Quality Assurance Technician

Great opportunity for new grads to gain industry experience within life science and food production!

This opening is for a flex shift- must be open to working weekends and first shift, second shift, and graveyard shift.

Job Description

A Quality Assurance Technician will assist the Quality Assurance Department with audits, swabbing, coli form plating, calibrating, antibiotic testing, and various laboratory functions. The role supports and enforces USDA, SQF / QA, GMP, HACCP, and Safety policies and procedures. The responsibilities include ensuring 'Food Safety and Quality'. In the absence of a Quality Assurance Technician, responsibilities will be managed by another Quality Assurance Technician or the Quality Assurance Manager.

Responsibilities

• Perform weekly tasks including environmental swabbing airplates and thermometer calibration.
• Conduct noon and midnight inventory of fluid silos.
• Monitor wastewater, pH, EC, and COD levels.
• Carry out micro plating, WPN, antibiotic confirmation testing, and TA testing.
• Send daily samples to DA and Sierra for testing.
• Pull customer and re-test samples.
• Maintain cleanliness of lab areas.
• Complete paperwork neatly and correctly, and file documentation accurately and timely.
• Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Follow Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) guidelines.
• Care for and maintain laboratory equipment.
• Update quality & procedure manuals, calibrations, wastewater reports, swabbing, and air quality monitoring.
• Comply with safety and working rules.
• Maintain positive interactions with co-workers, management, customers, vendors, and employees.
• Contribute to a quality environment with a positive attitude.
• Ensure excellent regular attendance to support company objectives.
• Use initiative and judgment in decision-making, and perform other duties as assigned by management.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Dairy Science, Food Science, or Microbiology, or an Associate Degree in similar areas with 5 years of laboratory experience.
• Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computational skills and simple math reasoning.
• Ability to work safely and efficiently following all safety procedures.
• Willingness to seek assistance when processes are unclear.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Must acquire and maintain an Oven Solids Tester license.
• Certified Industry Supervisor certification in Drug residue testing.

Work Environment

The work environment involves exposure to temperatures ranging from 34 to over 100 degrees. Employees may come into contact with substances like ammonia, acids, caustics, chlorines, and hazardous gases. Personal protective equipment, including hearing protection, bump caps, hair and beard nets, gloves, and eye protection, must be used. Proper lifting techniques are essential. The role requires flexibility to work all three shifts, with a primary shift from 8 PM to 4:30 AM.