FOR HIRE: Embroidery Specialist

About Us SMPLFD Printing Co. is a Detroit-based screen printing, embroidery, and graphic design shop that's been producing custom apparel for clients ranging from local brands to national names since 2004. We run a tight, quality-first operation - and we take embroidery seriously.

The Role We're looking for an experienced Embroidery Specialist to join our production team. You'll be the person who owns our embroidery output - running our Tajima machines, maintaining quality, managing job flow, and keeping the department organized and on deadline. This role is hands-on from day one, and for the right person, it comes with real opportunity to grow into a leadership position as we expand.

Embroidery is one of our fastest-growing departments, and we're looking for someone who takes that seriously. You won't just be keeping up with volume - you'll be helping us sustain that growth through consistent, detail-driven work that meets a high standard every time.

One thing worth knowing upfront: this is not a shop cranking out work polos. Our clients are high-end retailers, national brands, and creative agencies. The garments we embroider are premium - and the quality of the finished product reflects directly on them and on us. If you take pride in doing it right, you'll fit in here.

What You'll Be Doing

• Operating Tajima multi-head embroidery machines for production runs across a wide range of garments and headwear
• Setting up jobs - loading designs, selecting thread, hooping, aligning, and prepping materials
• Monitoring runs in progress, catching issues before they become problems
• Troubleshooting thread breaks, tension issues, needle alignment, and machine errors
• Performing routine machine maintenance - oiling, cleaning, basic upkeep
• Inspecting finished embroidery for quality before it moves to fulfillment
• Tracking active embroidery jobs in Monday.com — updating statuses, flagging delays, and keeping the production board current
• Working within Printavo to reference job specs, timelines, and order details
• Keeping the embroidery area organized, stocked, and running efficiently
• Communicating clearly with the production team on timelines, issues, and capacity

What We're Looking For

• 1+ years of hands-on experience running commercial embroidery machines - Tajima experience strongly preferred
• Solid understanding of fabrics, backings, thread types, and how they interact
• Ability to read and load DST/EMB design files; digitizing experience is a plus
• Strong attention to detail - quality isn't negotiable here
• Self-managed and production-minded - you track your own output and flag problems early
• Someone who can eventually own the department, not just clock in and run machines

The Details

• Location: In-shop - 2905 Beaufait St., Detroit, MI
• Reports to: Production Manager
• Pay: Commensurate with experience

To Apply Email printing@smplfd.com with the subject line EMBROIDERY. Include your resume and a brief description of the machines you've run and the volume you've handled.