Production Artist and Proofing Specialist

About the Role

This is a technical production artwork position—not a traditional marketing graphic design role. The specialist will create accurate customer proofs, manage revisions, and prepare production-ready artwork for UV printing, engraving, vinyl cutting, and other customization methods. Expert Adobe Illustrator and vector-artwork skills, meticulous accuracy, and consistent responsiveness are essential.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Proofing & Artwork Creation

• Create accurate digital proofs from customer-supplied logos, graphics, text, and personalization instructions.
• Clean up, recreate, modify, and vectorize artwork as needed; check legibility, spelling, alignment, colors, placement, and scale.
• Ensure proofs represent the actual product dimensions and available customization areas.
• Complete customer-requested revisions promptly and coordinate with sales to clarify requirements.

Production-Ready Artwork

• Prepare accurate AI, EPS, SVG, and PDF files for UV printing, laser engraving, vinyl cutting, and other in-house processes.
• Build and validate vector paths, outlines, masks, layers, spot colors, sizing, and equipment-specific production settings.
• Prepare correct separations or layers for white ink, color, gloss, engraving, and cutting when required.
• Confirm production files match customer-approved proofs before releasing them to the production team; resolve technical questions with the Head of Production.

Workflow Management

• Own the assigned artwork queue in internal workflow management software: monitor incoming requests, manage deadlines, and update card statuses accurately.
• Upload the correct proof versions and final production artwork to the appropriate project cards.
• Communicate proactively with sales and production about questions, outstanding approvals, revisions, and timing.

Product Templates & Shopify Maintenance

• Create and maintain standardized proofing templates for existing products, with correct dimensions and customization areas.
• Organize reusable vector assets, artwork libraries, file names, and version history.
• Upload, update, and organize product photos supplied by others on existing Shopify listings; associate images with the correct products and variants.

Quality Control

• Check each proof and production file for incorrect dimensions, missing elements, outdated versions, spelling errors, or incomplete changes.
• Maintain consistent quality control and file-version procedures; flag issues before they cause production rework.
• Identify recurring problems and recommend improvements to proofing accuracy and turnaround.

Required Qualifications

• Expert-level Adobe Illustrator proficiency and substantial experience creating, editing, and preparing vector artwork.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in production artwork, prepress, print production, or closely related work preferred.
• Advanced ability with AI, EPS, SVG, and PDF formats; strong understanding of vector paths, layers, outlines, scaling, and print specifications.
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail, including names, measurements, alignment, and version control.
• Ability to manage concurrent deadlines independently, communicate clearly in written English, and work remotely with U.S. teams.
• Reliable internet, suitable computer hardware, and availability for consistent U.S. Central Time business-hours overlap.

Highly Preferred Experience

• Hands-on Basecamp experience for tracking tasks, comments, approvals, and status updates.
• Production artwork for UV printing, engraving, vinyl, signage, awards, promotional products, or customized merchandise.
• Experience with Roland printers or comparable professional production equipment.
• Adobe Photoshop, Shopify product listing maintenance, and remote collaboration with U.S. businesses.

What Success Looks Like

• Customer proofs and revisions are returned accurately and on time.
• Approved artwork is consistently ready for production without avoidable correction or rework.
• Product templates, Basecamp cards, and final artwork versions remain current and organized.
• Sales and production receive proactive communication about status, risks, and open questions.