Food Dehydration & Freeze-Drying Technician

Geoprana Enterprises; Chennai District; On-site; INR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Geoprana Enterprises in India is seeking a Food Dehydration & Freeze-Drying Technician to operate and monitor processing equipment for dried fruits, vegetables, powders, premium foods, and ready meals.

The role requires following approved methods to maintain quality, taste, and nutritional value while recording batch data, coordinating packaging, and ensuring compliance with FSSAI, GMP, GHP and HACCP in a fast-paced production environment.

Qualifications

• ITI/ Diploma in relevant field preferred.
• 12th standard with practical experience in food drying may be considered.
• Hands-on experience in food dehydration or processing preferred.
• Experience with freeze-dryers, vacuum systems, refrigeration or packaging equipment advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Operate dehydration and drying equipment (tray, hot-air, vacuum, freeze-dryers).
• Prepare raw materials (wash, sort, peel, cut, blanch).
• Monitor temperature, time, airflow, humidity, and vacuum/ freezing conditions where applicable.
• Perform moisture and water activity checks; ensure product quality against specs.
• Maintain batch records and machine readings including wastage and yield.
• Follow FSSAI, GMP, GHP and HACCP controls.
• Coordinate packaging, sealing and storage; use vacuum packing or nitrogen flushing if needed.
• Support production improvements and reduce wastage while maintaining quality.
• Provide timely production updates and report delays or equipment issues.

Skills

Operate machinery

SOP adherence

Food hygiene basics

Drying processes

Readings accuracy

Recordkeeping

Team communication

Education

ITI or Diploma in technical field

Diploma/B.Sc./B.Tech. in Food Technology/Processing

Tools

Weighing scales

Temperature probes

Moisture meters

Water activity meters

Job description

Job Purpose

We are looking for a Food Dehydration & Freeze-Drying Technician to operate and monitor food processing equipment for dried fruits, vegetables, food powders, premium foods, and ready meals.

The candidate will ensure products are processed safely and consistently, following approved methods to maintain quality, taste, and nutritional value.

Key Responsibilities

Equipment operation: Set up and operate dehydration and drying equipment used at our facility, such as tray dryers, hot-air dryers, vacuum dryers, and freeze-dryers.

Raw material preparation: Coordinate washing, sorting, peeling, cutting, grading, blanching, and other approved preparation methods.

Process monitoring: Monitor temperature, drying time, airflow, humidity, and, where applicable, vacuum pressure and freezing conditions.

Quality checks: Measure moisture content and water activity using available instruments. Check product colour, smell, texture, appearance, and consistency against approved specifications.

Food safety: Follow applicable FSSAI requirements, company food safety procedures, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), and HACCP controls.

Packaging and storage: Coordinate suitable moisture-resistant packaging, sealing, batch identification, and storage. Operate vacuum packing or nitrogen-flushing equipment where applicable.

Production records: Maintain batch records, machine readings, raw material usage, finished quantities, wastage, and quality results.

Inventory control: Follow FIFO and FEFO stock rotation procedures, as appropriate.

Cleaning and maintenance: Clean and sanitise equipment and processing areas, perform routine equipment checks, and report faults to the maintenance team.

Production improvement: Support trial batches, reduce wastage, and improve output without compromising quality.

Communication: Provide regular production updates and promptly report delays, equipment problems, or quality concerns.

Qualifications & Experience

ITI or Diploma in a relevant technical field, or Diploma/B.Sc./B.Tech. in Food Technology, Food Processing, Food Science, or a related discipline preferred.

Candidates with 12th-standard education and strong practical experience in food drying or processing may also be considered.

Hands-on experience in food dehydration, drying, or food processing preferred.

Experience with freeze-dryers, vacuum systems, refrigeration, or food packaging equipment will be an advantage.

Required Skills

Ability to operate machinery and follow standard operating procedures.

Basic understanding of food hygiene, contamination prevention, and drying processes.

Ability to use weighing scales, temperature probes, moisture meters, and water activity meters.

Basic calculation skills for batch quantities, moisture percentages, production yield, and wastage.

Accurate recordkeeping and careful attention to process readings.

Ability to communicate clearly with production, quality, and maintenance teams.

Work Environment

The role involves working on the production floor and coordinating with the quality team. Candidates should be comfortable working near drying equipment and cold-processing areas, handling materials safely, and working shifts when required.