Sign Industry Graphic Designer

Socket.dev; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company parties

Competitive salary

Free uniforms

Health insurance

Opportunity for advancement

Paid time off

Parental leave

Training & development

Job summary

Socket.dev is seeking a skilled Sign Industry Graphic Designer to create signage, produce fabrication-ready drawings, and ensure compliance with codes and permits. You will collaborate with sales, production, and installation teams to turn briefs into buildable signs and manage multiple projects with organized design files.

The role requires proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, CAD or vector software, and familiarity with FlexiSign/CorelDRAW.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 2 to 4 years of sign industry design experience with a portfolio.
• Proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and CAD/vector software with clean outputs (DXF, EPS).
• Familiarity with FlexiSign and CorelDRAW; strong knowledge of sign codes and ADA.

Responsibilities

• Design signage to brand standards and landlord/franchise criteria (channel letters, signs, awnings, vehicle graphics).
• Convert approved designs into fabrication-ready shop drawings with details.
• Produce dimensioned layouts and production files (DXF, EPS) for CNC routing and vinyl.
• Perform site surveys and use photos/measurements for accurate dimensions.
• Collaborate with sales, production, and installation teams to move projects forward.
• Ensure designs meet sign codes, permit requirements, and ADA accessibility.
• Provide technical support during fabrication/installation and resolve issues.
• Stay updated on sign materials, fabrication methods, and software.
• Prepare customer-facing proofs and revise per feedback from sales.
• Maintain organized project files, drawing revisions, and production docs.

Skills

Sign design

Project management

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Graphic Design degree

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

CAD / vector drawing

FlexiSign

CorelDRAW

Job description

Benefits

• Company parties
• Competitive salary
• Free uniforms
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development

The Sign Industry Graphic Designer will be responsible for designing custom signage and producing fabrication-ready technical drawings that meet customer brand standards and applicable sign code and permit requirements. This role collaborates with the sales team, the production manager, and fabrication and installation crews to turn sales-provided briefs into permitted, buildable signs. The position joins a design team of two to three designers, reports to the production manager, and works under guidance from the production manager and senior team members.

Key Responsibilities

• Design signage to customer brand standards and landlord and franchise criteria, including channel letters, light boxes, monument and pylon signs, awnings, wall signs, vehicle graphics, and dimensional lettering.
• Convert approved designs into fabrication-ready shop drawings with materials, dimensions, mounting details, and electrical callouts that a fabricator and CNC operator can build from.
• Utilize Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and CAD or vector drawing software to produce dimensioned layouts and production files (DXF, EPS) for CNC routing and cut vinyl.
• Conduct site surveys and work from field photos and measurements to capture accurate dimensions and mounting conditions.
• Collaborate with sales, the production manager, and fabrication and installation crews to keep projects moving, with sales owning all direct client communication.
• Ensure designs meet local, state, and federal sign codes, permit requirements, and ADA accessibility standards.
• Provide technical support during fabrication and installation, resolving design-related issues as they come up.
• Stay updated on sign industry materials, fabrication methods, and software.
• Prepare customer-facing design proofs for approval and revise them based on feedback relayed through sales.
• Maintain organized project files, drawing revisions, and production documentation for every job.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Industrial Design, or a related field.
• 2 to 4 years of sign industry design experience, with a portfolio showcasing sign designs and fabrication drawings.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and CAD or vector drawing software, with clean file output (DXF, EPS) for production.
• Familiarity with FlexiSign, CorelDRAW, or both.
• Strong understanding of sign codes and permit requirements, including ADA compliance and local zoning regulations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work from sales-provided briefs and take direction from the production manager and senior designers.
• Strong attention to detail and practical problem-solving when translating designs into buildable drawings.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet production deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of sign substrates, illumination methods, and fabrication processes.
• Familiarity with 3D modeling or rendering software for sign presentations.
• Hands-on experience in sign fabrication or installation.

What We Offer

• Starting salary of $55,000 or more, commensurate with experience, with paid time off and paid holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within a working sign shop.
• A collaborative environment where design sits a few steps from the shop floor.
• Health insurance