Experienced Signage Prepress / Production Specialist

ImageLife (a VGS company); Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ImageLife, a VGS company, is seeking an experienced signage production detailer for our Nashville office. The role focuses on turning approved designs into precise fabrication drawings and production-ready files for CNC routers, laser, printers, and related equipment.

You will collaborate with project management, design, and shop personnel to ensure accuracy and manufacturability, with strict on-site requirements for all work.

Qualifications

• Experience creating fabrication drawings and production files for the sign industry or closely related fabrication environment.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Flexi.
• Hands-on experience developing CNC router toolpaths, including tooling, materials, cut depths, and file setup effects.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed fabrication and shop drawings showing dimensions, materials, construction methods, and mounting details.
• Develop CNC router toolpaths and prepare cut files for laser cutting, engraving, vinyl cutting, and print production.
• Turn approved artwork, plans, specs, and sign schedules into organized production packages.
• Check sign messages, quantities, dimensions, materials, colors, and file versions against approved documents.
• Plan parts and material layouts with efficient fabrication in mind.
• Work with shop personnel to resolve production questions and improve files when fabrication needs change.
• Flag missing information or conflicts before a job is released to production.
• Maintain consistent drawing, file naming, and version control standards across projects.

Skills

Fabrication drawings

Adobe Illustrator

Flexi

CNC toolpaths

Reading architectural drawings

Sign materials knowledge

Quality control

Communication

Tools

Flexi

CAD/CAM software

Job description

We’re hiring an experienced signage production detailer to turn approved designs into clear fabrication drawings and production-ready files. Our work spans interior and exterior architectural signage, including ADA and wayfinding signs, dimensional letters, and custom fabricated signs.

This person will work in our Nashville office and play a key role between project management, design, and the shop. We need someone who understands how signs are built, can spot issues before they reach production, and can prepare accurate files for our CNC router, laser, printers, and other equipment.

Responsibilities

• Create detailed fabrication and shop drawings showing dimensions, materials, construction methods, and mounting details.
• Develop CNC router toolpaths and prepare cut files for laser cutting and engraving, vinyl cutting, and print production.
• Turn approved artwork, architectural plans, specifications, and sign schedules into organized production packages.
• Check sign messages, quantities, dimensions, materials, colors, and file versions against approved documents.
• Plan parts and material layouts with efficient fabrication in mind.
• Work directly with shop personnel to resolve production questions and improve files when fabrication needs change.
• Flag missing information or conflicts before a job is released to production.
• Maintain consistent drawing, file naming, and version control standards across projects.

Skills

• Experience creating fabrication drawings and production files for the sign industry or a closely related fabrication environment.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Flexi.
• Hands-on experience developing CNC router toolpaths, with an understanding of tooling, materials, cut depths, and how file setup affects finished parts.
• Ability to read architectural drawings, specifications, and sign schedules.
• Familiarity with interior and exterior sign construction, including acrylic, aluminum, ACM, PVC, and other common sign materials.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects at different stages of production.
• Clear communication with project managers, designers, CNC operators, and fabricators.
• Experience with ADA and wayfinding signage, illuminated signs, laser cutting, and additional CAD/CAM software is a plus.

This is a technical production position. Creative design ability is welcome, but the core of the job is producing accurate drawings and files that the shop can build from.

This position is strictly 100% on-site at our Nashville, Tennessee location. This role cannot be performed remotely, and we are not accepting out-of-state remote applicants for this position.