About High Desert Print Company
High Desert Print Company is a creative custom print and design studio that brings ideas to life—from concept to final product. We specialize in apparel printing, embroidery, and promotional products for brands, businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs. We are rooted in community, we focus on cultivating quality relationships, and we are inspired by telling people's stories through art and print.
Our office and design studio are based in Santa Barbara, while our production facility is located in New Cuyama, where we run all screen printing, embroidery, and finishing operations. We’re a fast-paced, quality-driven team who takes pride in our craft and care deeply about the people we work with.
Role Overview
We are hiring a full-time Production Manager / Press Operator to lead our print production team in New Cuyama. This is a hybrid role combining leadership responsibilities with hands-on operation of our automated screen printing presses.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience in automated textile screen printing, excels in workflow management, and is a team player who can balance production output with quality control. You'll lead a team of 5–7 employees across screen printing, embroidery, heat press, and finishing departments, while also operating and maintaining our M&R automatic presses.
Key Responsibilities
Operate and maintain automatic screen printing presses
Set up and register multi-color jobs using custom-mixed inks and Pantone formulas
Perform test prints, quality control checks, and troubleshoot press issues
Oversee daily production operations across all departments
Supervise and support production team members, offering guidance and training
Create and manage production schedules, ensuring on-time job completion
Maintain production standards, efficiency benchmarks, and machine uptime
Monitor inventory for inks, screens, emulsions, and other supplies
Collaborate with customer service and leadership on production needs
Track performance metrics and support employee development
Maintain a safe, clean, and organized production floor
Qualifications & Experience
- Required:
3+ years of hands-on experience with automated textile screen printing
1+ year in a leadership or supervisory role in a production setting
Strong understanding of press setup, screen registration, ink mixing, and curing
Proven ability to manage teams and lead production workflows
Ability to lift 50 lbs and stand for long periods
Strong communication and problem-solving skills
Strong computer skills to handle management system and communication channels with team
Reliable transportation to New Cuyama
- Preferred:
M&R press experience
Familiarity with embroidery and heat press workflows
Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus
Employment Type
Full-time, Monday through Friday
Production facility is located in New Cuyama, CA — a small rural town in the heart of the Cuyama Valley
Distance from nearby cities:
52 miles from Santa Maria
30 miles from Taft
66 miles from Bakersfield
HOW TO APPLY: Please apply via this link: https://wkf.ms/41QvAGG
applications that are not 100% complete will not be considered
Position Title: Production Manager / Press Operator
Company: High Desert Print Company
Location: In-Person – New Cuyama, CA
Compensation: $25–$30 / hour, DOE
screen printer, screen printing, screenprinting, embroidery, print shop, M&R, ROQ, Tajima, Barudan
