Graphic Designer/Traffic Sign Production Specialist

Helix Traffic Solutions, LLC•San Antonio, TX

About The Position

American Signal Equipment (ASE), a Helix Traffic Solutions company, is seeking a detail-oriented, creative, and highly organized Graphic Designer / Traffic Sign Production Specialist. The role transforms digital designs into professionally manufactured traffic and specialty signs, creating accurate, production-ready artwork and ensuring compliance with applicable federal, state, and local traffic sign standards. In a fast-paced manufacturing environment, the specialist participates throughout the production process, from preparing digital artwork and operating production equipment to fabricating signs and performing quality inspections. The position combines graphic design expertise—especially advanced Adobe Illustrator skills—with hands-on sign production and fabrication.

Requirements

Minimum of 2 years of professional graphic design experience.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, including vector artwork, path editing, node manipulation, typography, and file preparation.
Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and other Adobe Creative Suite applications.
Ability to interpret technical drawings, customer specifications, measurements, and production requirements.
Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot basic production and equipment issues.
Ability to work independently and contribute to a team-oriented production environment.
Ability to lift and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work in both an office/design setting and an active manufacturing environment.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, and perform repetitive tasks for extended periods.
Comfort with detailed manual work, including vinyl weeding, trimming, laminating, and sign assembly.
Ability to safely operate production machinery and follow established workplace safety procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a sign shop, commercial printing, wide-format printing, or manufacturing environment.
Experience with traffic sign design and production.
Familiarity with RIP software such as ONYX, FlexiSIGN, VersaWorks, or comparable programs.
Familiarity with MUTCD guidelines, FHWA requirements, and state DOT traffic sign standards.
Knowledge of standard highway sign fonts, including Highway Gothic and Clearview.
Understanding of retroreflective sheeting grades, including Engineering Grade, High-Intensity Prismatic, and Diamond Grade.
Hands-on experience with large-format printers, vinyl plotters, laminators, and sign production equipment.

Responsibilities

Design, create, modify, and recreate regulatory, warning, guide, construction, and custom traffic signs using Adobe Creative Suite, especially Adobe Illustrator.
Ensure artwork complies with applicable FHWA, MUTCD, and state and local DOT standards.
Apply appropriate fonts, typography, spacing, dimensions, colors, and retroreflective sheeting requirements.
Prepare production-ready vector artwork and set up files for printers, vinyl plotters, and flatbed cutting systems, including scaling, nesting, cut lines, bleeds, and color management.
Develop digital proofs, visual mockups, and scaled drawings for customer review and approval.
Review customer specifications, project requirements, and artwork for accuracy before releasing jobs to production.
Prepare and transfer approved artwork to production equipment and operate RIP software and equipment to produce graphics.
Fabricate signs, including weeding vinyl, applying tape and masks, laminating, trimming, and mounting graphics.
Apply protective films and retroreflective sheeting, and mount finished graphics on aluminum panels, EC film, and other substrates.
Safely operate sign manufacturing equipment, including metal shears, corner rounders, hole punches, laminators, and CNC routers.
Maintain an organized production workflow while meeting deadlines and quality expectations.
Inspect graphics and completed signs for accuracy, color consistency, alignment, reflectivity, and workmanship; identify and correct production issues.
Perform routine maintenance, cleaning, and basic calibration of printers, plotters, cutters, and laminating equipment.
Maintain digital files, production records, and project documentation.
Monitor inventory of production materials; assist with receiving, organizing, and maintaining supplies.
Keep workstations, equipment, and production areas clean, organized, and safe.
Communicate material shortages, equipment issues, and production concerns to management.