QA Technician

Location: Lynn, MA | Full-Time | 3rd Shift (11:00 PM - 7:00 AM)

About the Role

At the heart of our company is a deep passion for creating fresh, healthy, and artisan-quality food that brings people together. We honor the craft of artisan cooking—using scratch-made stocks, hand-chopped herbs, and only the highest-quality ingredients—complemented by cutting-edge technology to deliver consistently safe, exceptional products on a large scale.

Our culture is built on principles that shape how we grow, both as individuals and as a team. One of our core values, Honoring Development, guides us to actively seek out, celebrate, and nurture one another’s talents, strengths, and interests. By fostering each other’s growth, we strengthen our relationships and capabilities, driving both personal and professional success. We also believe in Honoring Each Other, surrounding ourselves with passionate people who share our love for great food, creating an environment where employees are empowered to thrive.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine tests on the environment, food contact surfaces, raw materials, and finished products (e.g., viscosity, allergen swabs, ATP swabs, weight, color).
• Monitor production lines and verify sanitation procedures using allergen-specific swab kits, ATP tests, and visual inspections.
• Ensure adherence to food safety regulations (GMP, HACCP, SQF) and assist with audits while maintaining accurate records for traceability.
• Investigate quality and food safety issues, manage non-conforming products, and implement corrective actions to address deviations.
• Identify potential safety risks within the plant and ensure appropriate corrective actions are taken to mitigate them.
• Monitor production personnel to ensure consistent quality and compliance with established specifications.
• Support SQF program requirements by enforcing compliance on the production floor and participating in GMP audits for KPI metrics.
• Maintain the retain samples program for finished products and assist with document failures.
• Notify maintenance personnel of equipment failures and perform process checks throughout preparation, cooking, filling, packaging, labeling integrity, and sensory checks.
• Monitor HACCP critical control points and calibrate test equipment such as thermometers, ATP units, and temperature loggers.
• Drive factory GMP standards and assist with the Food Safety Training Program.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1–3 years of relevant experience in food manufacturing or quality assurance.
• On-the-job training of 3–6 months.
• Basic math and computer skills (Microsoft Office, data entry, formatting documents, creating templates).
• Strong attention to detail and communication skills (English required; Spanish preferred).
• Ability to work a full-time schedule, including Saturdays, in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of food manufacturing experience (ideal).
• Good communication skills (written and oral) and excellent follow-through for critical issues.
• Ability to communicate with employees at all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of the food manufacturing industry and quality assurance methodologies.
• Experience with USDA and FDA requirements.

Working Conditions

• Works with little supervision, but work is reviewed; exercises discretion within area of responsibility.
• Occasional physical exertion, including lifting objects up to 25 pounds.
• Requires considerable mental concentration to execute complex tasks and visual effort for extended periods.
• Manufacturing environment with frequent exposure to heat/cold, dust, or other factors requiring protective equipment.
• Infrequent exposure to hazards that could result in injury and loss of time at work.
• No travel required.

Pay

The QA Technician base pay range is $18–$21 USD/hour. The listed range represents Kettle Cuisine’s good-faith estimate for the Lynn, MA location. An employee’s rate of pay within the range is determined by qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated performance over time. In addition to those factors, we consider internal equity of current team members as part of any final offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future salary growth.

The QA Technician position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package and an annual discretionary bonus program up to 5%.

Core Values

• Honor Food – We create and produce the best-tasting, safest, all-natural recipes that strive for perfection in every batch.
• Honor Each Other – We seek to develop trusting, respectful, and mutually rewarding relationships with all team members and business partners.
• Honor Development – We recognize and nurture each other’s talents, strengths, and interests to strengthen and grow our team.
• Honor Innovation – We continually strive for creative and sustainable ways to achieve excellence.