Surface Pattern Designer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Join the largest manufacturer of tile and natural stone in the United States and watch your career stand out with Dal-Tile, a subsidiary of Mohawk Industries.

Our close-knit team of dedicated professionals has made us the success we are today. In exchange for their hard work, we support our people with a family-friendly work environment, a commitment to promoting from within, unique benefits that go beyond just medical and dental, and a belief that every employee deserves a productive life outside of work. If this sounds outstanding to you, take the first step forward and explore a career with Dal-Tile.

Dal-Tile is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Quartz Surface Repair & Recovery Technician to join our manufacturing team. This position plays a critical role in maximizing product yield and maintaining premium quality standards through the repair, restoration, and aesthetic recovery of engineered quartz slabs.

Primary Objective

The ideal candidate will possess strong craftsmanship skills, excellent attention to detail, and a natural artistic ability to match colors, patterns, textures, and veining characteristics found in engineered quartz surfaces. This role requires an individual who can evaluate cosmetic and minor mechanical defects, develop appropriate repair solutions, and execute repairs that meet both quality standards and customer expectations.

The Quartz Surface Repair & Recovery Technician works closely with the Quality, Production, and Technical teams to recover slabs that would otherwise be downgraded or scrapped, ensuring repaired products achieve acceptable visual and structural standards for shipment.

Major Function and Scope

1. Slab Evaluation & Defect Assessment

Inspect engineered quartz slabs for cosmetic and minor mechanical defects, including:

• Chips
• Missing Materials or Pinholes
• Surface imperfections
• Cavities
• Fissures or Minor cracks
• Color inconsistencies

Determine repair feasibility and recommend appropriate recovery methods.
Collaborate with Quality personnel to establish repair acceptance criteria.
Document repair activities and outcomes according to company procedures.

1. Repair & Restoration Activities

Perform precision repairs using industry-approved fillers, epoxies, pigments, adhesives, and finishing materials.
Blend colors, aggregates, and textures to achieve visually seamless repairs.
Replicate natural movement, veining patterns, and surface characteristics to the extent possible found in premium quartz designs.
Execute smooth filling and surface restoration processes to match surrounding slab appearance.
Utilize fabrication related repair techniques commonly used in the stone industry to recover manufacturing defects.
Ensure repairs maintain product integrity, appearance, and customer expectations.

1. Artistic & Color Matching Responsibilities

Demonstrate strong visual judgment and artistic ability when evaluating repaired areas.
Create custom color formulations and pigment blends to match existing slab designs in coordination with R&D team.
Assess color, depth, translucency, texture, and pattern consistency under various lighting conditions.
Recommend aesthetic improvements that increase slab recovery rates while maintaining quality standards.
Serve as a key resource for visual approval decisions during the repair process.

1. Quality & Continuous Improvement

Partner with Quality and Manufacturing teams to obtain repair approvals.
Participate in root-cause investigations related to recurring defects.
Identify opportunities to improve recovery techniques and reduce material waste.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield enhancement and defect reduction.
Maintain high standards of workmanship and craftsmanship.

1. Equipment & Safety

Safely operate manufacturing equipment including:

• Hand tools
• Forklifts
• Overhead cranes
• Material handling equipment

Follow all company safety policies and procedures.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.

1. Other Operations

• Support cross-functional activities for progress and continuous improvement of the entire plant.
• Ability to peruse, assess, and prepare work area for problem solving, quality inspection, and subsequent approval process.
• Willingness to learn and apply knowledge on real challenges, production expectations, and initiatives that promote manufacturing process.
• Support the daily efforts to ensure consistent product quality control compliance and improvement.
• Ensure operations are within specifications and perform other duties as required.

Experience and Knowledge Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience with knowledge of ceramic industry, (Preferred).
• 1+ year of fabrication experience (Preferred)
• Familiarity with tools, machines, and safety protocols
• Strong attention to detail and quality standards.
• Demonstrated hand-finishing and repair skills.
• Ability to identify subtle color and texture differences.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions regarding repair methods.
• Detail-oriented and takes pride in their craftsmanship
• Physically capable and safety-minded
• Willingness to learn, grow, and be a reliable part of the team
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Strong technical background in the floor tile/ceramic industry

Competency

Core competencies include

• Exceptional attention to detail
• Strong artistic and aesthetic judgment
• Color matching expertise
• Manual dexterity and craftsmanship
• Quality-focused mindset
• Collaboration and communication skills
• Continuous improvement orientation

Strong problem-solving skills, ability to train and coach and to coordinate priorities. Foreign language (Spanish/Italian) a plus.

Success Measures

The successfulness will be evaluated on:

• Slab recovery rate
• Repair quality and visual acceptance
• Quality approval rate of repaired slabs
• Reduction in product scrap and downgrade volumes
• Compliance with safety and quality procedures
• Productivity and efficiency in repair operations

Other Pertinent Job Information

This position operates in a manufacturing environment involving engineered quartz surfaces, repair materials, and material handling equipment. The role requires standing, walking, bending, lifting, and performing detailed repair work for extended periods. Employees must be able to lift upto 50 pounds and safely work around large quartz slabs, forklifts, and crane equipment.

Strong visual acuity, color recognition, and attention to detail are essential to evaluate slab appearance, perform color matching, and execute aesthetically acceptable repairs. Employees may be exposed to dust, noise, varying temperatures, and repair materials such as epoxies, pigments, and polishing compounds. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

We offer competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, career opportunities, and an environment of creativity and growth.  Examples include:  Company Match on 401k, Employee Purchase Discount, and Tuition Reimbursement.

Dal-Tile is a proud supporter of our U.S. military, veterans and their families - Thank You for Your Service!
Active military, transitioning service members and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Mohawk Industries, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veteran committed to an inclusive workplace and a proud Drugs Don't Work participant.