Sales Engineer

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales, this full-time position operates Monday–Friday with occasional weekend availability.

About the role

We are an innovative leader in mass timber manufacturing, specializing in patented Mass Ply Panels as a high-performance alternative to traditional CLT. This role combines precise cost estimating, technical sales support, and hands-on drafting using specialized CAD software (such as cadwork) to develop schematics, layouts, and fabrication details for customer projects. Join us at the forefront of the mass timber revolution, contributing to sustainable, high-impact projects using our patented Mass Ply technology. Collaborate with industry leaders and academic partners, help shape emerging standards, and grow your expertise in renewable construction solutions that support both rural communities and healthy forests.

Responsibilities

• Technical Sales & Application Engineering
  • Provide expert technical and engineering information on Mass Ply products by analyzing customer needs, project specifications, and architectural/structural drawings.
  • Offer solutions that align company mass timber products with customer requirements, including feasibility assessments and value-engineering recommendations.
  • Build and maintain relationships with key clients, architects, engineers, and contractors through technical consultations, on-site visits, and clear communication.
  • Communicate customer feedback and application trends to support future product development.
• Cost Estimating & Project Technical Leadership
  • Work with leading architects and engineers to prepare detailed, accurate cost estimates by thoroughly reviewing blueprints, architectural/structural plans, specifications, and related documents.
  • Provide essential value engineering by proposing optimizations in design/materials based on Freres’ processes, and identify risks or constraints related to budget, timeline, and manufacturability.
  • Oversee project aspects from sales inception through design validation, fabrication, shipment, and customer payment.
• Drafting & Design Development
  • Use specialized timber CAD software (e.g., Cadwork or equivalent) to develop detailed schematics, 3D models, shop drawings, panel layouts, connection details, and fabrication files for Mass Ply Panels, beams, and related components.
  • Create and modify technical drawings from customer-provided plans, ensuring compliance with manufacturing capabilities, tolerances, and standards (e.g., ANSI/APA PRG-320 for mass timber).
  • Generate CNC-ready outputs, material take-offs, and assembly drawings to support precise prefabrication and efficient production.
  • Collaborate with design teams and clients to refine concepts into buildable, cost-effective solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Structural Engineering.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365.
• Effective presentation, analytical, communications, and customer relationship skills.
• Valid Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of or interest in mass timber, engineered wood products, sustainable construction, or related fields.
• Experience in technical sales, consulting, or application engineering within construction, architecture, or building materials industries.

Physical Demands

The role requires the ability to perform the following essential physical functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Standing, walking, sitting, lifting, carrying, balancing, stooping, reaching, handling, feeling, communicating, acuity-far, acuity-near, depth perception, and field of vision.
• May require a combination of sitting, standing, and walking, some for longer periods.
• Must be able to work in an office environment as well as a shop and plant environment as job duties require. May be exposed to loud operating machinery, cold and hot temperatures, chemicals, and vapors.
• Prolonged periods of standing and walking during site visits, presentations, and training sessions.
• Occasional travel to client sites, project locations, or industry events.

Benefits

• Highly competitive wage.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Health, dental, and life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Section 125 plan.
• 401K retirement plan.
• Discretionary quarterly profit-sharing bonus program.
• Holiday pay.
• Employee discounts and vendor discounts (e.g., Columbia Sportswear, Carhartt).

About Us

Freres Engineered Wood, formerly known as Freres Lumber Co., Inc., was established in 1922 in Lyons, Oregon as a family-owned and operated wood products manufacturing business. Three generations of family management have led the company’s veneer and plywood manufacturing facilities to sustain in the Santiam Canyon, and we are committed to operating for another 100+ years. We operate six processing plants, including a small log veneer plant, large log veneer plant, veneer drying facility, plywood plant, and cogeneration facility. We specialize in creating the highest quality wood products, from raw log to finished products, including hog fuel, bark fines, chips, shavings, specialty veneer, grade lumber, high-quality sheathing grade plywood, and electricity. Our passion for continuous improvement and innovative approach to manufacturing has led us to become the sole producer and developer of Mass Ply Panel, a unique, patented wood product.