Print Production Automation Engineer

Position Details

The Print Production Automation Engineer analyzes print production processes, identifies opportunities for improvement, and delivers practical technology solutions that reduce manual effort, improve information flow, and strengthen operational capabilities across the organization. This role serves as a bridge between Manufacturing Operations, Prepress, and Information Technology, helping transform operational challenges into practical, maintainable, and broadly understood solutions.

Requirements

• Operational Engagement - Maintain an active presence on the Shop Floor to understand production challenges, identify improvement opportunities, and ensure technology solutions align with real-world operational requirements.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation - Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to challenge existing assumptions in pursuit of better outcomes.
• Leadership - Lead technology initiatives, build trust and credibility across departments while encouraging the successful adoption of new ways of working.
• Organizational Capability - Balance innovation with reliability, maintainability, and long-term team success.

Qualifications

• Work Experience:
• 7+ years of experience in commercial print production, workflow automation, prepress, production systems, or related print technology environments.
• Demonstrated experience implementing process improvements, automation solutions, integrations, or workflow enhancements.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams to solve operational challenges through technology.
• Experience supporting and improving print production workflows and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge/Skills:
• Strong understanding of commercial print production workflows and manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of job preparation, file processing, imposition concepts, digital printing workflows, and production job lifecycle management.
• Understanding of finishing, bindery, mailing, or downstream production processes is desirable.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge assumptions and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to balance innovation with practical operational requirements.
• Experience with workflow automation concepts and process design.
• Working knowledge of structured data formats such as XML, JSON, and CSV.
• Understanding of APIs, system integrations, and automated data exchange.
• Ability to analyze and improve information flow between business and production systems.
• Ability to read, understand, troubleshoot, and safely modify workflow logic, scripts, automation processes, and system configurations.
• Comfortable working with software developers, vendors, and AI-assisted development tools.
• Understanding of testing, validation, change management, and deployment practices.
• Experience in authoring technical documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to influence outcomes through expertise, communication, collaboration, and consensus-building rather than formal authority.
• Demonstrated ability to support organizational change and technology adoption.

What we are about

We are a local family-owned printing business that has been operating in Rochester since 1968. We have grown from a small basement operation with just a few employees to our current facility that operates 24/7 with 200+ employees. While we offer a variety of printing formats, our primary focus is educational printing. In an age where companies tend to see employees as only numbers, we reject that trend and see our team as part of the family. We are a tech-forward printing company using innovation and excellent customer service to provide a quality product to our clients. We pride ourselves on providing a workplace with state-of-the-art equipment and technology, and our environment is highly focused on teamwork, efficiency, quality, and safety.

What we offer

• Competitive compensation based on experience/skills plus potential for annual evaluations leading to potential rate increases based on individual performance/attendance AND company performance.
• Benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability insurances, time off starting at 80 hours that grows with your years of service, paid holidays, retirement savings with our 401(k) plan, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Longevity and growth opportunities have led to employees celebrating decades of anniversaries. It isn't unusual for our people to work their way up from production floor to leadership.
• A fun atmosphere showing our dedication and our desire for employees to enjoy coming to work each day. We coordinate employee appreciation events to allow for everyone to come together.