Contract Engraving Machine Operator Jobs in Tennessee

Join our Staples World Class Supply Chain Team and deliver essential products to our customers.

What you'll be doing:

The Personalization Specialist operates personalization equipment and related software within a fulfillment center production environment. This role is responsible for executing customer product customization through embroidery, laser engraving, hand imprinting, and similar methods, ensuring accuracy, quality, and adherence to production standards. The position involves following detailed work orders, verifying personalization specifications, monitoring production output, and performing quality inspections to ensure finished products meet established requirements. The role operates in a fast-paced environment and requires strong attention to detail, basic mechanical aptitude, and the ability to support daily productivity, quality, and safety goals.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Operate personalization equipment safely and efficiently, including embroidery machines, laser engraving equipment, hand imprinting tools, and other related production machinery.

• Utilizing a computer with personalization software, production systems, and work order information to prepare, process, and complete customer orders.

• Read and follow written work orders, production instructions, customer specifications, and item-

• level personalization details.

• Accurately match names, spelling, logos, artwork, layouts, product types, quantities, and other personalization requirements to the appropriate customer order.

• Set up products, materials, fixtures, hoops, templates, or related supplies for personalization based on the required production method.

• Monitor machines and production output throughout the process to ensure orders are completed accurately, efficiently, and within quality standards.

• Inspect finished products for spelling, placement, alignment, color, thread quality, engraving quality, imprint clarity, product condition, and overall workmanship.

• Identify and escalate quality issues, equipment concerns, order discrepancies, or production delays to the appropriate lead or supervisor.

• Perform basic machine setup, adjustments, cleaning, troubleshooting, and routine maintenance as needed and within training guidelines.

• Maintain organized workstations, tools, supplies, and production materials to support an efficient and safe workflow.

• Meet or exceed daily productivity, accuracy, quality, and safety expectations.

• Follow all safety procedures, equipment operating guidelines, and fulfillment center policies.

• Support team members in other production or fulfillment activities as business needs require.

• Maintain a positive, reliable, and team-oriented approach in a high-volume production environment.

What you bring to the table

• Interest in hands-on production work, customized products, embroidery, laser engraving, imprinting, or similar personalization processes.

• A strong eye for detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.

• The ability to follow instructions carefully and verify information before completing an order.

• Comfort working with machines, tools, software, and production equipment.

• A dependable work style with good attendance, punctuality, and follow-through.

• The ability to stay organized while managing repetitive tasks and changing production priorities.

• A quality-first mindset and willingness to stop, check, and ask questions when something does not look right.

• A collaborative attitude and willingness to support teammates in a fulfillment center environment.

• Comfort working in a role that requires standing, moving, lifting, and performing repetitive hand and arm movements.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced fulfillment, warehouse, manufacturing, or production environment.

• Ability to stand for extended periods during the shift.

• Ability to lift, move, stage, and handle materials or products as needed.

• Ability to perform repetitive hand, wrist, and arm movements associated with machine operation, product handling, and quality inspection.

• Ability to work independently while also contributing to team production goals.

• Dependable attendance, strong work ethic, and commitment to safety and quality.

• Willingness to cross-train on multiple personalization methods, equipment types, or production tasks based on business needs.

What's needed- Basic Qualifications:

• Basic English language skills (both verbal and written communications).

• Ability to read, understand, and follow written work instructions, work orders, and customer specifications.

• Strong attention to detail, including the ability to identify spelling errors, order mismatches, incorrect product details, and quality concerns. 

• Basic computer skills and comfort learning production software, order systems, or machine

• interfaces.

• Basic mechanical aptitude and willingness to learn how to operate, adjust, and troubleshoot

• production equipment.

What's needed- Preferred Qualifications: 

• Previous experience in a fulfillment center, warehouse, manufacturing, print production, embroidery, engraving, promotional products, apparel decoration, or similar production environment.

• Experience operating embroidery machines, laser engraving machines, heat press equipment, imprinting equipment, sewing machines, or other automated production machinery.

• Experience using production software, order management systems, design files, templates, or machine operating interfaces.

• Familiarity with quality inspection standards for customized, decorated, printed, embroidered, engraved, or imprinted products.

• Ability to perform basic machine adjustments, thread changes, material setup, alignment checks, or minor troubleshooting.

• Experience working in a role with daily productivity, accuracy, quality, or safety goals.

• Comfort working with names, logos, artwork, personalization instructions, and customer-specific order details.

We Offer:

• Competitive Pay Rate: $20.75/hour (includes $1.00/hour Shift Differential)

• Inclusive culture with associate-led Business Resource Groups

• 112 Hours of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday)

• Staples offers both Full-Time and Part-Time benefits. Some Full-Time benefits include: 112 Hours of PTO and Holiday Schedule (7 observed paid holidays + 1 floating holiday), Online and Retail Discounts, Company Match 401(k). Physical and Mental Health Wellness programs, and more!