Embroidery Machine Operator

Embroidery Machine Operator

Company: Big T Printing

Location: St. Petersburg, FL

Position Type: Full-Time / In-Person

Reports To: Production Manager / Shop Owner

About Big T Printing

Big T Printing is a premier custom apparel, branding, and promotional merchandise provider proudly serving businesses, organizations, and schools across Tampa Bay and beyond. We take pride in delivering top-tier craftsmanship, fast turnaround times, and outstanding customer service across screen printing, embroidery, signage, and branded gear.

Position Overview

We are looking for a skilled, detail-oriented Embroidery Machine Operator to join our production team in St. Petersburg. In this role, you will be responsible for setting up, running, and maintaining our multi-head commercial embroidery machines, decorating a wide range of garments—from premium polos and jackets to structured headwear.

The ideal candidate takes pride in crisp stitch quality, catches thread breaks before they turn into ruined blanks, and thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative print shop environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Machine Setup & Operation: Set up, thread, hoop, and operate commercial multi-head embroidery machines according to work orders and job specifications.
• Hooping & Framing: Expertly hoop flats (polos, hoodies, jackets, bags) and cap frames (especially structured hats such as Richardson 112s) to eliminate flagging, puckering, or shifting.
• Order Review: Check job sheets to ensure correct thread colors, design sizes, placements, backing/stabilizer types, and garment counts before running production.
• Quality Assurance: Inspect runs continuously for tension issues, bird nesting, skipped stitches, misalignments, or thread breaks. Catch and correct flaws immediately.
• Finishing & Trimming: Trim jump stitches, remove backing/toppings, steam/press garments if needed, and fold/count items for packing.
• Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform daily and weekly routine machine maintenance, including oiling, cleaning bobbin cases, changing needles, and resolving minor mechanical or tension issues.
• Workflow & Documentation: Follow digital or paper production work orders (order management system), tracking completed runs and communicating inventory discrepancies or delays promptly.
• Shop Cleanliness: Keep the embroidery department clean, organized, and safe.
• Other: Assist other departments as needed when requested.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Experience: 1+ years of commercial multi-needle embroidery machine experience (Tajima, Barudan, Melco, Happy, or similar) preferred. Motivated candidates with strong mechanical aptitude and apparel production backgrounds will also be considered.
• Headwear Experience: Hands-on experience hooping and sewing structured 6-panel caps and beanies is a major plus.
• Technical Eye: Strong visual acuity to judge stitch density, registration, color matching, and design placement.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to counting, staging, and inspecting garments to minimize scrap rates.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to stand for extended periods, perform repetitive hand/wrist movements (hooping, trimming), and lift boxes up to 35–40 lbs.
• Work Ethic: Reliable, punctual, self-directed, and able to meet tight customer deadlines without sacrificing quality.

Why Work With Us?

• Stable, reliable hours in a positive, close-knit shop culture.
• Opportunity to work with industry-leading corporate, athletic, and school apparel brands.
• Competitive hourly pay based on experience.
• Employee discounts on custom gear and apparel.

How to Apply

To apply, submit your resume along with a brief note detailing your embroidery or apparel production experience (including machine brands you’ve worked with). Highlighting past experience hooping structured headwear is strongly encouraged!

Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour

Expected hours: 32.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• On-the-job training
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person