Quality Assurance Lab Technician

Aurora Organic Dairy; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Aurora Organic Dairy is seeking a QA Lab Technician to ensure in-process and finished product quality and food safety, maintaining accurate records and leading investigations to uphold high standards across our dairy products.

Responsibilities include testing finished product for butterfat, particle size, and freezing point, verifying packaging, performing sensory evaluations, calibrating lab equipment, and maintaining thorough records while supporting SQF, FDA, and SMB audit readiness.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required, bachelor’s degree in science field preferred.
• Manufacturing experience with an emphasis in food and QFS preferred.
• Competency in Microsoft Windows and Office preferred.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task is required.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and report any deviations from food safety and quality programs to your supervisor.
• Collect and perform testing on finished product at designated times including butterfat, particle size, and freezing point.
• Verify packaging is correct at all stages.
• Verify raw milk loads prior to receipt.
• Perform visual inspections, ATP swabbing, and H2O2 residual testing.
• Perform sensory evaluations on finished product.
• Maintain laboratory testing records and calibrations.
• Lead investigations to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Assist in preparing chemicals and perform tests such as allergens, rework, slurries, and CIP.
• Collect barn samples for components, herd health, and microbial growth.

Skills

Communication

Multitasking

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in science

High school diploma

Tools

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Office

Job description

About Aurora Organic Dairy

Aurora Organic Dairy is committed to delivering organic dairy integrity, from cow to carton, to everyone, everywhere. Guided by our focus on animals, people, and planet, we produce high-quality organic dairy products while caring for our cows, supporting our employees, investing in our communities, and operating with responsible stewardship. Our team is driven by values that include organic commitment, compassion, teamwork, excellence, transparency, entrepreneurial thinking, and stewardship. At AOD, every role contributes to meaningful work that supports safe, high-quality food, a respectful workplace, and a more sustainable future.

Purpose

The QA Lab Technician is responsible for in-process and finished product quality and food safety, maintaining accurate records, leading investigations and plays a primary role with ensuring the highest standard of our products.

Essential Responsibilities

• All plant personnel have the responsibility to monitor and report any deviations from our food safety and quality programs to your immediate supervisor.
• Collect and perform testing on finished product at designated time periods including, but not limited to: butterfat, particle size, and freezing point.
• Verify packaging is correct at all stages.
• Verify raw milk loads prior to receipt.
• Perform visual inspections, ATP swabbing, and H2O2 residual testing.
• Perform sensory evaluations on finished product.
• Perform daily calibration checks and maintenance on lab equipment.
• Maintain accurate and complete laboratory testing records.
• Lead role in identifying deviations related to quality or food safety, conducting investigations, identifying root cause and implementation of corrective actions.
• Prepare various chemicals for use in a safe manner.
• Perform various testing and verifications as needed including, but not limited to: allergens, rework, slurries, and CIPs.
• Collect and perform testing on barn samples provided by each load received for components, herd health, and microbial growth.
• Perform plating primarily using the petri-film method and maintain a clean work area.
• Pipette incubated samples to be tested using EPIC (a bioluminescence system which detects ATP).
• Perform weekly cleaning of lab area and other assigned MSS items.
• Plays a key role in driving awareness around QFS, Sanitation and GMPs.
• Participate in the site’s food safety walk through program with identifying.
• Hold responsibilities in helping keep the site SQF, FDA and SMB audit ready at all times.
• Any additional tasks delegated by the Quality Supervisor or Quality Manager.

Knowledge And Experience

• High school diploma required, bachelor’s degree in science field preferred.
• Manufacturing experience with an emphasis in food and QFS preferred.
• Competency in Microsoft Windows and Office preferred.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task is required.

EEOC

Aurora Organic Dairy is an equal opportunity employer. The company prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment against applicants and employees based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. The company also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities, for known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, and for sincerely held religious beliefs, practices, or observances, consistent with applicable law.