Sock Technician Apprentice – Merino Wool Manufacturing
Company: Minus33 Merino Wool
Location: New Hampshire
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Location: In Person
About the Position
Minus33 Merino Wool is looking for a mechanically and technically inclined individual to join our New Hampshire manufacturing team as a Sock Technician Apprentice.
This is a hands-on technical manufacturing position focused on learning the operation, setup, troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance of modern computerized sock knitting machines.
We will provide training on sock manufacturing and our specific equipment; however, candidates must come to the position with a technical or mechanical background, strong problem-solving abilities, and basic computer proficiency.
You do not need previous sock-knitting or textile manufacturing experience. We are looking for someone who already understands how to work with mechanical or technical systems and is eager to apply those skills to a specialized trade.
What You'll Learn
Working alongside experienced team members, you will receive hands-on training in the complete sock manufacturing process, including:
- Operating modern computerized sock knitting machines
- Setting up machines for different sock styles, sizes, and specifications
- Understanding and navigating computerized machine controls and settings
- Loading, threading, and managing Merino wool and other yarns
- Monitoring multiple machines during production
- Diagnosing machine errors and production problems
- Performing mechanical adjustments and repairs
- Troubleshooting computerized and mechanical equipment
- Performing routine and preventative machine maintenance
- Identifying worn, damaged, or incorrectly adjusted machine components
- Understanding yarn tension, knitting specifications, and production settings
- Inspecting finished socks for defects and quality issues
- Learning finishing and post-knitting production processes
- Maintaining production and quality records
- Keeping machinery and the production area clean, organized, and operating efficiently
- Learning the complete process of turning yarn into a finished Minus33 sock
As your skills develop, you will take on greater responsibility for machine setup, repairs, troubleshooting, preventative maintenance, production efficiency, and product quality.
Technical Qualifications
This is an apprentice position, but it does require an existing technical foundation.
Candidates should have some type of mechanical or technical background. This could come from professional experience, vocational or technical education, personal projects, or hands-on experience working with machinery and equipment.
Relevant backgrounds may include:
- Manufacturing or machine operation
- Mechanical repair or maintenance
- Automotive or small-engine repair
- Machining or CNC equipment
- Industrial or production equipment
- Electrical or electronics work
- HVAC or similar mechanical trades
- Robotics or automated equipment
- Textile, sewing, or knitting machinery
- Other hands-on technical or mechanical experience
Candidates must also be comfortable using computers and learning computerized equipment. Our knitting machines combine mechanical systems with computerized controls, so technicians need to be able to navigate software interfaces, enter and adjust settings, understand machine messages and errors, and learn new computer-based systems.
You do not need to know how to operate a sock knitting machine before you start. We can teach sock manufacturing; we're looking for someone who already has the technical aptitude needed to learn it.
What We're Looking For
A successful candidate will:
- Have demonstrated mechanical or technical aptitude
- Be comfortable working with computers and computerized machinery
- Enjoy troubleshooting and figuring out why something isn't working correctly
- Be comfortable using tools and making mechanical adjustments
- Have strong attention to detail
- Be able to follow technical instructions and established procedures
- Learn new equipment and processes quickly
- Be able to identify small differences and defects in finished products
- Take pride in producing high-quality work
- Be dependable and arrive ready to work
- Communicate clearly when identifying or explaining equipment problems
- Work effectively both independently and as part of a team
- Be willing to continuously learn as their technical responsibilities increase
Physical Requirements & Working Conditions
This is an active, hands-on manufacturing position in a working production environment. Applicants should understand the physical requirements of the position before applying.
Employees in this position must be able to:
- Stand and work on their feet for periods of up to 4 hours at a time
- Work in a manufacturing environment where temperatures can reach approximately 90°F
- Safely lift and carry at least 25 pounds
- Climb ladders as required to access equipment or materials
- Frequently bend, reach, crouch, and move around manufacturing equipment
- Use hands and fingers for detailed mechanical work, threading, adjustments, and repairs
- Perform repetitive hand and arm movements when required
- Safely work around moving and operating machinery
- Work in an environment that may include heat, humidity, machinery noise, yarn fibers, and other normal manufacturing conditions
- Maintain awareness of surroundings and follow all equipment and workplace safety procedures
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the position.
Benefits
Minus33 offers a competitive benefits package that includes:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Health Savings Account
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid Family and Medical Leave
- Employee discount
What Success Looks Like
Our goal is to develop you into a skilled Sock Technician who can independently set up, operate, troubleshoot, repair, and maintain computerized sock knitting equipment while consistently producing products that meet Minus33's quality standards.
This isn't simply a position where you load a machine and press a button.
Modern sock knitting combines mechanics, computers, electronics, textiles, precision, and problem-solving. A good technician needs to understand what the machine is doing, recognize when something isn't right, determine why it's happening, and work toward a solution.
We're looking for someone who wants to develop that expertise and turn their existing technical abilities into a specialized manufacturing skill.
Why Join Minus33?
At Minus33, you'll have the opportunity to learn a specialized trade while helping manufacture high-quality Merino wool products in New Hampshire.
You'll work directly with modern computerized knitting equipment and develop skills in:
- Machine operation
- Mechanical troubleshooting
- Equipment repair and maintenance
- Computerized manufacturing
- Textile production
- Quality control
- Production efficiency
For someone who enjoys working with machines, computers, tools, and their hands—and likes the satisfaction of solving a technical problem and seeing a physical product come off the machine - this can be a rewarding long-term career.
We value quality, craftsmanship, technical ability, curiosity, problem-solving, reliability, and continuous improvement.
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- On-the-job training
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- mechanical, technical, machine-operation: 1 year (Preferred)
Shift availability:
Ability to Commute:
- Ashland, NH 03217 (Required)
Work Location: In person
