QA Technician

Responsibilities

• Verify employee adherence to safe work practices, GMPs, and food safety expectations; promptly communicate unsafe or non-compliant conditions to QA and Operations leadership.
• Perform assigned quality, food safety, GMP, prerequisite program, and HACCP verification activities according to established procedures and frequencies.
• Confirm product specifications are signed off by Line Leads and Line Supervisors prior to lines being started.
• Complete audit, in-process, pre-operational, finished product, and other quality records accurately and on time; ensure required corrections are completed according to cGMP and documentation standards, escalate gaps as appropriate, and maintain records so they are filed, accessible, and archived as required.
• Conduct product evaluations in accordance with 50CFR.
• Identify out-of-specification, potentially non-conforming, or questionable products and materials; place product on hold and/or escalate to QA leadership according to site procedures and support timely disposition decisions.
• Complete daily sanitation and pre-op inspections, using visual and analytical methods such as ATP and protein swabs.
• Complete daily sensory and organoleptic evaluations and ensure findings are documented clearly, accurately, and escalated when results do not meet expectations.
• Support R&D trials, plant trials, and first productions by completing assigned quality checks, documenting observations, verifying product and process requirements, and escalating food safety or quality concerns in real time.
• Provide real-time feedback to manufacturing employees and leaders regarding housekeeping, GMP adherence, product handling, and audit-ready behaviors.
• Ensure scales and thermometers being used by the manufacturing team are calibrated and function as intended.
• Update pre-operational findings tracking sheet each day and report findings to QA Supervisor/Manager.
• Participate in Tier meetings or shift handoffs as needed to communicate quality observations, open issues, holds, trial observations, and follow-up needs.
• Perform other quality, food safety, sanitation verification, documentation, trial support, and plant support duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED.
• An associates degree or above preferred, but not required.
• HACCP certification preferred; must be able to complete required HACCP, GMP, food safety, and role-specific training.
• Strong basic math, measurement, documentation, and practical problem-identification skills.
• Reliable, detail-oriented, and able to use sound judgment, urgency, and professionalism when completing routine checks or escalating issues.
• 3+ years prior experience in quality assurance, food handling, food processing, sanitation, laboratory, or manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of GMPs, sanitation requirements, HACCP, allergen control, foreign material prevention, and food safety programs preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to read, write, and communicate clearly in English, including accurate completion of quality and food safety records.
• Ability to communicate quality and food safety expectations in a respectful, clear, and effective manner with hourly employees, leads, supervisors, and QA leadership.
• Must be available for overtime as needed.
• Ability to flex schedule to support business needs.