QC Tech

Actalent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability benefits

HSA

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

PTO / Vacation / Sick Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a QC Technician to support laboratory and line testing for food products in Commerce, CA. You will ensure product safety, accuracy of test results, and thorough documentation while following GMP, HACCP, and SOPs.

The role involves calibrating equipment, collecting samples, performing microbiological tests as needed, and supporting production across shifts. A degree in Food Science or related field (or equivalent experience) is required.

Qualifications

• AA, BA, or BS degree in Food Science or related field, OR 1 year food QC lab testing experience.
• Experience in lab testing of food products including pH, viscosity, and moisture.
• Familiarity with HACCP, GMPs, SOPs, and food safety regulations.
• Ability to operate lab instruments such as GCMS, pH meters, and viscosity meters.

Responsibilities

• Perform laboratory and line testing to ensure product quality and safety.
• Calibrate lab and production equipment for accurate results.
• Collect samples and conduct qualitative and quantitative tests per SOPs.
• Document results accurately in the computer system.
• Hold non-conforming product per disposition guidelines and notify relevant teams.
• Support production on multiple shifts, including weekends as needed.

Skills

Quality control

pH meters

Laboratory testing

Food science

GMPs & HACCP

ATP testing

GCMS

Documentation

Multi-shift

Lab equipment

Education

AA/BA/BS in Food Science or related

Tools

GCMS

pH meters

Viscosity meters

UV-Vis equipment

Job description

Job Title: QC Technician

The QC Technician plays a key role in ensuring food safety and product quality by performing laboratory and line testing, monitoring production processes, and maintaining accurate documentation. This position focuses on qualitative and quantitative analysis of in‑process and finished products, calibration of lab and line equipment, and strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and other food safety and quality programs.

Job Description

The QC Technician plays a key role in ensuring food safety and product quality by performing laboratory and line testing, monitoring production processes, and maintaining accurate documentation. This position focuses on qualitative and quantitative analysis of in‑process and finished products, calibration of lab and line equipment, and strict adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and other food safety and quality programs.

• Ensure all parameters of food safety and product quality are consistently adhered to and maintained in the laboratory and designated production areas.
• Calibrate laboratory and production line equipment to ensure accurate and reliable test results.
• Collect in‑process and finished product samples for standardized qualitative and quantitative testing to verify that products meet specifications.
• Perform and record product evaluation tests in accordance with HACCP plans, SOPs, and other food safety and quality programs.
• Accurately document and record all required information in the computer system in compliance with SOPs and company standards.
• Conduct ATP testing as part of the allergen control program to verify sanitation effectiveness.
• Perform microbiological testing on products and environmental samples as required.
• Maintain and organize the retain sample library to ensure proper traceability and retrieval of product samples.
• Recognize quality deficiencies, initiate appropriate follow‑up actions, and communicate findings to relevant personnel.
• Identify and isolate product that does not meet established quality and safety standards.
• Understand and comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), food safety regulations, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Perform QC tasks including product sampling, line monitoring, auditing, laboratory testing, and equipment calibration to ensure compliance with specifications.
• Hold products that do not meet quality standards and determine appropriate dispositions in accordance with company guidelines.
• Interpret and apply all information contained within product specification sheets.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of the quality characteristics and requirements for each product packaged.
• Conduct laboratory testing procedures such as brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory evaluations, weights, and moisture testing.
• Operate laboratory instruments including pH meters, viscosity meters, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS), UV‑visible measurement equipment, and related food science and chemistry testing tools.
• Support production operations across multiple days and shifts, including weekend coverage as needed to align with production schedules.

Essential Skills

• Experience in quality control within a food manufacturing or laboratory environment.
• Hands‑on proficiency with pH meters and other analytical measurement equipment.
• Ability to perform laboratory testing procedures such as brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory evaluations, weights, and moisture analysis.
• Knowledge of food science, chemistry, and basic microbiological testing methods.
• Understanding of HACCP plans, GMPs, SOPs, and food safety and quality regulations.
• Ability to conduct ATP testing for allergen control and sanitation verification.
• Competence in operating laboratory instruments including viscosity meters, gas chromatography systems (GCMS), and UV‑visible measurement equipment.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in sampling, testing, and documentation.
• Ability to interpret product specification sheets and apply them to daily quality control activities.
• Capability to identify, isolate, and hold non‑conforming product and determine appropriate dispositions.
• Willingness and ability to work second shift (approximately 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.) and adjust to different weekend hours as needed.
• Availability to work one weekend day as part of a six‑day workweek, with flexibility for occasional back‑to‑back weekends based on operational needs.
• Ability to wear a half‑face respirator when working with specific chemicals in production.
• Strong commitment to building a long‑term career in the food industry.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• AA, BA, or BS degree in Food Science, Chemistry, or a related science field, OR at least 1 year of food quality control experience with specific lab testing responsibilities (brix, refractive index, pH, density, sensory, weights, moisture, etc.).
• Experience in laboratory work focused on food products, including pH and viscosity testing.
• General understanding of gas chromatography and related analytical chemistry techniques.
• Comfort working in a busy production environment with multiple shifts and frequent interaction with operations personnel.
• Ability to learn and follow detailed SOPs and quality programs quickly during initial training.
• Strong organizational skills for maintaining retain sample libraries and records.
• Effective communication skills to report quality issues and collaborate with production and quality teams.
• Reliability and flexibility to support a seven‑day production operation with rotating weekend coverage.

Work Environment

This role is based in a laboratory setting within a food manufacturing facility, focusing on testing food products for pH, viscosity, and other quality parameters. The QC Technician works closely with production, which operates seven days a week, and the lab must be staffed to support these production schedules. The standard shift for this position is second shift, approximately 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a six‑day workweek that includes one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) on a rotating basis. Weekend shifts may have different hours than weekday shifts; for example, a Sunday shift may start at 5:00 a.m. During the first week, possibly two, training is conducted on a day schedule from about 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The environment involves working with laboratory instruments such as pH meters, viscosity meters, GCMS, and UV‑visible equipment, as well as occasional use of a half‑face respirator when handling specific production chemicals. The facility is busy and fast‑paced, with two production shifts Monday through Saturday and one shift on Sunday morning, and scheduling aims to minimize back‑to‑back weekend work, though it may occur when covering absences. Consultants receive paid sick time, and there is a three‑month contract‑to‑hire path with fully paid benefits upon permanent hire, offering a stable opportunity to grow a career in the food industry.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Commerce, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $20.00 - $20.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long‑term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Commerce,CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.