Embroidery Department Lead - Tajima Production and Digitizing

Hiring Immediately | $22–$30 per hour | Full-Time | San Diego, CAIf you are interested in applying for this job, please make sure you meet the following requirements as listed below.Position OverviewMerchy's is hiring an experienced Embroidery Department Lead to operate and build our in-house commercial embroidery department.This is a hands-on leadership position for someone who understands every stage of embroidery production: reviewing and editing digitized files, running multi-head machines, organizing the production schedule, troubleshooting difficult jobs, maintaining quality, and eventually training additional operators.We are not looking for someone who only knows how to load garments and press start. We need an experienced embroidery professional who can own a job from approved artwork through final production.Our goal is to build one of the fastest and most dependable embroidery departments in San Diego County without sacrificing quality. The department's equipment, workflows, quality standards, and future team will be built around the person selected for this position.About Merchy'sMerchy's is a fast-growing custom apparel and merchandise company serving businesses, brands, teams, organizations, and events throughout San Diego County.Our standard is simple: Custom Done Right.We invest in professional equipment, move quickly, and maintain high standards for quality, communication, and turnaround time. This is a production-focused environment with significant growth potential for the right leader.EquipmentTwo Tajima six-head commercial embroidery machinesOne Barudan single-head machine for samples and sew-outsCommercial hoops, materials, supplies, and software providedDigitizing may be outsourced, but the lead must be able to evaluate and edit files before productionPrimary Responsibilities: Embroidery ProductionIndependently set up and operate Tajima multi-head embroidery machinesOperate the Barudan single-head machine for sew-outs and samplesComplete hooping, framing, threading, color changes, and machine setupProduce embroidery on structured hats, polos, jackets, hoodies, bags, workwear, patches, and other productsComplete flat embroidery, puff embroidery, and specialty applicationsRun and approve sew-outs before full productionMaintain clean backing, accurate placement, and professional finishesMeet production deadlines without cutting cornersDigitizing Review and File EditingReview DST files before productionIdentify problems with stitch density, underlay, sequencing, registration, compensation, trims, color changes, and small detailsMake production-ready digitizing edits when necessaryAdjust files for different garments, materials, sizes, and placementsRecognize when a design must be redigitized instead of forcing a poor-quality file into productionCommunicate clear corrections to outside digitizers when additional work is requiredMaintain organized embroidery files and approved production versionsScheduling and Department OrganizationBuild and manage the daily embroidery production schedulePrioritize jobs according to due dates, complexity, sew-out approval, and machine capacityEstimate production time and realistic completion datesOrganize machine assignments to maximize output across the departmentIdentify delays or production risks before they affect customer deadlinesTrack job status, spoilage, rework, and completed quantitiesMaintain organized thread, backing, needles, hoops, and production suppliesCreate repeatable workflows, checklists, and quality-control proceduresQuality Control and TroubleshootingInspect placement, registration, tension, stitch quality, backing, and finished appearanceTroubleshoot thread breaks, bird nesting, looping, puckering, shifting, registration problems, and needle breaksSelect the correct needles, stabilizers, thread, hooping methods, and machine settingsPerform routine cleaning and preventive maintenanceRecognize mechanical problems and determine when professional machine service is neededPrevent avoidable spoilage and reworkLeadershipTake ownership of department productivity, quality, organization, and deadlinesEstablish embroidery production standards for the companyTrain and supervise additional embroidery operators as volume increasesCoordinate with the art, sales, and operations teamsCommunicate production requirements and limitations clearlyHelp determine future staffing, equipment, and workflow needsBuild a dependable department capable of handling increasing production volumeCurrent ProductionApproximately 2,000-2,500 embroidered pieces per monthPrimary products include hats, jackets, hoodies, polos, workwear, and patchesGoal of expanding production capacity over the next six monthsSew-outs are required before productionQuality must always meet the Merchy's Custom Done Right standardRequired ExperienceProfessional experience operating commercial multi-head embroidery machinesStrong Tajima experienceExperience producing structured hats and capsExperience with puff embroideryAbility to inspect and edit digitized embroidery filesAdvanced understanding of density, underlay, sequencing, compensation, registration, and stabilizationExperience scheduling and organizing multiple embroidery jobsStrong troubleshooting and machine-setup skillsExperience maintaining production quality at commercial volumeAbility to work independently without constant supervisionStrong communication, organization, and leadership skillsAvailability to work onsite in San DiegoPreferred ExperiencePrevious embroidery lead, supervisor, or production-management experienceExperience training and managing embroidery operatorsExperience with Barudan equipmentExperience using professional embroidery digitizing softwareExperience creating production procedures and quality-control systemsBasic commercial embroidery-machine maintenance experienceExperience monitoring capacity, efficiency, spoilage, and labor timeScheduleMonday through FridayDaytime availability preferredSome late-afternoon or evening flexibility may be availableOptional Saturdays based on production needsPart-time initially, with the opportunity to grow into full-time as production volume increasesThis is an onsite production positionCompensation$22–$30 per hour, depending on experiencePerformance and compensation growth as the department expandsPer-piece compensation may be considered for the right candidateProfit-sharing opportunity based on eligibility and performanceThis Position Is a Good Fit If YouCan take an embroidery job from artwork review through completed productionKnow how to improve a file instead of blaming every problem on the digitizerWork quickly while maintaining excellent qualityEnjoy organizing production and improving workflowsTake ownership when problems ariseAre comfortable leading people and establishing standardsWant to build a department, not simply operate one machineThis Position Is Not a Fit If YouOnly have hobby or home-machine embroidery experienceNeed constant supervision to complete productionCannot edit or evaluate digitized embroidery filesHave limited structured-cap or puff-embroidery experienceSkip sew-outs or quality-control stepsStruggle to organize multiple jobs and deadlinesConsistently sacrifice quality for speedAre not interested in leading and training othersHow to ApplyPlease submit your résumé and answer the following questions:How many years of commercial embroidery-production experience do you have?Which Tajima and other commercial embroidery machines have you operated?Which digitizing or embroidery software can you use?Can you independently edit DST files to correct production-quality issues?Describe your experience with structured hats and puff embroidery.Have you managed a production schedule or supervised other operators?Approximately how many pieces or machine heads have you managed during a typical production day?Please provide photographs or examples of your embroidery work, if available.Job Types: Full-time, Flexible start timePay: $22.00–$30.00 per hourWork Location: In person in San Diego, CaliforniaAddress: 3870 Hancock St, San Diego CA 92109Benefits:Flexible scheduleProfit sharingPeople with a criminal record are encouraged to applyApplication Question(s):How many years of professional experience do you have in commercial embroidery?Which commercial embroidery machines have you operated?Which digitizing or embroidery software can you use?Can you independently edit a digitized file to correct production or quality issues?Describe your experience scheduling and managing multiple embroidery jobs.Have you supervised or trained embroidery operators?Do you have experience with both structured hats and flat garments? xhyhwjd How many machines can you run at capacity at one time?Experience:Production Embroidery: 2 years (Required)Location:San Diego, CA 92110 (Preferred)Work Location: In person