency.

  • Troubleshoot planer-related quality issues, including dimensional variation, surface finish defects, tear-out, adhesive bonding issues, and tooling performance concerns.

  • Lead machine setup, startups, shutdowns, changeovers, and production troubleshooting activities.

  • Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, startup procedures, work instructions, and best practices.

  • Train, coach, and mentor Machine Operators assigned to the work center.

  • Monitor production performance, downtime, quality, recovery, and throughput metrics and implement corrective actions.

  • Coordinate with Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Engineering teams to improve equipment performance and process reliability.

  • Perform routine inspections, preventative maintenance activities, and equipment condition assessments.

  • Maintain accurate production, downtime, quality, and maintenance records.

  • Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, and waste reduction.

  • Ensure compliance with all safety procedures, including LOTO, machine guarding, and PPE requirements.

  • Cross-train across Finger Jointing, Planing, RF Press Operations, and other production work centers to support operational coverage.

  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or GED.

  • Minimum 2 years of manufacturing, lumber, wood products, engineered wood products, or industrial production experience.

  • Demonstrated experience operating, setting up, and troubleshooting industrial manufacturing equipment.

  • Experience operating planers, sizing equipment, including planer setup, knife changes, tooling maintenance, and production troubleshooting.

  • Experience performing planer knife grinding, sharpening, balancing, and cutter head maintenance.

  • Strong mechanical aptitude and advanced problem-solving skills.

  • Ability to lead, train, and support machine operators.

  • Ability to read and interpret technical documents, work instructions, and production specifications.

  • Strong commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

  • Ability to work flexible schedules, overtime, and shift work as required.


What Timberlab employees say

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Benefits

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