QA Lab Technician

QA Laboratory Technician opening - Long term role!

Location: Reno

Schedule: flexible with shifts, this is a food lab. So we prefer candidates who are open!

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

We are seeking a detail-oriented and motivated Quality Laboratory Technician to join our quality assurance team. This role is responsible for performing microbiological, chemical, and sensory testing of dairy products to ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. The ideal candidate will have lab experience in microbiology, strong time management skills, and a passion for continuous improvement in a fast-paced production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Sanitize laboratory equipment and maintain a clean, organized lab environment.
• Prepare dilutions of milk samples, occasionally using chemicals.
• Plate and incubate samples to verify pasteurization effectiveness (e.g., E. coli and bacterial testing).
• Conduct daily sensory evaluations of milk, chocolate milk, and ice cream (appearance, smell, taste).
• Perform in-house water testing (e.g., city water).
• Package and label samples for internal and external testing.
• Prepare media, solutions, and samples for chemical, physical, and microbiological analysis.
• Conduct microbiological testing: Coliform, Standard Plate Count, Yeast & Mold.
• Perform chemical and physical analysis: Antibiotics, Freeze Point, Phosphatase, Butterfat, Total Solids, Brix, Titratable Acidity, Vitamin content.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain lab equipment (e.g., Foss FT120, Cryoscope, Horiba, pH meter, CEM, pipettes, thermometers).
• Perform quality checks and escalate non-compliance findings per the Hold and Release Program.
• Conduct pre-operational and sanitation inspections, including ATP swabbing.
• Verify finished product labels, coding, and packaging.
• Maintain and execute Environmental Monitoring and Allergen Programs.
• Coordinate sample shipments and third-party lab testing.
• Maintain accurate inventory of lab supplies and ensure proper rotation.
• Record and report data, generate Certificates of Analysis (COAs), and summarize testing results.
• Follow Good Documentation Practices (GDPs), Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and participate in special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• Academic or industry experience in microbiology or a related field.
• Strong understanding of GMPs, HACCP, and quality assurance systems in food manufacturing.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent time management, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred:

• Experience with laboratory instrumentation and food safety testing.
• UC Davis students or alumni are a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• GMP, Laboratory Testing, Quality Assurance, Microbiology, HACCP
• Detail-oriented with strong documentation and data entry skills
• Effective problem-solving and process improvement mindset
• Strong interpersonal and professional communication abilities