What are the responsibilities and job description for the Production Worker - Entry Level position at Ponderosa Printing?
Job summary
A Production Worker (Embroidery / Heat‑Transfer / Printing / Cutting / Finishing) is the heartbeat of our shop. This role helps bring our customers ideas to life!
Core responsibilities
Heat Transfer (40%)
- Operate heat presses (Stahls Hotronix, Geo Knight, etc.) to apply direct‑to‑film (DTF), heat‑transfer vinyl (HTV) and other films.
- Weed vinyl and films accurately; adjust temperature, pressure and dwell time for different materials and fabric blends; prevent silvering, scorching or mis‑alignment.
- Maintain a heat‑press settings library and record successful parameters.
- Inspect finished transfers for adherence and durability; touch up or re‑press as needed.
Printing and Cutting (30%)
- Operating printers for customer orders and cutting machine for vinyl, paper, and cloth goods
- Utilizing software and computers to set up printing and cutting specifications
- Preparing printed and cut goods for shipment
Embroidery (20%)
- Operating embroidery machines for apparel, patches, and other embroidered goods
- Inspecting of final embroidered product for use by other departments
Finishing (10%)
- Finish banners, signage, and paper products
- Operate a banner grommeting machine, and use banner hemming tape
- Cut and finish posters, and other small paper goods.
- Pick, pack and stage completed orders; verify garment counts, sizes and personalization against work orders.
Skills & requirements
- Experience: 0-2 years of experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Technical skills: Comfortable with weeding vinyl, setting press temperature/pressure/time and using basic design software (Wilcom/EmbroideryStudio, Photoshop or similar). Basic computer skills for WMS and shipping systems.
- Quality & detail orientation: Able to interpret work orders, measure placements, identify stitch defects, calibrate tension and maintain consistent quality across runs.
- Safety: Understand hot‑surface hazards, pinch points and PPE. OSHA‑10 General Industry certification preferred.
- Physical requirements: Ability to lift 40–50 lbs, stand/walk for most of the shift, handle repetitive motions (hooping, weeding) and work around heat‑press temperatures. Tolerance for moderate noise and occasional fumes from adhesives.
About Us
Ponderosa is a custom production shop based in Idaho. We handle embroidery, heat transfers, screen printing, fabrication, and shipping for some of the largest sports and outdoor brands in the world. Our focus is on making physical products that meet tight deadlines and high quality standards.
What we offer
- Competitive pay: We offer hourly wages commensurate with experience and skill; overtime is available during peak seasons. We also provide quarterly bonuses tied to quality and on‑time delivery.
- Growth & learning: You’ll have access to training resources, machine manuals and YouTube channels to deepen your craft. We encourage certifications (OSHA‑10, forklift) and offer a pathway to leadership roles such as Lead Operator or Shift Lead.
- Culture: We value quality, speed and teamwork. We're growing quickly and looking for A players who want to be a part of our fast paced team!
If you’re passionate about decorated apparel and want to be part of a growing team that takes pride in its work, we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and help us turn blanks into masterpieces!
Job Type: Full-time
- Work Location: In person
Pay: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour
Benefits:
- On-the-job training
- Opportunities for advancement
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Work Location: In person
Salary : $16 - $18