Job Summary
We are seeking a skilled, detail-oriented Pad Printing Technician for a part-time role at our Yorba Linda facility. Unlike general production positions, this role requires immediate, independent technical knowledge of pre-press and setup operations. You will be fully responsible for preparing custom cliches (plates), mixing specialized inks to precise ratios, and setting up the press for high-quality product decoration.
This is an ideal position for an experienced print operator, a pre-press technician, or a commercial screen printer looking for a flexible, local part-time role.
Key Responsibilities
- Plate Making: Independently expose, develop, and burn photopolymer cliche plates using our exposure equipment. Ensure sharp image quality and correct depth.
- Ink Chemistry: Accurately mix specialized pad printing inks (vinyl, epoxy, or acrylic) with appropriate ratios of thinners, hardeners/catalysts, and retarders based on substrate requirements. Maintain correct ink viscosity throughout production runs.
- Machine Setup: Set up and calibrate pad printing machinery (closed-cup/open-cup systems), including pad selection, compression adjustments, and doctor blade/cup alignment.
- Registration & Fixturing: Align custom fixtures and jigs to ensure highly accurate, repeatable multi-color or single-color print registration on complex shapes.
- Troubleshooting: Identify and resolve common print defects on the fly (e.g., pinholes, static, feathering, poor ink transfer).
- Maintenance: Perform routine cleaning of pads, ink cups, plates, and machines post-production.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Proven Experience: Minimum 1–2 years of direct hands-on experience setting up and operating pad printing machines.
- Pre-Press Expertise: Demonstrated ability to burn/expose cliches independently.
- Ink Management: Strong understanding of solvent-based ink mixing, and viscosity control.
- Detail-Oriented: Exceptional eye for alignment, color matching, and print quality registration.
- Independence: Ability to work efficiently with minimal supervision once given production requirements
Pay: $20.00 - $28.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
