Quality Assurance Technician

Location: Lyndonville • On-site, full-time position

About the role

The QA Technician must follow all plant safety, Good Manufacturing Practices, and Food Safety rules and regulations. Documentation and paperwork procedures must be followed as well as verbal and written instructions and guidelines according to the job requirements. This role is responsible for performing quality inspection, documenting results, and lab testing of incoming, in-process, and outgoing production. The QA Technician will work closely with production employees, bottling supervisors, quality supervisors, and managers to resolve problems and maintain company quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform all duties in accordance with safety policies, OSHA regulations, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and SOP (Standard Operating Procedures).
• Perform and document results of lab testing, including inspection of incoming glass and quality checks on production lines for finished product.
• Verify finished goods information, temperatures, weights, and samples of product are within specification and defect guidelines; confirm correct date coding on cases and proper packaging.
• Inform supervisor or manager of any issues found during inspections.
• Perform specified inspection procedures on product in production such as brix, pH, acidity, viscosity, taste, odor, and color.
• Use various lab equipment including auto titrator, spectrophotometer, weigh scale, GC, pH meter, Brix meter, turbidity meter, viscosity meter, personal computer, and other office equipment.
• Review paperwork during line checks, including label verifications.
• Inspect, test, and document results on incoming supplies and ingredients; verify they are within specification and inform manager of any issues.
• Perform swabbing for cleanliness or allergens as needed.
• Be present for any rework off the line or hold rework to ensure proper inspection, track defects, and quantity of defects.
• Report all defects, holds, segregated items, and rejected products to appropriate personnel.
• Maintain lab and equipment in a hygienic state.
• Pull product retention samples and perform specified inspection procedures; complete inventory transfer documentation and certificate of analysis documentation.
• Perform regular Gemba audits to evaluate processes, workflows, and adherence to organizational standards.
• Conduct field sampling of air and water to monitor environmental quality and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Operate and maintain sampling equipment, ensuring accurate and reliable data collection.
• Oversee the preparation and inspection of sales samples to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with company quality standards.
• Collaborate with sales teams to understand customer specifications and requirements.
• Coordinate daily shipping operations with UPS, including scheduling and package preparation.
• Generate accurate shipping labels and customs documentation for domestic and international shipments.
• Generate and print accurate labels for shipments, inventory, and storage using label printing systems and software.
• Participate in cycle counting activities and assist in the preparation of annual or periodic physical inventory counts.
• Fill in for other Quality Assurance Technicians as needed to cover PTO, LOA, or other time off, which may include shift changes.
• Perform miscellaneous duties as required by the Quality Assurance Manager.
• Maintain a basic understanding of LOTO (Lockout-Tagout) and keep the lab clean and orderly.
• Ensure food product quality and safety.

Requirements

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent required; Associate degree in a business field preferred.
• 1 year of Quality background required; 1 year of experience within a food processing, bottling, liquid filling/blending, and/or consumer goods manufacturing/packing environment preferred.
• Ability to work under varying circumstances, such as changes in procedures or operating/customer requirements.
• Basic computer knowledge (MS Office) required.
• Continuous mental and visual attention required to perform duties involving repetitive or diversified work with constant alertness.
• Basic mathematics skills (counting accuracy), attention to detail, and accuracy required.
• Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work well with all levels of personnel and maintain a respectful demeanor.
• Must be able to perform on-call duty on any shift and work overtime on short notice; long-term, temporary assignments to any shift may be required.
• Ability to work in high temperatures (hot or cold), at heights, and with exposure to strong smells, dust, gases, fumes, and chemicals; may require personal protective equipment.
• Ability to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to see, sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, reach, bend, and twist over an 8-hour workday.
• Ability to ascend/descend as required.
• Ability to pull, push, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs.; 50+ lbs. with assistance.

Pay

$23.72–$28.46 per hour

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Disability insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Profit sharing
• Health & Flex Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Wellness Program
• Education Assistance
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Bonuses based on plant quarterly results