Production & Pre-Press Associate

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Employee discounts
• Free food & snacks
• Paid time off
• Training & development

Production & Pre-Press Associate

Full-Time | On-Site | Chicago (South Loop)
SpeedPro Imaging - Chicago Loop 2028 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
Core Hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
(With occasional "events exist and deadlines are not theoretical" hours)

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THIS PART. REALLY

This role is not remote .
This role is not entry-level .
This role is not your vibe-check, side hustle, or for career exploration

If you have not already worked in a large-format print production environment , please do not apply. This isn't arrogance - it's efficiency. Yours and ours.

Recruiters, staffing agencies, headhunters or talent whisperers who "just want to hop on a quick call":
Please don't contact us. We won't respond
This is not a challenge. It's a boundary.

Now that we've got that out of the way....

ABOUT SPEEDPRO CHICAGO LOOP

We're entering our 11th year , and we run a studio that performs at a level most print shops talk about and very few actually hit.

A few facts (because vibes are nice, but results pay the rent):

• Top-10 performing studio nationally
• IFA's Franchisee of the Year
• Inc. 5000 Regional honoree
• Top 150 Largest 'Large Format Printers in North America'
• Perfect 5-star reviews

We don't list awards to impress you - we list them so you understand our standard .

We produce big, complex, time-sensitive graphics for brands, agencies, events, and tradeshows where failure is not an option. Our work is large, fast, unforgiving, and highly visible. We like it that way.

THE ROLE (WHO THIS GIG IS ACTUALLY FOR)

This job is for someone who already knows production and wants to do it at a higher level, with better tools, and fewer self-inflicted problems .

You'll be hands-on across pre-press, production, finishing, and delivery . This is not "push button and pray it prints." This is craftsmanship under pressure - the kind that feels good when you nail it.

Think of this job posting as a Bumble compatibility filter. Swipe right if you:

• Get mildly offended by sloppy files
• Treat deadlines with the seriousness of a court date
• Feel pride when something comes off the table looking perfect
• Prefer solving problems versus explaining why something didn't happen

HOWEVER , you should swipe left if "yeah, it's good enough" is an attractive personality trait; because if so, we can promise this job will be one of your shortest relationships.


WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Running printers, cutters, laminators, and finishing equipment with an obsessive focus
• Catching file issues before they turn into uncomfortable meetings
• Making smart decisions on color, materials, and finishing
• Laminating, trimming, weeding, sewing, packing, loading, unloading--whatever is required
• Managing multiple jobs without drama, panic or disappearing mid-shift
• Occasionally leaving the building to deliver something important (fresh air included with compensation package)

Equipment You'll Work With

EFI Pro 30H Hybrid Flatbed
Canon Océ Colorado M5
Mutoh XpertJet 661 (ADA signage)
Esko CNC Cutter/Router
Kala Mistral Laminator
Juki Sewing Machine
Acrylic Heat Bender

(If that list makes you nod confidently with understanding instead of Googling in complete bewilderment - excellent.)

NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS

Let's keep this efficient:

• 4+ years in a large-format print or sign shop
• Fluent in Illustrator, Photoshop, In-Design (Adobe Creative Suite), as well as RIP software like Onyx or Fiery
• Solid grasp of file prep, bleed, color, substrates, finishing
• Comfortable moving fast without cutting corners
• Organized, reliable, and capable of working independently
• Able to lift 60 lb rolls of vinyl and heavy substrates
• Willing to flex hours occasionally when reality shows up unannounced

Nice-to-Haves (Career Accelerators):

• AI Image generation (any platform)
• CNC routing
• 3D packaging or CAD
• Sewing or specialty finishing
• ADA sign making protocols

WHO THRIVES HERE

People who do well here are usually:

• Calm when others spiral
• Detail-obsessed, but not paralyzed by perfection
• Team-oriented without needing hand-holding, constant reassurance or ceremonial praise
• Comfortable being accountable
• Intolerant of mediocrity

We joke. We help each other. We move fast. We don't babysit.

ABOUT THE OWNERS

SpeedPro Chicago Loop is partner-owned by Eric Lazar (former media & mobile tech executive, Marine Corps veteran) and Rebecca Considine (broadcast TV sales leader).

They run the studio the same way they've built every successful team:
clear expectations, real accountability, zero B.S. - and humor where it belongs.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $21-$26/hour , based on experience
• Full-time (40 hrs/week + overtime as needed and available)
• Monthly & annual performance bonuses
• 401(k) with employer contribution after 1 year of service
• Healthcare stipend
• Transportation stipend

FINAL WORDS (YES, READ THESE TOO)

• Integrity, Judgment, Initiative and Dependability are mandatory traits
• Military veterans encouraged to apply
• Valid driver's license preferred
• Equal Opportunity Employer

HOW TO APPLY:
Provide a short cover letter , resume , and portfolio (if applicable) :

No phone calls
No walk-ins
No recruiters

If you want to work in a high-performing shop that actually delivers , with people who take the work seriously (but not themselves), and you meet the requirements - we'd genuinely like to hear from you.

Compensation: $21.00 - $24.00 per hour


Working at SpeedPro and in the large-format printing industry, gives you a chance to be creative. You will be hands-on, in the field, solving problems and meeting clients to make custom solutions every day. As a national brand, specializing in a variety of printed products, SpeedPro takes great pride in partnering with our long-term, satisfied clients. Our goal is to be considered an extension of each client's marketing team, and we collaborate with partners to determine the right solution for you and your business's end customer.

At SpeedPro, we value the relationship between our clients and their customers and deliver quality work on time, every time. With a nationwide network of more than 130 studios, the same standard for excellence in printing, timeliness, and customer service is guaranteed. This is why we have an exceptional net promoter score with our clients of 96.

Working at an independently owned and operated SpeedPro studio sets you up for a bright future. Studio employees experience a fast-paced work environment with new challenges and rewarding opportunities every day. If you are looking for a monotonous desk job, this is not the right job for you.