The Food Manufacturing Quality Assurance Line Technician is a full-time position responsible for enforcing food safety and quality systems (HACCP, SQF, GMPs) and company policies within a food manufacturing facility. Key responsibilities include continuous monitoring of procedures, performing quality checks and tests on in-process and finished products, completing daily documentation and data entry, listing detailed quality issues in a report, and conducting operational and pre-operational inspections and sanitation verifications. Requires basic math, computer (Microsoft Office) and food safety knowledge, strong attention to detail and communication skills (English required, Spanish preferred), and the ability to work a full-time schedule, including Saturdays, in a busy fast paced manufacturing environment.
The role is critical for preventing defects and ensuring food is safe for consumption, which involves:
Testing and Inspection: Performing routine tests on the environment and food contact surfaces of processing equipment, raw materials and finished product (e.g., viscosity, allergens swabs, ATP swabs, weight, color).
Monitoring Production: Conducting daily checks on the production line and verifying sanitation procedures. Using Allergen specific swab kits, ATP and visuals.
Compliance and Auditing: Ensuring adherence to regulations such as GMP and HACCP, assisting with audits, and maintaining accurate records for traceability.
Corrective Action: Investigating quality and food safety issues, managing non-conforming products, and implementing corrective actions to address deviations.
Risk Management: Identifying potential safety risks within the plant and ensuring appropriate corrective actions are taken to mitigate them.
Monitor production personnel to ensure that a consistent quality product is being manufactured.
Support SQF program requirements by enforcing compliance on the production floor.
Participate in GMP audits for KPI metrics.
Help maintain the retain samples of finished products program.
Ensure the continuous production of products consistently with established specifications.
Assist with document failures and ensure that maintenance personnel are notified of any equipment failures.
Perform process check throughout the preparation, cooking, filling, packaging labeling integrity and sensory checks.
Monitor HACCP critical control points.
Calibrate test equipment such as thermometers, ATP units and temperature loggers.
Drive factory GMP Standards.
Assist with the Food Safety Training Program.
ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Good communication skills-written and oral.
Ideal candidate will possess 2+ years food manufacturing experience.
Excellent follow-through including ability to reason through critical issues.
Ability to communicate with employees at all levels of the organization.
Good knowledge of the Food Manufacturing Industry and of Quality Assurance methodologies.
Should have experience with USDA & FDA requirements.
High school diploma or GED required.
Requires one - three years of relevant experience.
On-the-job training of 3-6 months.
Basic math and computer skills.
Basic data entry, formatting of documents and time/temperature graphs, creating basic templates.
Works with little supervision, but work is reviewed. Exercises discretion within area of responsibility.
Position has little to no contact with customers.
Position has little or no impact on revenue, actions and results are subject to review or inspections.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Quality Assurance Manufacturing Technician encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
Employee works in a manufacturing setting with frequent exposure to heat/cold, dust, or other factors that may require protective equipment and still pose a hazard.
This position has infrequent exposure to hazards that could result in injury and loss of time at work.
Travel is not required for this position.
Pay Range for QA Technician
The QA Technician base pay range $18-21 USD/hourly. The listed salary range represents Kettle Cuisine?s good faith estimate for this position and represents the minimum and maximum for new hire salaries for the Lynn, MA location only. Ranges will be reviewed on a regular basis. An employee?s rate of pay within the range is determined by their qualifications, relevant experience, and demonstrated performance over time. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity of our current team members as a part of any final offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth. The QA Technician position is eligible for our comprehensive benefits package. Kettle Cuisine and all its legal entities comply with all federal, state, and local minimum wage laws.
This position is also eligible for a target bonus of 5%.